Indian Stone Patio: Stoke-on-Trent

The original Indian sandstone had been laid without adequate drainage, which meant water had nowhere to go. Over time the slabs had settled unevenly, moss had taken hold across the surface, and the old steps leading up to the garden had become unstable.

The brief was clear: remove everything, sort the drainage properly, and start again with new stone laid correctly. Ted and the team carried out a full site assessment before work began to understand exactly where the water was going and how to fix it for good.

The Challenge

This was more than a straightforward swap of old stone for new. The project required:

• Full removal of the existing Indian sandstone patio (approximately 55m²)
• Strip back the old step structure, which had been built on inadequate foundations
• Diagnose and resolve the drainage issues causing water pooling and surface deterioration
• Install linear drainage channels around the patio perimeter
• Rebuild the step structure from scratch on proper engineering brick risers
• Lay new Indian sandstone in a correct random ashlar pattern with full mortar bed
• Ensure the finished level sat correctly relative to the conservatory threshold and garden walls

Our Solution

We recommended silver grey Indian sandstone in a random ashlar pattern. The variation in slab sizes gives the finished patio a natural, timeless look while the grey tones complement the brick of the property and the existing garden walls.

Before any stone went down, we installed linear drainage channels along the edges of the patio. This is the element that was missing from the original installation and the root cause of most of the problems. With proper falls and drainage in place, water moves away from the surface as it should.

The steps were rebuilt completely. Engineering brick risers were constructed to the correct height and width, with Indian stone treads matching the patio surface. Brick side cheeks were built to tie the steps into the existing garden wall, giving a solid, integrated finish rather than the standalone look steps can often have when added as an afterthought.

Each slab was laid on a full mortar bed and checked for level and fall as we went. Joints were pointed with a dark grey compound to complement the stone.

Materials Used

• Main Paving: Silver Grey Indian Sandstone, Random Ashlar Pattern (55m²)
• Bedding: Full Mortar Bed (sand and cement)
• Sub-Base: MOT Type 1 Hardcore, compacted in layers
• Drainage: Linear Drainage Channels with grated gullies
• Step Risers: Engineering Bricks
• Step Treads: Matching Indian Sandstone
• Jointing: Dark Grey Pointing Compound
• Edge Restraints: Haunched Concrete Edging

Special Features

• Full Drainage Solution: Linear channels installed around the patio perimeter to eliminate the water pooling that had plagued the original installation
• Rebuilt Steps: Completely stripped and rebuilt on engineering brick risers with matching stone treads and brick cheek walls
• Full Mortar Bed: Every slab laid on a full bed rather than spot bedding, eliminating the rocking and unevenness common in older patios
• Random Ashlar Pattern: Mixed slab sizes laid to break joints correctly, giving a natural finish without a repetitive grid look
• Correct Falls: The whole surface was laid to fall away from the property, protecting the conservatory threshold