In March 2021 we laid new paving slabs for a customer in Pontypool. Our original post about the job shared a video rather than photographs, so we have no stills of it to show here.

The photo on this page is a different patio: one we laid in Pontypool the same spring, which we wrote up in May 2021. We have included it to give a feel for our slab work in the town, not to pass it off as this job.

What new slabs involve

Swapping tired paving for new slabs is a popular garden job around Pontypool, and it can make a big difference to how a back garden feels and gets used. The finish you see on top is only part of it. Whatever the stone, a slab patio that stays flat relies on the same basic steps:

  • clearing the area and lifting any old paving or turf;
  • digging down to allow for a proper base;
  • compacting a layer of hardcore so the ground will not settle unevenly;
  • bedding each slab on mortar and setting a slight fall so rain drains away;
  • filling the joints and cleaning the surface.

Picking the slabs

The choice of slab changes the look more than anything else. Natural sandstone comes in warm buffs, cool greys and mixed blends, and every piece is a little different. Porcelain is thin, smooth-faced and very even in colour. Concrete slabs are the plainest choice and come in many textures. We explain the trade-offs in porcelain, sandstone or concrete, and the full range is on our patio slabbing and paving page.

In Pontypool, with plenty of rain and a lot of sloping gardens, it is worth thinking about drainage and levels as early as colour. Our landscaping in Pontypool page covers the local ground in more detail, and the May 2021 job shows the patio pictured here in full.

Questions About This Job

Can you just replace a few broken slabs?

Sometimes. If the base is sound, a handful of cracked slabs can be lifted and relaid. If lots of them are loose or sunken, the problem is usually underneath, and a full relay makes more sense.

What time of year can slabs be laid?

Most of the year. Mortar should not be laid in frost, and very heavy rain can hold things up, but spring, summer and autumn are all fine for paving.

Do new slabs need sealing?

Not always. Some people like a sealer on sandstone to make cleaning easier, while porcelain rarely needs one. We can talk through the options when we quote.

How do I book a visit?

Send us a message with a few details and Tony and the team will arrange to come and give you a free quote for new paving.