Questions
Common questions about hard surfacing, ground preparation and how quoting works. If your question is not here, ask it directly by email or phone.
Will the base settle after the work is finished?
Settlement usually comes from ground that was not prepared properly or was not compacted in layers. On our projects the area is set out, then excavated to the depth the build-up needs, and any soft or unsuitable material is removed rather than covered. A graded sub-base is spread in layers and each layer is compacted before the next is placed, working across the whole area including corners and edges. Falls are shaped into the sub-base rather than added on top. The surface is only laid once that prepared ground has been checked, which is the practice that keeps the finished surface stable.
Will water pool on the new surface?
Water pools where there is no fall or where the fall runs the wrong way. Falls are formed in the ground layer, before any paving is laid. The sub-base is shaped so the finished surface drains away from the building and towards a point where water can run off or soak away. Where a run or outlet is needed, it is set in during ground preparation so it is not cut through the new surface later. Levels are checked again as the surface goes down, so the fall is continuous across the whole area rather than only in the middle.
How is a price worked out?
The area is measured on site in square metres, the finish tier is agreed, and the quotation states the figure that applies to your property within the published range for that tier. The position within the range depends on conditions on the ground, such as access, the existing surface and the detailing.
Why is a price not shown online for my own project?
Because the ground beneath the surface changes what the work involves. Two areas of the same size on two different properties can need different excavation depths, different amounts of sub-base and different drainage arrangements. Quoting from a measurement taken on site is the only way to give a figure that holds.
Can I order or book online?
No. There is no online ordering and no basket on this site. Work is quoted per project after a site visit. The website is there to explain how the work is carried out and how pricing is structured, and to put you in touch with us.
What happens at the site visit?
The area is measured, levels are checked against the property, the existing surface is identified and its condition noted, and access for machines, deliveries and removal is assessed. Any drainage point or service cover in the area is noted as well. A written quotation follows the visit.
Is the ground layer really necessary, or can new paving go over the old surface?
Covering a failed base with new paving moves the fault upwards rather than fixing it. Where the existing base is sound and the levels allow, some surfaces can be built on; where it is not, the failed area is lifted and the base corrected first. This is assessed on site, not assumed in advance.
How long will the work take?
We do not quote timescales before seeing the site, because the area, the excavation depth, the access and the finish all affect how long the stages take. What we can describe is the sequence: set out, excavate, sub-base, compact, drainage, then edge and joint. Once the survey has been carried out, the quotation sets out the work proposed in that order.
Do you remove the excavated material?
Yes. Material lifted during excavation is taken off site. Access for removal is assessed during the survey, since it affects how the work is planned and it is one of the factors that influences the price.
Can a repair be done without resurfacing the whole area?
In many cases, yes. The failed section is lifted, the base beneath it is corrected and compacted, and the new surface is tied in at the same height with matching joints and edges. Where the whole area has reached the end of its useful life, resurfacing is discussed as an alternative to repeated small repairs.
Which materials do you work with?
Suitable paving, stone, concrete and related surfacing materials. The material is selected after the ground has been assessed and after the way the area is used has been discussed, because the build-up beneath it depends on both.
What about areas close to the house, such as a patio or courtyard?
Levels next to a building are agreed first, so the finished surface sits below the internal floor level and falls away from the wall. Steps, thresholds and any existing drainage points are worked into the layout during setting out rather than improvised at the end.
The area is measured and the ground looked at before any figure is given.