This terraced house in Cwmbran has a classic new town front garden: two lawns divided by a path, with clipped hedges on the boundaries and the bins kept out front. We laid a new block paved path here, using blocks the owners picked to suit the red brick and white cladding of the house.
The blocks are a brindle mix of red, buff and slate grey, laid in herringbone and framed by a border of darker charcoal blocks. From the pavement the path runs straight up between the lawns, then opens out into a wider paved area across the front of the house, with a branch to the side where the wheelie bins stand.
A path that turns corners neatly
Herringbone locks the blocks together at angles, which helps a path keep its shape where people walk and wheel bins every week. The charcoal border is laid as a continuous soldier course, and it follows each turn of the layout, so the brindle field inside always has a crisp frame against the grass.
By the front door the paving fills the whole area in front of the porch, reaching the meter boxes against the wall. The bin spot sits next to the hedge on its own small paved pad, so the bins stand level instead of on muddy grass.
What went on underneath
Block paving is only as good as the layers below it. On this job the process was:
- digging out the ground along the line of the path and pads to the right depth;
- levelling the ground and compacting a firm base;
- laying and compacting the border blocks first, then the herringbone field inside them;
- brushing fine sand into the joints so the blocks lock tight together.
Front gardens on Cwmbran estates
Many homes in the town share this layout, with open fronts, hedged boundaries and bins kept at the front. A well-laid path makes the whole frontage look cared for. If you are thinking bigger, our guide to adding off-road parking to a Cwmbran front garden and our open-plan front garden ideas are a good start.
Our block paving page explains the colours and patterns available, our main patio slabbing and paving page covers everything else we lay, and patio paving in Cwmbran covers slabs as well as blocks. For more about the area, see landscaping in Cwmbran.
Questions About This Job
Why use herringbone for a path?
The blocks interlock in two directions, so they resist creeping and spreading at the edges. It also looks good on a long straight run, and it is the usual choice where anything on wheels will cross it.
Do the border blocks have to be a different colour?
No, but a darker border gives a clean line against grass and makes the pattern inside stand out. Plenty of people choose a matching border for a quieter look.
Can a front path be widened into a parking space later?
Often it can, though a driveway needs a deeper base than a path, and you may need a dropped kerb. Check with your local council before you plan parking at the front.
What decides the cost of block paving?
The area, how much needs digging out, access for spoil and materials, the blocks you choose and the edging. Get in touch and we will give you a free quote.
