The client indicated that she would like a paved area with very large planting areas to be covered with pebbles. The paving needed to link across to a raised deck area, integrate with the existing sandstone paths and patio areas and provide a jagged stepped interface with the remaining lawn.

The grass was stripped and the areas for paving carefully marked out according to the scale plan we had produced. As the site has a slope, pegs were placed to determine the levels, gradient and break line of the two slopes. Areas for paving were dug out and 75mm of MOT Type 1 sub-base installed. These areas were then compacted using a plate compactor. The sandstone slabs were laid, according to the scale plan, on a 40mm thick full mortar bed. The paving was designed to be level with the decking to eliminate any step. Some slabs in the existing path were removed  and new wider slabs installed so the path was fully integrated with the new paving. Joints between the slabs were filled with a permeable, porous, weed resisting jointing compound. All the slabs around the planting areas were haunched with mortar to prevent any movement. These planting areas were filled with top soil/compost and covered with a woven landscaping membrane before being covered in 30mm of pebbles. Damaged areas of lawn next to the paving slabs were made good with top soil and re-seeded with grass seed.

The client was then able to determine what plants use and slowly start to plant the area.