Steven Hillhouse

Deciding between a wooden or composite deck and a paved patio comes down to budget, site topography, and how much ongoing maintenance you are willing to do. Both options create practical, long-lasting surfaces, but they perform very differently over a ten-, twenty-, or thirty-year period. TL;DR Content Decking vs Paving: A Direct Comparison Deciding on decking or paving depends on your plot layout and maintenance preferences. Decking suits quick installs and sloped ground because timber or composite joists avoid heavy earthworks. Paving provides longer lifespans, superior scratch resistance against pets,... Read More

Porcelain has fast become one of the most popular choices for garden patios across the UK. It looks great, lasts for years, and needs very little upkeep. However, fitting porcelain requires a different approach compared to traditional concrete flags or natural sandstone. A question we get asked all the time at Beatson’s is what should go underneath the slabs? Can you get away with laying porcelain slabs on sharp sand, or do you need a wet mortar bed over a solid sub-base? This guide compares your sub-base options, lays out... Read More