Block Paving · Tarmac · Indian Sandstone
Driveways & Patios in Kent
Tonbridge-based groundworks team building driveways, patios and whole gardens across Kent, dug out properly and laid on a compacted sub-base with drainage. 5★ Google rated.
Driveway and Patio Builders for Kent Homes
A driveway or patio is only as good as what is underneath it. Most of the failed paving we are called to replace was laid over an old surface or on a thin bed with no falls, and it cracked, sank or flooded within a few years. We start every job the same way: the old surface and its bedding come out completely, and the ground is rebuilt from the formation up.
The work is carried out by our own groundworks team, the same people who dig foundations and lay drainage for our extensions and new builds. That matters on sloping Kent gardens and clay soils, where levels and drainage decide whether the finished surface lasts.
We take on single driveways and patios, commercial car parks and complete garden rebuilds with paving, artificial lawn, planters, fencing and lighting.
- Old surface and bedding fully removed
- Compacted MOT type 1 sub-base
- Falls set away from the house
- Slabs on a full mortar bed
- Drainage channels where needed
- Free written, itemised quote
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Tell us what you have now and what you would like instead. We'll call you back to arrange a free site visit and a written quote.
What We Build
Driveways, Patios and Paving
Block paving driveways
The old driveway is excavated fully, a proper foundation and drainage go in, and the blocks are laid in a pattern that suits the house, with edging and borders detailed and a protective sealant applied.
Tarmac driveways and car parks
A compacted MOT type 1 sub-base laid to falls, concrete-bedded kerb edging, then a base course and a wearing course of hot-rolled asphalt, machine-laid and roller-compacted to a sealed finish.
Indian sandstone patios
Riven Indian sandstone in buff, gold or silver grey, laid on a full mortar bed in uniform or random multi-size patterns, with weed-resistant jointing and clean transitions to lawn, decking and brickwork.
Drainage and levels
Falls set away from the house, linear drainage channels where surface water collects, and changes of level handled with steps and retained terraces rather than fought against.
Front driveways and planning
A new front driveway does not need planning permission if it is permeable or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway on your own land. More than five square metres of impermeable paving that drains to the road does. A new or wider dropped kerb needs consent from the highway authority. We design the drainage so the driveway complies.
Recent Work
Driveway and Patio Projects in Kent
Five recent jobs, from a Maidstone block paving driveway to a full garden rebuild in Dartford. Each case study shows the work from strip-out to finish.
Dartford, Kent
Dartford Garden Transformation
A neglected back garden stripped out and rebuilt in Indian sandstone, artificial lawn and lit borders
View case study
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Tunbridge Wells Indian Sandstone Patio
Replacing failed concrete slabs with two zones of riven sandstone paving
View case study
Kent
Two-Tone Indian Sandstone Patio
Replacing broken flags with grey and buff riven sandstone across a full rear garden
View case study
Maidstone, Kent
Maidstone Driveway Refresh
Transforming tired paving into modern elegance
View case study
Kent
Kent Nursery Car Park Resurface
From muddy gravel to a kerbed tarmac car park for year-round visitors
View case studyWhere We Work
Driveways and Patios Across Kent
Driveways and patios in Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and the towns and villages between them.
Tonbridge
Groundworks in Tonbridge
Tunbridge Wells
Groundworks in Tunbridge Wells
Hildenborough
Groundworks in Hildenborough
Sevenoaks
Groundworks in Sevenoaks
Weald
Groundworks in Weald
Chislehurst
Groundworks in Chislehurst
Borough Green
Groundworks in Borough Green
West Malling
Groundworks in West Malling
Maidstone
Groundworks in Maidstone
Ashford
Groundworks in Ashford
Common Questions
Driveways and Patios Kent: FAQ
1What does a new driveway or patio cost in Kent?
It depends on the area, how much has to be dug out, the access for machinery and the surface you choose, so we price every job after a site visit rather than quoting a figure per square metre online. The visit and the written, itemised quote are free. Call 07879 447975 to arrange one.
2Do I need planning permission for a new driveway?
Not if the surface is permeable, such as permeable block paving or gravel, or if rainwater is directed to a lawn, border or soakaway within your property. Planning permission is needed to lay more than five square metres of impermeable surface in a front garden that drains to the road. If you need a new or wider dropped kerb, that requires separate consent from the highway authority.
3What goes underneath the paving?
We take out the old surface and its bedding completely, then lay a compacted MOT type 1 sub-base set to falls so water runs away from the house. Patio slabs are laid on a full mortar bed rather than spot-bedded, and joints are finished with a flexible, weed-resistant jointing compound. Laying new paving over an old surface looks fine for a season and then fails.
4Can you fix a patio or driveway that floods?
Yes. Most pooling is caused by wrong levels or no drainage. We reset the falls when we rebuild the sub-base and add drainage where it is needed: at a Tunbridge Wells patio we let a linear drainage channel into the paving to stop water collecting against the house.
5Which surfaces do you lay?
Block paving and tarmac for driveways and car parks, and riven Indian sandstone for patios and terraces. We also build the things that go with them: kerbs and edging, steps and retaining walls, raised planters, artificial lawn, fencing and outdoor lighting.
6Which areas do you cover?
Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Ashford, Hildenborough, West Malling, Borough Green, the Weald and Chislehurst, with recent paving and driveway projects in Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Dartford. We are based at 24 Dodd Road, Tonbridge.
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