Paving
Indian Sandstone Paving
Indian sandstone in buff and grey tones sits well behind an Aberdare Victorian terrace, and its natural variation softens a small, walled yard.
Aberdare has a wider mix of houses than most valley towns. There are long Victorian terraces, larger older houses with stone boundaries and mature trees, and newer estates on the valley floor and lower slopes. A patio that looks right behind one of them can look out of place behind another, so in Aberdare we start by looking at the house as much as the garden.
What they all have in common is Cynon Valley rain. Every patio and paving job we do in Aberdare is laid on a proper base with falls that move water away from the walls. Tony and the team offer free advice and quotes, so get in touch and we will come and have a look.
Our six materials, and the kind of Aberdare home and garden each one tends to suit.
Indian sandstone in buff and grey tones sits well behind an Aberdare Victorian terrace, and its natural variation softens a small, walled yard.
Porcelain suits the newer Aberdare estates, where a clean modern finish matches the house and the low-absorbency slabs shrug off the rain.
Natural stone is our first thought for the larger older houses in Aberdare, where it can echo existing stone walls and steps.
Limestone in darker shades makes a smart, understated terrace for an Aberdare garden that gets some sun, laid with a textured finish for grip.
Granite copes with leaf litter, dripping branches and heavy wear, so it is a sensible choice under the mature trees found in some bigger Aberdare gardens.
Block paving works for Aberdare drives and parking bays, and it can be laid to channel rain into a drain or border rather than onto the road.
Behind many Aberdare terraces is a narrow yard, often concrete, sometimes stepping up to a garden beyond. The walls give shelter and privacy but also trap shade and damp, so the paving needs to cope with both. We usually lift the old concrete, fix the falls and lay slabs in a size that suits the space: larger slabs make a small yard feel calmer, while lots of little ones can make it look busy.
Where the yard runs up into a sloping garden, a step or two and a low retaining wall can create a second level for seating. Our local guide to patio slabbing for Aberdare terraced houses goes through the typical layouts, and garden walls and steps in Aberdare covers the building side.
Some of the older, larger houses around Aberdare have generous gardens with established trees, old stone walls and a bit of history to them. A patio here can be broader and more generous, perhaps with a path leading off into the garden, and it pays to choose stone that looks as if it has always been there.
Trees bring their own considerations. We keep new paving back from the trunk and major roots, because digging a deep base through them can harm the tree, and roots can later lift the slabs. Leaves and dripping branches can also stain lighter, porous stone, so under a canopy we lean towards darker or denser materials. If a tree needs lifting or thinning to let light onto the patio, see tree surgery in Aberdare, and check with the council first whether it is protected.
Paving chosen for the house, laid for the weather.
We suggest materials that fit a terrace, a period house or a new-build, not one stone for every job.
Falls, drains and a free-draining base on every patio we lay.
We plan paving around established trees so neither the tree nor the slabs suffer.
Tony and the team give honest advice and a clear written quote.
On the valley floor, newer Aberdare estates can have heavy, slow-draining ground, while patios on the valley sides also collect water running down from above. Either way, the rain needs a planned route off the paving. We set a fall away from the house, add a channel drain across doorways where needed, and use a free-draining sub-base so water does not linger under the slabs.
Our article on wet-weather garden planning in Aberdare looks at the whole garden, while how a patio should be laid and why patios sink, crack or lift explain what goes wrong when drainage is ignored.
Real reviews from homeowners across Aberdare — 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.”
Local and practical guides to help you plan the work.
One team for the whole garden, so a single visit can price everything you have in mind.
We cover Aberdare and the towns around it. Choose another area below.
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.
It can, if the stone is chosen with care. Natural stone or a sandstone in a similar colour to the wall usually blends in far better than a bright, uniform slab. Where an old wall is leaning or its pointing has failed, it is worth repairing it before the new patio goes in, so the two are finished together rather than disturbing fresh paving later.
If it is cracked, uneven or holds puddles, replacing it is usually worth it. We lift the concrete, take it away, correct the falls and lay new slabs on a proper base, so the yard drains and looks tidy.
Yes, with care. We keep the dig away from the trunk and main roots and may use a shallower, more flexible edge nearby. If the tree might be protected, check with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council before any work that could affect it.
Porcelain and granite absorb very little water, so they resist green growth and staining better than most. Sandstone and limestone can be sealed to help. Our patio care guide explains how to keep any patio looking good.
The size, what needs lifting and removing, the ground and drainage, any steps or walls, access and the material. We put it all in a free written quote. For other garden work, see our Aberdare landscaping page.
Tell us about your house, your garden and any wet spots, and we will arrange a free visit.