Tonypandy is Rhondda terrace country. Long rows of houses step along the hillside, and behind most of them is a small back yard or garden that slopes, ends in a wall, and opens onto a lane. It is not a lot of ground, which is exactly why every bit of it should earn its keep.
T J Landscapes helps Tonypandy households turn tired yards into places to sit, dry washing, grow a few things and get the bins out without a struggle. Tony and the team give free advice and free quotes, and we are happy to work with whatever budget and space you have.
Small spaces, steep ground and lane-only access shape how we approach each of these services in the Rhondda.
Most Tonypandy yards slope, so our patio slabbing and paving often means cutting in one or two level areas with a step between them. Good falls and a firm base stop puddles and rocking slabs.
Where digging out a slope would mean shifting tonnes of soil through a narrow lane, a compact garden deck can bridge the drop instead. Built low and tidy, it gives a Tonypandy yard a proper seating area.
Many Tonypandy yards open straight onto a back lane, so the gate matters as much as the fence. Our fencing and gates are made to be secure, to swing clear of bins and to stand up to wind funnelling down the valley.
A small patch of lawn can work in a Tonypandy garden if it gets some sun and drains well. Our turf laying includes that honest assessment, and where grass will struggle we talk through artificial grass instead.
The rear wall of a terrace yard takes a lot over the decades: soil pressing from above, water, and the odd bump from the lane. We rebuild and repair these with our brickwork and garden walls service, along with steps and small retaining walls.
Self-seeded trees and big shrubs can take over a small Tonypandy yard and push against walls. Our tree surgery and hedge care covers careful removal, pruning and hedge trimming in tight spaces.
Clearing a Tonypandy garden usually means carrying everything out by hand to the lane. Our garden clearance service does exactly that and takes the green waste away with us.
In a Tonypandy terrace, landscaping and garden design is mostly about fitting things in: a flat spot for a table, storage, a planter or two and a clear route to the lane. We draw it out with you before anything is dug.
In a small yard, a good layout matters more than expensive materials. Before anything else we ask what you want to use the space for day to day, then plan around it.
Our guide to making a small Tonypandy terrace garden work harder has more ideas, and low-maintenance terraced gardens in the Rhondda looks at keeping the upkeep light.
The wall at the bottom or top of a Tonypandy yard is often the oldest thing in the garden. Where the yard is cut into the hillside, it may also be holding back soil from the lane or the garden above. Bulging, leaning, cracked render and loose stone or brick are the usual warning signs.
A sound rebuild starts with taking the old wall down safely, checking the footing and, where it retains soil, adding drainage and weep holes so water does not build up behind it again. We can rebuild in brick, block or reclaimed stone to suit the terrace.
Back walls are often shared with a neighbour or border a lane, so it is worth talking to the people either side before work starts, and checking with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council if you are unsure about anything on the lane side. Our article on rebuilding a back wall in a Tonypandy terrace covers what to look out for.
Small yards, steep ground and narrow lanes are everyday work for us across the valleys.
We plan every square metre of a Tonypandy yard so it does several jobs, not just one.
Materials in and waste out through the back, planned before we start so nothing gets stuck.
Rear and retaining walls rebuilt with the footing and drainage they need to stay standing.
If a cheaper option will do the job just as well, we will say so. Quotes are free and clear.
Almost everything we do in Tonypandy comes and goes through the lane behind the terrace. Slabs, sand, cement and timber go in; soil, rubble and green waste come out. Lanes vary a lot in width, surface and how close a vehicle can get, so we look at access on the first visit and plan deliveries and skips or grab loads around it.
Doing it this way keeps mess out of your house and off the front street. It also means the gate you end up with should be one that suits the lane: wide enough for a wheelbarrow or wheelie bin, hung to open the right way and fitted with a decent lock. See fencing and gates onto a Tonypandy back lane and garden clearance through a Tonypandy back lane for more.
Tonypandy's terraces sit on steep valley sides, so plenty of yards fall towards the house or away from it. Rainwater follows the slope, and if the paving runs towards the back door it will end up against the house.
We sort the levels before choosing any slabs. That might mean one level patio and a few steps up to a planted top section, or a gentle fall across the yard into a drain. Our guide to paving a sloping Tonypandy back yard goes through the options, and planning a Tonypandy garden makeover on a budget shows how to phase the work if you would rather do it in stages.
Real reviews from homeowners across Tonypandy — rated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 69 reviews and 10/10 on Checkatrade.
“Had my patio done by the company and could not be happier. Top quality work done and quickly too.”
“I was pleased to find Tony and his lads were absolutely great! Tony responded quickly & was very polite.”
“We were delighted with the work and materials, which were of very high quality. Tony and team helped us.”
Practical guides written around terrace yards, back lanes and sloping ground in Tonypandy.
As well as Tonypandy and the Rhondda, we cover towns right across South Wales.
T J Landscapes South Wales
24 Conway Road, Pontypool
Torfaen, NP4 6HL
We cover homes right across South Wales, from Cardiff and the coast up to the valleys and the Brecon Beacons.
Yes. Small spaces often gain the most from a proper plan, because every change is noticed. A level seating area, a bin store and a couple of raised beds can turn a Tonypandy yard you walk through into one you actually use.
Usually, yes. Most of our Tonypandy work is done through the lane. We check its width and surface on the first visit and plan deliveries and waste removal to suit.
Real turf needs a few hours of sun and ground that drains. In a shaded, sloping Tonypandy yard, artificial grass is often the more practical choice. Our guide to artificial grass or turf for a Tonypandy yard compares the two.
A leaning or bulging wall should be looked at sooner rather than later, especially if it is holding back soil. Keep children and pets away from it and get in touch. We will look at it and tell you whether it can be repaired or needs rebuilding.
Size, how steep the yard is, access from the lane, the materials you pick, drainage and how much has to be carried out all make a difference. We explain each of these in a free quote, and our guide to landscaping costs gives the general picture.
Yes, we take trees and large shrubs down in sections where space is tight, and remove the waste. If a tree might be protected, we will suggest checking with the council first. See tree and shrub removal in Tonypandy.
A rough idea of the space and what bothers you about it is plenty. Tony will get back to you to arrange a visit and a free quote.
