What we would tell you on site, written down: how these jobs are actually built, what the rules are, and how to tell a good quote from a cheap one.
How a block paving driveway is actually built: sub-base depth, edge restraint, laying patterns, concrete blocks versus clay pavers, and what makes one last.
How surface water rules affect a new driveway in England: permitted development, permeable paving, soakaways, channel drains and dropped kerb applications.
How to keep a block paving driveway in good order, what sinking and rutting actually mean, and when a repair is enough instead of a full replacement.
Porcelain, Indian sandstone, limestone, granite and concrete paving compared for UK gardens: cost, grip, staining and maintenance.
Why patios pond, how much fall paving needs, what the damp proof course rule means in practice, and the drainage options when levels are tight.
Keeping a patio clean without damaging it, why joints crack and slabs rock, and what repointing or relaying involves.
Close board, lap panel, featheredge and picket fencing compared — strength, lifespan, exposure, repairability and which posts suit each.
When a fence can be repaired and when it should be replaced: snapped posts, rotten gravel boards, leaning runs and storm damage.
How to tell when brickwork needs repointing, why cement mortar damages soft Victorian brick, and what a proper rake-out and repoint involves.
How new brickwork is matched to an existing wall: brick sourcing, bond, mortar colour and joint profile — and why the joint matters.
What a brick garden or boundary wall needs to stand up: foundation depth, pier spacing, movement joints, copings and damp proof courses.
How retaining walls hold back ground: drainage behind the wall, weep holes, when a brick face needs a reinforced core, and what a sloping garden needs.
We will look at it on site and tell you straight.