Porcelain, sandstone and Indian stone patios laid on a proper mortar bed, not loose-laid on sand. Gaz applies the same groundwork standards to garden projects as to structural work, which means level surfaces that stay level and edges that hold their line.
Loose-laying slabs on sand looks fine on day one. Give it one winter freeze-thaw cycle and individual slabs start to move. Give it two and water is getting under the base, which accelerates the problem. With porcelain, a material that requires zero water absorption and therefore a full-coverage mortar bed, loose-laying on sand is simply the wrong method. It doesn’t matter how good the slab is if it’s not installed correctly.
Every patio we lay uses a proper compacted sub-base, a mortar bed, and full-coverage adhesive for porcelain. Falls are engineered from the start, sloping away from the house, with drainage accounted for, not left to hope. The edging restraint is concreted in. The whole system is designed to last for decades, not to look good in a photograph and fail by the third year.
From sleek large-format porcelain to rustic natural sandstone, each material has different maintenance requirements, slip ratings and installation needs. We’ll guide you to the right choice for your space and budget.
Large-format tiles (600×600 to 900×600) in a wide range of finishes: stone effect, concrete effect, wood-effect planks. Near-zero maintenance, frost-proof and non-porous. Must be laid on full-coverage adhesive on a rigid base. The most popular choice for contemporary rear garden patios.
Natural Indian sandstone in buff, mint, grey or raj green. Warm, traditional appearance that suits period properties and cottage-style gardens. Requires sealing to reduce staining. More variation in colour and thickness than porcelain, cut and graded to account for this on site.
Natural limestone gives a lighter, more formal appearance than sandstone. Calibrated slate provides a clean, contemporary alternative that performs well in Derbyshire’s wet winters. Both require appropriate sealant treatment before use and after cleaning.
Patios combined with artificial grass, gravel borders, raised planters and planting areas. We can design and build the hard landscaping elements as an integrated project: stone patio, block retaining edges, gravel zones and artificial turf as a single installation.
Every patio installation, whether porcelain, sandstone or natural stone, covers the same stages from excavation to clean-down. Here’s what’s included as standard.
For projects combining patio, artificial turf and planting borders, we manage the full hard landscaping programme. One team, one quote, one start and finish date.
From site visit to grouting and seal: clear stages, a fixed price, and a finished surface you can use immediately after clean-down.
Gaz visits to measure the area, assess the existing ground levels and drainage, discuss surface material options and advise on what works best for your garden’s aspect, use pattern and budget. Sample material swatches can be arranged before you commit to a surface choice.
Fixed-price quotation with excavation, sub-base, mortar bed, slab material and pointing all itemised. If you want artificial turf, raised planters or gravel borders added to the scheme, these are quoted as line items so you can mix and match to budget.
Start date confirmed in writing. A standard rear garden patio typically takes 2–3 days from excavation to finished and pointed surface. Larger garden design schemes with multiple elements may take longer. You’ll receive a day-by-day programme with your quote.
Once pointed and cleaned down, Gaz walks you around the finished job. Any sealant to be applied is discussed at this stage. We ask you to sign off the work before we leave. Snags raised on the day are dealt with on the day, not a week later by email.
We couldn't be happier with the work carried out by GSM. They completely transformed our home by removing our old kitchen, knocking through the internal wall between the kitchen and dining room, carrying out all the associated building work, and installing our beautiful new Chatsworth…
Gaz and his team have just completed a conversion of our garage into a home office/den. From our initial conversation throughout the project Gaz was great to deal with. I asked him to take care of the whole project — up to and including decorating.…
We needed to rearrange the ground floor of our new house to better suit our growing family. GSM construction took down a load bearing wall to create an open plan living family kitchen, and built up a partition wall to separate off a separate snug.…
Gaz and team are all you need for all building works in your home! In my house they worked on areas such as a steel beam installation, tiling, plastering and joinery. Competitively priced, professional, tidy and friendly. Special mention to Matt, a true craftsman and…
We’re based in Chesterfield and carry out patio and hard landscaping projects across a 20-mile radius. Gaz attends every site visit personally, and garden projects get the same attention as structural ones.
Semi-detached and detached properties in Chesterfield and Brampton typically have modest rear garden spaces where a well-designed patio transforms how the space is used. Porcelain paving with artificial grass strips is currently the most requested combination in this area: low maintenance, hard-wearing, and suitable for families with children. We’re installing multiple projects in Chesterfield S40–S44 every season.
Gardens in Dronfield and the villages to the east of Chesterfield often have more character: irregular shapes, sloping terrain and mature planting to work around. Natural sandstone and limestone complement the stone construction common in these areas far better than concrete-based alternatives. We survey the levels carefully so that falls work across the full patio area, not just in one direction.
Properties within or adjacent to the Peak District National Park sit in landscapes where materials matter, both visually and to planning authorities. Natural stone is almost always the right choice, and we source locally quarried stone where possible. For gardens in conservation areas, we can advise on what materials are likely to be viewed favourably if planning input is needed.
We take on patio and garden design work in Sheffield where the scale or specification justifies it, particularly in the S17 and S18 corridors around Dore, Totley and Ridgeway where properties often have larger gardens and more complex landscaping requirements. Call us to discuss whether your project is within our working area.
Not sure if we cover your area? Call Gaz directly on 07727 263707 and we’ll give you a straight answer.
The most common questions homeowners ask us before starting a patio or garden design project in Chesterfield and Derbyshire.
A patio project often opens up the opportunity to improve the wider garden space: retaining walls, decking and boundaries all handled by the same team.
New driveway and patio combined in a single project: one quote, one team, matching surface materials throughout the front and rear.
View service →Brick or block retaining walls to create level patio areas in sloping gardens. Structural, drained and finished to match the patio aesthetic.
View service →Composite or hardwood decking combined with a stone patio creates distinct zones, one for seating, one for dining, in the same rear garden.
View service →New brick boundary walls, raised planter edges and garden piers, laid while the patio is being installed, in matching brick and mortar.
View service →Whether it’s a new porcelain patio, a sandstone seating area or a full rear garden redesign, Gaz will come out, assess your space and give you an honest price. We cover Chesterfield, Sheffield, Dronfield and the wider Derbyshire area.
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