Garden paths across Doncaster
A path should take you where you actually walk, whether that is from the back door to the shed, round the side to the bins, or down to the bottom of the garden. We lay paths in Indian sandstone, porcelain, block paving, gravel and stepping stones, on a compacted base so they stay flat and do not become trip hazards.
Side returns
The narrow strip down the side of a house is one of the most used parts of a garden and one of the most neglected. Laying it properly, with a fall away from the house and a drainage channel where needed, makes it cleaner, safer and easier to get bins and bikes through.
Garden steps
Steps need to be comfortable and safe, which means consistent riser heights and treads deep enough for a whole foot. We build steps in sandstone, porcelain, blocks, brick and sleepers, set on solid foundations so they do not move. Curved steps, like the ones pictured, can soften a change in level and become a feature in their own right.
Retaining walls and sleeper beds
Doncaster has more sloping gardens than people expect, particularly on the limestone edge to the west at Sprotbrough, Warmsworth and Conisbrough, and down the valley sides at Mexborough and Denaby. A slope can be split into terraces with retaining walls or sleeper beds, giving you a level patio, a level lawn and planting on the step between them.
- Sleeper walls in treated timber are quick to build and suit lower changes in level and raised beds.
- Block and brick walls on concrete foundations hold larger levels and can be rendered or faced to match the house.
- Stone walls suit older properties and conservation areas, and match local limestone or sandstone.
Retaining walls hold back a lot of weight, especially when the soil is wet. We build them with proper foundations and drainage behind so water does not build up pressure. Taller retaining walls, or walls supporting a neighbour's ground, may need an engineer's input, and we will tell you if that applies.
Raised beds
Raised beds are good for growing vegetables, for planting in gardens with poor soil, and for anyone who would rather not kneel. Built in sleepers, brick or block, they can double as seating around a patio.
Paths, steps and retaining walls across the Doncaster area
We cover Doncaster town and the villages around it, including Edlington, Edenthorpe, Bentley, Bessacarr, Cantley, Armthorpe, Sprotbrough, Rossington and more. If you are not sure whether you are in our area, ring 01422 774538 with your postcode.
Questions about paths, steps and retaining walls
Can you make a sloping garden usable?
Yes. Terracing with retaining walls or sleepers creates level areas for a patio and lawn, joined by steps. We look at the slope and the soil and suggest the best way to divide it.
How long do timber sleepers last?
Pressure-treated sleepers last a good number of years, longer when they are kept off standing water. Hardwood sleepers last longer again.
Do I need permission for a garden wall?
Most garden walls do not need planning permission, but walls over two metres, or over one metre next to a road, normally do. Conservation areas can have extra rules.
What is the best material for garden steps?
It depends on the style of the garden and what the steps join. Sandstone and porcelain suit patios, sleepers suit informal gardens, and block or brick suit driveways and front gardens.
