Frequently asked question answered by Yew Tree Landscapes - a trusted local landscaping company serving Hampshire and Surrey.
Paved patios are a great way of extending every home's outdoor space and improving its overall aesthetic. With this in mind, it's easy to see why patios are one of the most popular garden-related decorative improvements. However, when it comes to creating the ideal patio: cost, style, and comfort are important factors.
Paving slabs are commonly used in patios. We know that choosing the right kind of paving slab for your patio can be a daunting task. There are many factors to consider before you buy your first slab of paving. They come in a range of different styles and colours, so there is no shortage of choice when it comes to planning your patio area. The type of paving slab you choose for your patio can determine the durability, stylishness, and cost. Some of the most well-known options include natural stone such as slate patio paving, limestone and sandstone, granulated concrete slabs and brick paving.
Four main factors to consider to choose the best paving slabs to use for a garden patio.
We are pretty lucky in the UK to have access to a large variety of patio paving materials, meaning we can create a garden patio that ideally suits our needs and tastes. However, there are a few key things to keep in mind when you're choosing paving slabs so that your project runs smoothly. Some will look great but will break underuse, some will be low cost but will look terrible—it's only when you understand what to look out for that you can compare the paving slabs for patios and choose the best ones for your budget and needs. This guide will give you all the advice you need.
Function
Generally speaking, the rule of thumb is to look at how you use your patio to decide what paving slabs are appropriate. For example, how much weight and traffic it has to withstand? Does it get utilized for formal entertaining in a garden, or is it just a simple patio around the outside of your house? If your garden patio is one of the most used areas of your outdoor space and is central to a lot of activities that take place in your garden, you need to give it much thought to picking up the most durable paving slabs.
Budget
Deciding on the best paving slabs for a patio to suit a dedicated budget is vital. In general, a new patio project does not belong to the cheapest jobs around your property, but it does not automatically mean that all paving slabs are ridiculously expensive. Taking into consideration patio paving slab costs, they fall into four groups.
block paving
concrete paving
natural stone
porcelain paving slabs
If you find one type of paving slabs just too expensive, check out these other, less costly alternatives, which will almost certainly expand your options to add more opportunities within your dedicated budget.
Style and colour
Patio paving slabs convey many messages according to other elements surrounding them, so making a choice is not simple. A good paving slab is vital if you are looking to create a beautiful natural looking patio. They have to fit in well with the surroundings and create a space that is suitable for entertaining. What material is the property constructed from? If your house is built from red brick, then perhaps sleek slate paving slabs might not be the best for your project. There's a world of possibilities, designs and finishes to discover when it comes to paving slabs.
