Choosing paving: materials, prices and what to watch for

The paving largely decides how your garden looks and what your patio costs. There are roughly four directions. Concrete slabs are the cheapest and come in many sizes and colours. Ceramic tiles are sharp, colour-fast and virtually maintenance-free, but cost more. Natural stone gives a warm, natural look and lasts long, at a higher price and a little more upkeep. Clay pavers, finally, suit a classic or rural garden and weather beautifully over the years.

More important than the material is often what lies beneath. Good paving starts with excavating to the right depth, a stable base of sand or grit and the correct fall so rainwater drains away instead of standing on the patio. That invisible groundwork decides whether the patio is still level in five years — it is why paving is skilled work, not tiles-on-the-sand. On clay and peat soil, drainage is emphatically part of this.

When comparing quotes, look at the build-up, not just the tile price. Ask which base is laid, what fall is used, whether removing old paving and soil is counted in, and whether the tiles sit on a bound or unbound bed. A cheap quote that skips the base repays itself later in subsidence.

Unsure about the material? Let it weigh in the whole: in a complete garden build the landscaper chooses the paving in relation to the planting, the walking routes and the upkeep you want. The guide prices per element are in the price index.