Behaving with paving
Patios and driveways are two of the more pleasurable building projects because the results are instant and impressive on the eye. You can tidy up your garden with rustic paving, which is easy to look after and good for enjoying the sun and barbecues.
Meanwhile, why not keep up period appearances with cobbles or setts sweeping up to the front of the house in a textured flourish? But don't forget, design is as important as materials, the quality of work and access.
And while you're outside, one of the most pleasing ways of spending balmy summer days is lazing around a swimming pool. These not only offer lots of family fun, but give huge design potential in terms of their shape and surround.
Patios
The patio or terrace is the true 'outdoor room', with 'floors' and boundaries for spatial definition, decoration and architectural charm. So make sure you hit the right balance between design practicality and stylish comfort.
There are a few basic rules, the first being location. North-facing patios will offer shelter from drying winds, but could become a breeding ground for moss and therefore be slippery underfoot. Paving texture is important and riven surfacing improves grip.
You also need to establish boundaries and relationships with adjacent lawns, paving or walls. Adding structure in the form of arbours and pergolas will offer shade and screening and provide strong architectural elements. But don't forget details.
Ideally, the fall - or slope - of the patio should be at least 25mm in one metre, and should slope towards a gully or open soil. The patio should also stand at least 150mm, or two courses of bricks, below the damp-proof course or the inside floor level.
If you're house is not listed, you probably won't need planning consent, but it's certainly worth checking.
If you want a suntrap for entertaining friends or sunbathing, you will need to bear in mind what time of day your external space will catch the sun and whether nearby buildings will block light or views. So you need to determine where the sun shines most in the garden and where it rises and sets.
Driveways
Winding curves of paving or gravel round off the rambling country cottage to a T. Meanwhile, the linear look of a straight drive gives a sense of order and control to Georgian and other more formal town houses.
You can individualise your home with surfacing, from cobbles to rustic clay tiles, and most suppliers have an approved list of builders who can lay your smooth roundels or highly textured blocks. If in doubt, it is best to use these professionals.
Laying a surface can be tricky. Water, for example, is a drive's worst enemy, and moisture can soften the ground below and reduce the driveway's load-carrying capacity. This can lead to ruts, which trap water and distort paving.
Good drainage and well-made foundations therefore make enduring and largely trouble-free drives. But you should check with your council and local highways department to make sure there are no planning or access issues.
You need also to consider that underground pipes will need to be protected, but also be accessible, and you should check that suppliers' paving offers access to services below. In addition, you might need to pave around manhole covers.
You should also bear in mind nearby basements or cellars. Drives should be kept
away from basements as heavy paving and cars can push and damage basement walls. And if you are going to build your own drive or patio, it may be wise to start off with a scaled drawing on graph paper so you can work out proportions and the quantity of materials needed.
