Wilson Landscapes understand a patio is an essential ingredient for most gardens, whether it’s a small dining area or a large terrace. Installing a new patio or terrace can completely transform the look of your garden and help create the perfect outdoor space. Whether you install a small patio for alfresco dining and enjoying the long summer nights, or a large terrace to enjoy all year round, Wilson Landscapes are experts in all aspects of garden paving. It is essential to choose the right material for your garden patio.

If you are looking for a contemporary finish to match a new extension with bi-fold doors, then a geometric Porcelain patio may be for you. If you have a period property with original features, then a natural Indian Sandstone with brick-bordered edging may be the preferred choice. We have created garden patios for hundreds of clients over the years and have installed almost every type of stone on the market. Our experienced landscape team will be able to assist and guide you to the perfect choice for your project.

There are many things to consider when choosing the right product for your patio. Whether to go with a natural stone or man-made, contemporary, traditional, or somewhere in between? Which colour stone to choose, complimenting your house or garden features; which bond to lay the paving; which type of grout or mortar to use for pointing?

These are questions that we have been helping our clients with for many years. With every Wilson Landscapes patio installation, you can rest assured that we love sharing our professional wisdom assisting you in achieving your dream garden!

Block paving is no longer just a Driveway material but there are no products designed to create you a
outdoor patio area using block paving with a wide range of colours & choices there’s something available for everyone.

• Affordable Installations for budget projects
• Low maintenance
• Permeable Options
• Endless designs with contrasting borders
• Contemporary Finish
• Hard setting kiln dried sand to prevent weeds

See our main Block Paving feature Click here

The first question is, of course, why choose porcelain over natural stone?

And it’s a good question, clearly, at Wilson Landscapes we love natural stone and it has a huge number of unique benefits. Each piece is individual with its beauty lying in its texture and colour, which has been crafted by years of geographical processes rather than any artificial influence, and they continue to age with character to truly suit the outdoors.

But because porcelain is man-made from natural materials it has a number of benefits that suit the more modern way of living in the UK today. However, porcelain patios come with a higher price tag.

Benefits of Porcelain:

• It is highly resistant to severe weather changes including severe temperature changes, frost, and cold weather
• Impact of acid, chemicals, salts, oils, fertilizers, plant treatment products, etc.
• No damage from mould or moss
• It maintains its characteristics, both technically and aesthetically over time, which means it will not fade in the sun, so if you buy “black” it will still be black in 5 or 10 years’ time.
• It provides a low maintenance paving solution that requires no additional treatments to be applied, such as sealants
• Is easy to clean. As porcelain does not absorb spillages you only need to soft-wash your patio
• It is extremely hard wearing and strong and is, therefore, suitable for both driveways and pathways

Key features of Porcelain:

Available in a variety of sizes and styles, including large paver’s which meet the increase in demand of larger formats and which are quicker to lay and ideally suited to the more contemporary designs of today. The paver’s have anti-slip textured surfaces, making them safer in even wet weather A range of complementary products are available such as steps, corners, grating, and L-shapes enabling designs to be finished to high standards.

Low-level water absorption is because porcelain is harder than ceramic, and although both are made from clay and other naturally occurring materials fired in a kiln, the clay used to make porcelain tile is more refined and purified. It is laid using traditional standard laying techniques. Designed and produced in Italy, widely considered the experts in porcelain and adhere to all European product, safety, and environmental standards.

What is Indian stone paving?

Popular since the 90s, Indian stone paving is a special type of natural stone which is often used for patios and neat pathways. As the name suggests, these pretty pavers are imported from India – a country renowned for their beautiful, naturally veined stone. As such, Indian stone paving holds a certain prestige within the landscaping world – but without the hefty price tag of similar high-end pavers, like Yorkstone.

Which Indian stone colours are there?

One of the most eye-catching hallmarks of Indian stone pavers has to be their wide-ranging colour profiles and tonal variations. Once again, this is attributed to their unique origins, with many Indian quarries claiming their own “speciality” natural stone colour. So, which Indian stone flag colour should you choose? If you want to play it safe, you can’t go wrong with a single-toned limestone or, if you’re following a weathered theme, Indian sandstone paving slabs complete a homely aesthetic.

If you have just redesigned your garden or simply want your patio to draw the eye, then fossil sandstone is the colour for you. With a range of off-white hues, dark buff shades and warming desert tones, these types of Indian sandstone pavers deliver the ultimate “show-home” aesthetic.

Which should I choose: hand-cut or sawn Indian stone?

It depends on the finish you have in mind. Hand-cut Indian stone pavers, with natural riven profiles and chiselled edges offer a laidback “country cottage” feel to outdoor spaces. Sawn Indian stones, on the other hand, are sawn straight which means they have a neater, more polished finish. These types of Indian stone flags, with their clean lines and square edges, are most at home in contemporary spaces.

What is calibrated Indian stone?

It might sound technical, but calibrated Indian stone is just a cutting method used to keep stones a consistent thickness. They’re a popular choice as their uniform cut makes them easy to lay and transport in bulk. In the case of paving slabs, the standard thickness is usually around 22mm. This differs, however, if pavers are hand-cut.

Does Indian stone paving need sealing?

While it is not mandatory it may be recommended that you seal natural stone paving products? Indian sandstone is a particularly porous material, for instance, so it can look a little worse for wear after several years of battling the Great British weather. Also, if you opt for a dark-coloured Indian limestone paver, there’s a chance it will fade and begin to look dull. A sealant (especially a colour enhancer sealer) will help to combat the effects of sun, rain and wind, so all you need to do is give your patio a quick brush every so often to keep it looking its best.

We also offer a wet look sealing service that delivers a all year round wet look to your Patio to enhance all those beautiful colours in your Indian Sandstone Patio.

Please contact our team and we can point you in the right direction

• A  – Mortar / Screed provides a stable base to install paving. Mortar or screed is used depending on the type of paving used.
• B – Jointing compound – Used to achieve a sound seal between your paving slabs.
• C – Paving Slabs
• D – MOT Type 1 Compacted stone material is used to give a solid base for installing the paving. The sub-base layer can vary depending on existing ground conditions.
• E – Edge Restraint – Acts like a frame, also a decorative border.
• F – Geotextil membrane – Commonly used to stop the migration of the MOT type 1 into the soil and to prevent weeds.
• G – Subgrade – This is the soil upon which the project is built.
• H – Haunching (Mortar) supporting the frame,to prevent any unwanted movement.