New Patio in Buckingham

Buckingham is a historic market town in the Great Ouse valley, home to a university as well as long established streets of brick and stone houses. Many gardens here are on sloping ground, rising or falling away from the house. A new patio in Buckingham often needs to work with that slope rather than against it.

Raised and sunken patios. On a garden that falls away, a raised patio held by a retaining wall can give a level seating area by the back door, with steps down to the lawn. On a garden that rises behind the house, a sunken patio cut into the slope can create a sheltered space, though it needs careful drainage so water does not collect.

Base and bedding. Whatever the design, we dig to firm ground, build a compacted sub-base and lay each slab on a full mortar bed. On slopes, the base and edge support are especially important to stop the patio creeping or cracking over time.

Falls and the house. We keep the patio below the damp course and slope it away from the walls, adding channel drains where a sunken patio or a slope towards the house makes that necessary. Door thresholds are checked before levels are fixed.

Parts of the town centre are within a conservation area, and some houses are listed. Back garden patios are often fine, but if your home is listed it is wise to check with Buckinghamshire Council before work starts.

Access and timing. Sloping gardens and narrow side paths can make moving materials harder, so we plan the route carefully. Most patios take around a week, longer if walls or steps are included.

A sloping plot also changes how much soil has to move. Cutting into a bank for a sunken patio creates spoil that has to go somewhere, while building up for a raised patio needs extra hardcore. We work out the balance at the visit, since reusing some of the excavated soil elsewhere in the garden can reduce waste and keep the job tidier.

Rented homes near the university are a common case too. Landlords often want a patio that is hard wearing, quick to clean between tenancies and plain enough to suit any tenant, which usually points towards a mid grey porcelain laid on a strong base with simple, durable joints. We are happy to quote landlords and letting agents on the same basis as homeowners.