Paving
Indian Sandstone Paving
Indian sandstone looks warm and settled on a sunny Pontypridd terrace, and mixed-size packs cut well into the odd shapes that hillside plots throw up.
From the Old Bridge, Pontypridd’s terraces rise up every hillside, and the back gardens follow the ground: up in steps, down in drops, or tilting sideways along the contour. Plenty of them also face south or west and catch the sun for much of the day, which makes a level patio well worth the effort of creating one.
We lay patio paving in Pontypridd for two quite different sets of people. Homeowners want a sunny, usable terrace they will enjoy for years. Landlords, especially around Treforest, want tough paving that looks tidy between tenancies and needs almost nothing doing to it. Tony and the team give free advice and quotes for both, so tell us about your garden.
Here is how each material suits Pontypridd’s slopes, sunny aspects and busy rented houses.
Indian sandstone looks warm and settled on a sunny Pontypridd terrace, and mixed-size packs cut well into the odd shapes that hillside plots throw up.
Porcelain is our usual suggestion for Pontypridd rentals, because it resists staining, needs no sealing and wipes clean at the end of a let.
Natural stone suits the older Pontypridd houses that still have stone boundary walls, so a new terrace blends in with the hillside around it.
Limestone gives a calm, even surface for a sun-trap seating area high in a Pontypridd garden, where it stays drier than on a shaded lower level.
Granite is ideal for step treads and edges on a Pontypridd slope, because it takes years of daily wear without rounding off or chipping.
Block paving suits the Pontypridd houses that have room at the front for parking, and small blocks follow a curving path up a hill more easily than big slabs.
The obvious spot, right outside the back door, is not always the right one. On many Pontypridd plots the house shades the bottom of the garden for half the day, while a level cut higher up gets sun into the evening and a view across the valley. We look at where the light falls and how far you are happy to carry a tray before suggesting a layout.
Often the answer is two paved areas: a small, practical landing by the house for bins and washing, and a bigger seating terrace further up. Our local guide to patio levels and steps for Pontypridd terraces shows how the levels are usually divided, and planting ideas for a sunny Pontypridd slope covers the banks in between.
A level patio on a Pontypridd slope is only as good as whatever is holding it up. Low retaining walls in brick, block or stone are straightforward; taller ones holding back a lot of soil, or sitting near a neighbour’s house, may need engineering advice before we build. Read retaining walls in Pontypridd: when you need one and see brickwork in Pontypridd for the walling side.
Underneath the slabs the rules are the same as anywhere, only more so on a slope: firm, dug-out ground, a compacted crushed stone base, slabs bedded fully and edges held so nothing creeps downhill. Our guide on how a patio should be laid explains each layer.
Steps deserve as much thought as the patio itself. In a Pontypridd garden they are climbed every day, in the dark and in the rain, often carrying shopping or a laundry basket. We keep every riser the same height, make the treads deep enough for a whole foot, use a textured finish and add a handrail or a low wall where there is a drop to one side. If a flight is long, a small landing halfway gives somewhere to pause.
Patios, steps and paths shaped around the hill and the way the house is used.
We look at slope, sun and access before suggesting where the paving should go.
Retaining walls, steps and a solid base so each terrace stays put.
Tough, simple layouts for rented houses that need to look tidy with little effort.
Tony and the team visit, measure and give honest advice at no cost.
With the university campus at Treforest close by, a good number of Pontypridd houses are let, and their gardens take a lot of use and very little looking after. A lawn that nobody mows quickly becomes a problem at inspection time. Swapping part or all of it for well-laid paving, with a gravel border or a couple of tough shrubs, gives tenants somewhere to sit and gives the landlord far less to sort out.
We keep these designs simple: stain-resistant slabs, tight pointing that weeds struggle to get into, a clear path to the bins and nothing fragile. Our article on garden ideas for Pontypridd student lets and rentals has more, and if the garden needs emptying first, see garden clearance in Pontypridd.
Real reviews from homeowners across Pontypridd — 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 Pontypridd 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.
Usually, yes. We either cut a level into the slope or build one up with a retaining wall, then pave it. The size of the level depends on how steep the plot is and how much soil can sensibly be moved, which we assess on a free visit.
Porcelain is hard to beat, as it resists stains and needs no sealing. Granite and well-pointed sandstone are good too. Whatever the material, tight joints and a simple layout matter most in a Pontypridd rental.
It depends on the street. Some Pontypridd gardens can be reached from a rear lane, others only by steps or through the house. We plan deliveries, carrying and waste removal around your access before work starts.
The number of levels, the height of any walls, how many steps are needed, the material, the spoil to be removed and how far everything is carried. It is all explained in a free written quote.
Sometimes, especially where a level would need a very tall wall. See garden decking in Pontypridd and our Pontypridd landscaping page for other ideas.
Let us know how the garden slopes, which way it faces and whether it is your home or a let, and we will book a free visit.