This newer Chepstow home has red brick above and cream render below, with a short path from the pavement to the front door between gravel beds and low shrubs. The old path was plain grey concrete slabs, one of them cracked across, with concrete steps on brick risers up to the door. Behind a pair of timber gates sits a small courtyard enclosed by rendered walls.

We relaid both areas in the same sandstone, a warm mix of buff, rust and brown with soft ripples through the face. The house now has one material at the front door and outside the French doors at the back.

The front path and its two steps

The new path runs from the block paved pavement edge up to the door, with larger slabs on the lower run and two sandstone steps near the house. The gravel either side was kept, and the path sits neatly between the two shrub beds, so the change reads as a straight upgrade rather than a whole new front garden.

Sandstone lifts a frontage like this. Next to cream render and white uPVC, the grey concrete looked cold, while the buff and rust tones pick up the colour of the wall and the brick.

Paving a small enclosed yard

The back courtyard shows more of the groundwork. One photo was taken through the gates with the plate compactor standing on the levelled bed, and you can see the drain gully and access covers that the paving had to work around. Enclosed yards like this have nowhere for water to run off sideways, so the drainage has to be right.

  • The base was prepared, levelled and compacted before any stone went down.
  • The slabs were laid with a fall towards the existing gully, so rain drains into it rather than towards the house.
  • The gully grate and a recessed cover were kept at surface level, so the drains can still be reached.
  • The paving was finished tight up to the red brick plinth along the walls.

Stone for a town of old walls

Chepstow is full of stone, from the castle down to the garden walls on its steep streets, and natural paving sits comfortably here even on a newer house. Our guide to natural stone patios in Chepstow and our piece on paths and steps for Chepstow's hilly streets go into more detail.

You can compare this stone with other options on our Indian sandstone paving page and our main patio slabbing and paving page, or read about the wider area on landscaping in Chepstow.

Questions About This Job

Can you pave a yard that has drains and manholes in it?

Yes. We set the levels so water falls to the gully, and keep covers accessible. A recessed cover tray lets you pave inside the lid so it blends in but can still be lifted.

Is sandstone suitable for front steps?

It works well as long as the steps are built on a solid base and the treads are bedded fully. Most sandstone has a riven face that gives some grip, though it is worth keeping it clean so algae does not build up.

Do you work in Chepstow?

We do, along with the rest of Monmouthshire and South Wales. Contact us for a free quote and free advice on your path or patio.