Garden Paving

Sandstone is usually the cheapest natural stone to pave a garden with, and a mixed-size pack brings the price down further than single sizes. Laying it yourself on a mortar bed saves the biggest cost, which is labour. Keep the design simple, avoid cuts and curves, and order enough in one go to save on delivery. Gravel or decorative chippings cost less per square metre than any slab if you only need a usable surface.

Budget for the slabs, the sub-base and mortar, and the labour. Mick George garden paving starts from around £12 per square per metre for sandstone, with porcelain and slate costing more. Materials for the base add a few pounds per square metre on top. A landscaper will typically charge more for laying than the slabs cost, so the total for a 20m² patio is often two to three times the slab price. Prices change, so check the product pages for current figures.

No. Slabs laid on soil will sink, tilt and rock within a season as the ground moves and softens with rain. A patio needs a compacted sub-base of MOT Type 1, around 100mm deep, with the slabs bedded on mortar on top. The only exception is a single stepping stone in a lawn, which can sit on a bed of sharp sand with turf cut around it.

It is not recommended. Sand on its own washes out, lets weeds through and allows the slabs to move. This natural stone and porcelain can crack when a corner is left unsupported. Lay slabs on a full bed of mortar, made from sharp sand and cement, over a compacted MOT Type 1 base. A dry sand bed is only suitable for interlocking block paving with edge restraints, not for patio slabs.

Gravel, decorative chippings, cobbles, block paving or timber decking all work instead of slabs. Gravel and slate chippings are the cheapest and quickest to lay over a membrane. Cobbles and setts give a traditional look and suit curves. Decking suits a raised or slopping area. Each needs a prepared base of some kind, so the saving is mostly in the surface material and the laying time.

Start with how much upkeep you want to do. Porcelain needs the least, as it does not stain or need sealing, but costs the most and takes more skill to lay. Sandstone is the best value and comes in the widest range of colours. Limestone gives a smoother, more uniform surface. Slate has a riven texture and rich colour that deepens when wet. All four are stocked in matching garden and driveway ranges.

Mostly size. Paving slabs are the large flat units used for patios, usually 450mm square and bigger. Pavers, or block pavers, are small thick blocks laid in a pattern, usually for driveways and paths. Paving stones is a general term that covers both, and is also used for natural stone setts and cobbles. On this page, everything listed is a paving slab.

Porcelain. It is non-porous, so dirt, moss and spills sit on the surface and wash off with soapy water. It never needs sealing. Of the natural stones, limestone and smooth sandstone are easier to clean than riven slate because there are fewer grooves for dirt to collect in. Darker colours hide marks better than pale ones in a shaded or tree-lined garden.