Hard Landscaping in Staines, Surrey
Hard Landscaping Services in Staines and Surrey
At Nelhams & Sons Ltd, we carry out complete hard landscaping projects for homeowners across Staines, Shepperton, Sunbury-on-Thames, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge, Esher, and the surrounding areas of Surrey. Hard landscaping is the structural backbone of any garden – the patios, paths, steps, walls, and edging that define how the space works and how it looks. Done well, it transforms a garden into something that functions properly in all weathers, requires minimal maintenance, and adds genuine value to a property. Done poorly – with inadequate sub-bases, poor drainage, or insufficient foundations – it looks good for a year or two before the paving sinks, the walls lean, and the steps become uneven. We have been building outdoor spaces across Surrey since 1977, and every project we take on is built on the same fundamentals: correct ground preparation, proper drainage, and materials that suit the specific conditions of each site.
Our Hard Landscaping Services
We plan and build complete hard landscaping projects across Surrey – from a single patio and path to a full garden transformation. At Nelhams & Sons Ltd we specialise in:
Patios & Paved Areas
Natural stone, porcelain, block paving, and concrete patios for gardens across Staines and Surrey – designed and built as part of a wider landscaping scheme or as a standalone project. Whether you want a simple rear patio for outdoor dining, a larger entertaining area that flows from the house into the garden, or a multi-level space that makes the most of a sloped site, we design the drainage and sub-base to suit the specific ground conditions at your property. Indian sandstone and porcelain are the most popular choices in our area – we advise honestly on which material best suits your garden, budget, and maintenance preferences.
Steps, Paths & Edging
Garden steps, pathways, and edging treatments that tie your outdoor space together and make it safe and practical to use in all weathers. Steps need to be built with the right rise and tread dimensions to be comfortable and safe, and on London Clay they need proper foundations to stay level over time. Paths need an adequate sub-base and correct falls to drain properly – a path that pools water becomes a slip hazard. Edging defines the boundaries between paved surfaces, lawn, and planting beds and keeps everything looking neat as the garden matures. We design all three elements to work as a coherent whole across your Surrey garden.
Garden Walls, Raised Beds & Planters
Brick and block garden walls, raised planting beds, and built-in planters that add structure and character to outdoor spaces across Staines and Surrey. Raised beds are one of the most popular additions to Surrey gardens – they improve drainage for planting in clay-heavy soils, create visual interest and structure, and are much easier to maintain than ground-level beds. We build raised beds and planters in brick, block, or natural stone to match or complement your existing hard landscaping, with proper foundations and drainage provision built into every structure.
How We Work
A hard landscaping project that works well long-term starts with understanding the site – its ground conditions, drainage, and how you actually want to use the space. Our process ensures the finished result looks as good in year ten as it does on completion day.
| Step | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Initial Consultation | We visit your property across Staines or Surrey, discuss what you are looking to achieve, and assess the existing ground conditions and drainage |
| Site Survey | Detailed measurement of the area, assessment of levels and falls, and identification of any drainage challenges, clay sub-soil issues, or tree root considerations |
| Design & Layout | We develop a layout that suits your garden, works with its existing features, and maximises usable outdoor space |
| Material Selection | Honest guidance on paving, walling, and edging materials – including which options suit your property style and which will perform best in your specific garden conditions |
| Planning Consideration | We flag any planning requirements – relevant for front garden paving, raised structures, or properties in Surrey conservation areas |
| Detailed Quotation | Comprehensive fixed-price quote covering all excavation, sub-base, drainage, materials, brickwork, and finishing |
| Ground Preparation | Excavation to the correct depths, removal of spoil, and installation of geotextile membrane where needed on clay sub-soils |
| Sub-base & Drainage | Compacted Type 1 MOT sub-base at the correct depth, drainage channels or soakaways where required, and correct falls built in throughout |
| Construction | Professional installation of all paving, steps, walls, and edging – with attention to levels, alignment, and finish throughout |
| Pointing & Sealing | Jointing of paved surfaces, pointing of brickwork, and sealing of natural stone where required |
| Completion & Handover | Full site cleanup, removal of all waste and spoil, and handover with specific maintenance guidance for your chosen materials |
One Team, Complete Job
Paving, walls, steps, and drainage all handled by the same experienced team – no juggling multiple contractors
Drainage Built In
Correct falls, channels, and soakaways designed into every project – water managed properly from day one
Surrey Clay Expertise
48 years’ experience with the ground conditions that define how hard landscaping must be built in this part of Surrey
Fixed-Price Quotes
Comprehensive quotes that cover everything – no surprises when the invoice arrives
Why Choose Nelhams & Sons Ltd for Hard Landscaping in Surrey?
The advantage of using a construction company for hard landscaping – rather than a garden landscaping contractor – is that we bring proper groundwork expertise to every project. Drainage, sub-base preparation, foundation design, and brickwork are what we do day in and day out across Surrey. We understand the London Clay sub-soils that underlie much of Staines, Shepperton, and Sunbury, and we know what they demand from any structure built on or into them. A patio or garden wall built without that knowledge can look fine on day one and start failing within a few years. Built with it, the same project will still be performing well in twenty years. We have been demonstrating that across Surrey since 1977 – and the quality of what we leave behind reflects nearly five decades of getting it right.
- 48+ years’ hard landscaping and groundwork experience across Staines, Surrey, and West London
- Complete projects handled by one team – paving, walls, steps, drainage, and groundwork
- Specialist knowledge of London Clay and Surrey ground conditions affecting sub-base and foundation design
- Full range of paving materials – natural stone, porcelain, block paving, concrete, and brick
- Brickwork capability for walls, raised beds, planters, steps, and edging features
- Full public liability insurance (£2 million) and Which? Trusted Trader accredited
Best Surrey Business Award
Areas We Provide Our Hard Landscaping Service
Based in Staines, we carry out hard landscaping projects across a wide area of Surrey and South West London. We regularly work in the following towns and villages:
Frequently Asked Questions About Hard Landscaping in Surrey
What is the difference between hard landscaping and soft landscaping?
Hard landscaping covers all the structural, permanent elements of a garden – paving, patios, paths, steps, walls, edging, raised beds, and drainage. Soft landscaping covers the planting – lawn, shrubs, trees, borders, and turf. Most complete garden projects involve both, but the hard landscaping always comes first – it defines the structure and space that the soft landscaping then fills. We specialise in the hard landscaping side, bringing proper construction expertise to the groundwork, foundations, and drainage that determine how well the whole project performs long-term.
Why use a construction company rather than a garden landscaper for hard landscaping?
Hard landscaping is construction work. A patio or garden wall requires the same sub-base preparation, drainage design, and foundation knowledge as a driveway or building extension – the fact that it is in a garden does not change the engineering requirements. A company with deep groundwork and brickwork expertise will build it to a higher structural standard than one whose primary skill is planting and garden design. We bring nearly fifty years of construction experience to every hard landscaping project across Surrey – and the durability of what we build reflects that foundation of knowledge.
Do I need planning permission for hard landscaping in Surrey?
Most rear garden hard landscaping does not require planning permission. However, paving in a front garden using non-permeable materials over 5 square metres may need permission or requires a permeable surface solution. Walls over 1 metre adjacent to a highway or over 2 metres elsewhere require consent, as may any works in a conservation area or on a listed property. Several areas in our service area – including parts of Weybridge, Esher, and Walton – fall within conservation areas where additional restrictions apply. We check the planning position for every project and advise you clearly before any work begins.
How do you handle drainage in hard landscaping projects?
Drainage is designed into every hard landscaping project we undertake – it is not something we address as an afterthought. All paved surfaces are laid with correct falls to direct water away from the house and towards an appropriate outlet. Depending on the site and the volume of surface water involved, this might mean channel drains across the paving, a soakaway for surface water disposal, or permeable jointing that allows water to drain through the surface itself. In the clay-heavy ground conditions across Staines, Shepperton, and much of our service area, we pay particular attention to drainage because the ground absorbs water slowly and surface pooling around a property can cause real problems if it is not managed properly from the outset.
Can you work on gardens with significant slopes or level changes?
Yes – sloped and multi-level gardens are something we work with regularly across Surrey, particularly in the hillier areas south of the Thames around Weybridge, Esher, and Cobham. Level changes can be handled in several ways depending on the gradient and the style you are looking for – stepped terracing with retaining walls creates distinct zones at different levels, while a single retaining wall with a step up creates a simpler two-level garden. The engineering involved in retaining walls and steps on steeper sites requires proper structural consideration, and we bring the same foundation-first approach to these features that we apply to everything else we build.
How long does a hard landscaping project take?
Timescales vary considerably depending on the scope of the project. A patio with a path and some edging might take 4-6 days. A more comprehensive project involving paving, retaining walls, steps, and raised beds across a larger Surrey garden could take 2-4 weeks. We give you a realistic programme at the quotation stage based on the specific scope of your project, and we communicate clearly if anything changes during the job. We do not rush the groundwork or the concrete curing stages to hit a deadline – these are the elements that determine how long everything above them lasts.
