Dijon Limestone Patio and Drainage in Staplehurst
A new Dijon limestone patio in Staplehurst, laid using paving supplied by the client and finished with Aco channel drainage and a brick-on-edge border beside the lawn.
This project in 20 seconds
The client had already purchased the Dijon limestone they wanted to use for their new patio, so our role was to prepare the area correctly and install the stone to create the finished space.
The paving required preparation and sealing to the back before installation. We also incorporated Aco channel drains to help manage surface water and used a brick-on-edge detail to create a neat transition between the patio and lawn.
From gravelled area to new patio
The area behind the house was previously covered with loose gravel, with a large open space between the property and the lawn.
The aim was to turn this into a substantial paved patio that would provide a much more practical outdoor area and connect naturally with the house and garden.
Before any paving could be laid, the existing area needed to be prepared to provide a suitable foundation for the new surface.
Working with client-supplied Dijon limestone
Usually, we supply the paving materials for the landscaping projects we undertake. On this occasion, however, the client had already bought the Dijon limestone they wanted to use.
That meant adapting the installation to the particular stone rather than specifying the paving ourselves.
The limestone required preparation before laying, including sealing the backs of the slabs as part of the installation process. The different sizes and subtle variation within the stone were then arranged to create the finished paving pattern.
Preparing the patio properly
A good patio depends just as much on what sits beneath the paving as it does on the finished surface.
The existing area was excavated and prepared before the limestone was installed, creating the stable base needed for such a large paved area.
Working with natural stone also means taking account of the requirements of the particular material rather than treating every paving product in exactly the same way.
Careful preparation at this stage gave us the foundation for a consistent finished surface across the whole patio.
Adding drainage around the new patio
Drainage was considered as part of the patio construction rather than something to address afterwards.
We installed Aco channel drains around the appropriate edges of the paving to collect and direct surface water away.
The client had initially been unsure whether the additional drainage was necessary, but incorporating it during the build meant the finished patio could deal with water as part of the overall design.
It is an important practical detail that is relatively unobtrusive once the patio is complete.
A brick-on-edge finish beside the lawn
Where the Dijon limestone meets the lawn, we introduced a brick-on-edge detail to create a clear and deliberate boundary between the two surfaces.
The brick provides a contrasting colour and texture against the pale limestone while giving the patio a neat finished edge.
The result is a large, practical entertaining area that works naturally with the house and garden while making good use of the limestone the client had already chosen.
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Got Questions? We've got answers
Yes, depending on the material and its suitability for the project. On this Staplehurst patio, the client had already purchased the Dijon limestone, so we adapted the preparation and installation around the stone they had chosen.
Some natural stone products can require preparation or sealing as part of the installation process. On this project, the Dijon limestone was prepared and sealed on the back before it was laid.
Channel drainage can help collect surface water and direct it away from areas where it could otherwise cause problems. Here, Aco channel drains were incorporated into the patio construction to help manage water appropriately.
A brick-on-edge finish uses bricks set on their narrower edge to create a defined border. On this project, the detail was used between the limestone patio and lawn to create a neat transition between the two surfaces.
Yes. It is generally better to consider drainage as part of the patio construction rather than trying to add it afterwards. The appropriate solution will depend on the levels, layout and way water moves around the individual garden.