Sandstone patio and planting – Sheen
A failing concrete patio in East Sheen replaced with mint fossil Indian sandstone — set on a proper MOT Type 1 base with a linear drainage channel against the house wall, designed and built in-house by Flourish Landscaping.
A patio past saving
The starting point in this East Sheen garden was a failing concrete patio that had simply reached the end of its life — cracked, stained and draining poorly, it had become more eyesore than usable terrace.
Client brief
The clients wanted a natural stone patio that would sit comfortably with the age of the house rather than fight it — a quietly handsome terrace in keeping with the Edwardian property, built to last and easy to look after.
Description of works
Design approach
Led by Craig Davis BSc (Hons) Horticulture, material choice did most of the heavy lifting here. Mint fossil Indian sandstone was selected for its warm, honeyed tones and subtle variation — a natural stone that flatters period brickwork far better than uniform concrete ever could, and weathers gracefully rather than looking tired.
Construction details
The original concrete slab was mechanically broken out and the ground excavated to allow proper sub-base construction. A compacted MOT Type 1 base was laid with correct falls and — crucially — a linear drainage channel was run along the house wall to carry surface water safely away from the building and protect it against damp. The sandstone was then laid and jointed for a clean, durable finish. As APL- and TrustMark-accredited landscapers, the parts you cannot see were built as carefully as the parts you can.
Results
The completed patio feels settled and appropriate to the Edwardian architecture rather than newly imposed. It drains properly, sits at home against the house, and gives the family a natural-stone terrace that should serve them for decades. It is the kind of result that sits behind our 5.0 rating across 51 Google reviews.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
The starting point was a failing concrete patio that had simply reached the end of its life, cracked, stained and draining poorly, so it had become more eyesore than usable terrace. The clients wanted a natural stone patio that would sit comfortably with the age of their Edwardian house rather than fight it.
We selected mint fossil Indian sandstone for its warm, honeyed tones and subtle variation, a natural stone that flatters period brickwork far better than uniform concrete and weathers gracefully rather than looking tired. The finished terrace feels settled and appropriate to the Edwardian architecture rather than newly imposed.
The original concrete slab was broken out and the ground excavated for a compacted MOT Type 1 base laid with correct falls, and crucially a linear drainage channel was run along the house wall to carry surface water safely away and protect against damp. As APL- and TrustMark-accredited landscapers, we build the hidden details as carefully as the finish.
