Paving
Indian Sandstone Paving
Indian sandstone brings warmth to a grey Tonypandy yard, and its riven face gives grip on the slight slope most of these yards have.
Behind most houses in Tonypandy there is a back yard rather than a garden: a small, sloping strip between the kitchen and the lane, closed off by a wall and a gate. Very often it is still covered in old concrete that has cracked, sunk and started to hold water by the back door. Re-paving that yard is one of the simplest ways to make a Rhondda terrace nicer to live in.
Tony and the team lay patio slabbing and paving in Tonypandy yards of every shape. We break out the old surface, carry it away through the lane, sort out the levels and lay slabs that drain properly and feel solid underfoot. Advice and quotes are free, so drop us a line and we will come and take a look.
In a small yard every slab is on show. This is how each of our six materials works behind a Tonypandy terrace.
Indian sandstone brings warmth to a grey Tonypandy yard, and its riven face gives grip on the slight slope most of these yards have.
Porcelain in large format makes a small Tonypandy yard feel bigger, with fewer joints for weeds and a surface that is easy to hose down.
Natural stone sits comfortably against the old stone or rendered walls that enclose many Tonypandy yards.
Limestone gives a neat, modern look in a compact Tonypandy yard, best with a textured finish because these walled spaces stay damp for longer.
Granite is a good pick for the step down from the kitchen door and the strip by the lane gate, the two spots in a Tonypandy yard that get the hardest wear.
Block paving suits a Tonypandy yard where the lane gate is used a lot, as small blocks handle wheelie bins and bikes and are easy to lift for access to drains.
Most jobs in Tonypandy start with breaking up the existing concrete. Under it we often find an old drain, a manhole cover or a gully, and sometimes an earlier layer of slabs or bricks. We check anything that carries water before we pave over it, and we set the new surface so covers stay accessible.
Then we fix the levels. The old concrete has usually settled with a fall towards the house, which is why puddles gather by the back door. The new paving is laid with a gentle fall away from the walls, towards the lane or a drain, on a compacted crushed stone base. Our local guide to paving a sloping Tonypandy back yard goes into the options, and how a patio should be laid explains the layers.
The back lane is how almost everything reaches a Tonypandy yard, and it is also how the rubble leaves. Lanes can be narrow and shared, and sometimes a van cannot get right to the gate. We plan the order of work so waste goes out before new materials come in, keep the lane clear for neighbours, and choose slab sizes two people can carry comfortably.
If the yard is full of old rubbish or an overgrown shrub, it makes sense to clear it first. See garden clearance in Tonypandy and our article on garden clearance through a Tonypandy back lane.
Small yards, done properly, with no mess left in the lane.
We break out and take away the concrete, so you are not left with a skip outside.
New falls send rain away from the house and stop puddles at the back door.
Deliveries and waste planned around a shared lane and a narrow gate.
Tony and the team tell you what the yard needs and what can wait.
Re-paving a yard often shows up what else needs attention. A leaning back wall, a rotten lane gate or a crumbling step from the kitchen are all easier to fix before the new slabs go down than after. Where the wall needs rebuilding, rebuilding a back wall in a Tonypandy terrace and brickwork in Tonypandy explain how we approach it.
If the yard climbs towards the lane, one wide step and a small level area by the gate can make it much easier to wheel bins in and out. And if you would rather keep upkeep to a minimum, our guide to low-maintenance terraced gardens in the Rhondda has ideas for planting pockets and raised beds alongside the paving.
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.”
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 Tonypandy 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 more than people expect. Once the old concrete, clutter and awkward slope are dealt with, most Tonypandy yards will take a small table and two chairs, especially if the bins are given a tidy spot by the gate. A built-in bench along a wall or a raised bed with a wide coping stone can double as extra seating without taking up floor space.
Sometimes, if the concrete is sound and the levels allow, but in most Tonypandy yards it is cracked, has settled the wrong way, or would raise the paving too close to the damp course. Breaking it out and starting again is usually the better long-term fix.
It depends on size, what is under the old surface and access from the lane, but a typical Tonypandy yard is a matter of days rather than weeks. We give you a realistic timetable with the quote.
That is one of the main reasons people ask us to re-pave. We set a fall away from the house towards the lane or a drain, and add a channel drain at the door if needed. Our guide on why patios sink, crack or lift explains more.
The size, how much concrete comes out, any drainage or wall repairs, steps, access from the lane and the slabs you choose. It is all set out in a free quote. For the wider garden, see our Tonypandy landscaping page.
Tell us roughly how big the yard is, what is on it now and how you get in from the lane, and we will book a free visit.