New Patio in St Neots

Parts of St Neots sit on low ground close to the River Great Ouse, and many gardens here stay damp after rain. That makes drainage the first thing we consider when planning a new patio, before the choice of slab.

We look at where water currently gathers, which way the garden falls and how close the house damp course is to the ground. The patio is then designed to shed water away from the building towards a lawn, border or drainage point. Where the garden is flat, we may add a channel drain along the house or at the lowest edge so water has a defined route.

The build follows a consistent sequence: dig out to a firm base, lay a membrane where the soil is soft, compact a granular sub-base in layers, and set each slab on a full mortar bed. Dabs of mortar leave voids beneath the paving that fill with water and freeze in winter, which is a common reason for slabs cracking or lifting.

A sunken patio can look inviting, but in wetter ground it needs a reliable drain at its lowest point or it can become a pond. We will tell you honestly if a sunken design suits your garden. A slightly raised patio, by contrast, can help in low lying spots by lifting the surface above the wettest ground.

Most St Neots back garden patios take several working days. On newer estates such as Loves Farm access is usually through a side gate, while older terraces nearer the town centre may need everything carried through the house.

Timing can help too. After a long wet spell the ground may be too soft to compact well, so we sometimes suggest waiting a few dry days before excavating. A base compacted in good conditions is far less likely to settle, and the extra patience at the start pays off for years.

If you are near one of the flood zones along the river, it is sensible to look at the Environment Agency flood maps before planning levels. We can then keep the patio from blocking any natural route that water takes across the garden.