Hard landscaping in Maidstone for patios, walls steps and paths
Turn a sloping, muddy or unused garden into level, usable outdoor space. We build the patios, walls, steps and paths ourselves, with paving work backed by a 5-year guarantee.
5-year guarantee on paving · Qualified bricklayer for garden walls
City & Guilds
Qualified bricklayer
NVQ Level 2 & 3
In Brickwork
10-yr / 5-yr
Roofing / paving guarantees
Team of 4
Plus trusted trades
24/7
Emergency roofing
Service overview
Hard Landscaping: what you need to know
What it is
Hard landscaping is the built structure of a garden: patios, paths, steps, garden and retaining walls, raised beds and edging. It combines groundworks, paving and brickwork.
Who it is for
Homeowners wanting a garden they can use, people dealing with slopes or uneven ground, and commercial clients improving outdoor areas.
When you need it
When the garden is hard to use, when slopes make it awkward, or when an extension has been built and the garden needs reshaping to meet it.
Why professional work matters
Garden structures deal with ground movement, water and weather. Retaining walls need foundations and drainage, steps need consistent rises, and patios need a solid base and falls. These are building jobs, not just gardening.
The risk of waiting
What goes wrong with poor hard landscaping
Garden structures that are built badly fail visibly and can be unsafe.
Leaning retaining walls
Walls without proper foundations or drainage are pushed over by soil and water pressure.
Trip hazards
Uneven steps and rocking slabs make the garden unsafe to use.
Flooding and boggy areas
Patios without falls send water towards the house or create puddles.
Repeat spending
Poor work often has to be lifted and redone within a few years.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Building retaining walls with no drainage behind them.
- Laying slabs on spot dabs of mortar.
- Not planning levels before starting.
- Using separate trades for paving and walls with no overall plan.
Our process
How your hard landscaping job runs
Step 1
Free site visit
We check levels, ground conditions and how you want to use the space.
Step 2
Written quotation
A clear written quote sets out the work involved.
Step 3
Groundworks
Excavation, levelling and foundations are done first.
Step 4
Walls, steps and paving
Brickwork and paving are built to line and level, with drainage and falls planned in.
Step 5
Completion and guarantee
Work is cleaned down and paving is backed by our 5-year guarantee.
What you get
Why homeowners choose Speller
Usable outdoor space
Level areas you can actually sit, eat and play on.
5-year paving guarantee
Paving work is guaranteed for 5 years.
Solid garden walls
Built by a City & Guilds qualified bricklayer.
Safer steps and paths
Consistent rises and stable surfaces reduce trip hazards.
Water managed
Falls and drainage are designed in from the start.
One team
Groundworks, brickwork and paving under one contractor.
In detail
Hard landscaping work we carry out
Hard landscaping projects usually combine several elements. Here is what we build across Maidstone and Kent.
Patios
Slab, porcelain and natural stone patios laid on a full bed over a compacted base, with falls away from the house.
Retaining walls and terracing
Sloping gardens can be terraced into level areas using retaining walls in brick or block, with foundations and drainage behind to relieve water pressure.
Steps and paths
Brick, block or slab steps built with consistent rises and treads, and paths linking areas of the garden.
Garden walls and raised beds
Freestanding garden walls, piers and raised planters, with copings to protect the brickwork from water.
Residential and commercial
We landscape private gardens and commercial outdoor areas such as entrances, courtyards and staff spaces.
Hard Landscaping across Maidstone and Kent
We are based in Maidstone and carry out hard landscaping for homeowners and businesses across the towns and villages below, as well as wider Kent, London and the South East. Wherever you are, the process is the same: a free site visit, a written quote and the work led by Michael on site.
Guide
Planning a garden that works
Levels first
Most garden problems come down to levels. Before choosing paving, we look at how the garden falls, where water collects and how you move between the house and the garden. Getting the levels right makes everything else work.
Zones for different uses
Think about a dining area near the kitchen, a sunny spot for sitting, a play area or a path to the shed. Hard landscaping can separate these with steps, low walls and different paving.
Combining with an extension
When an extension opens onto the garden, the patio should sit at the right level outside the new doors. Planning both together avoids awkward steps and drainage problems.
Materials that last
We discuss paving, brick and stone options that suit your house and how you use the garden, and build the bases and walls to match the load and ground conditions.
What to expect on site
Hard landscaping usually runs in a clear order: clearing and excavation, foundations for walls and steps, brickwork, sub-bases, then paving and finishing. Parts of the garden will be out of use while work is under way, and there will be machinery and materials on site. Discuss the sequence, working areas and safe access with Michael before work starts so you can plan for areas that may be unavailable.
Hard landscaping for commercial properties
Entrances, courtyards, staff areas and paths around commercial buildings take far more foot traffic than a home garden. We specify bases and materials for heavier use, plan the work around opening hours where needed, and keep safe routes open for staff and visitors while the work is under way. Clear edges, level surfaces and good drainage all help reduce slip and trip risks.
Retaining walls done properly
A retaining wall holds back soil, and soil gets heavy when it is wet. The wall needs a foundation sized for the load, a wall built to suit the height, and drainage behind it so water can escape rather than building up pressure. Weep holes, free-draining backfill and a drain at the base are what keep a retaining wall upright for decades rather than a few seasons.
Steps people can use comfortably
Garden steps that vary in height are trip hazards. We set out steps with consistent rises and treads, use slip-resistant materials and build them on proper foundations so they do not shift or crack.
Edging and finishing details
Good edging holds paving in place, keeps soil and gravel off patios and gives a crisp line between hard and soft areas. Copings protect the tops of walls from water and frost. These finishing details make the difference between a garden that looks built and one that looks thrown together.
Working in tight gardens
Many gardens in Maidstone and surrounding towns have limited side access. We plan how materials come in and spoil goes out at the site visit, so the job runs smoothly and your property is protected.
How quoting and payment work
Every hard landscaping enquiry starts with a free, no-obligation site visit and a written quotation, so you can see exactly what is included before deciding. On larger projects we take a one-third deposit to secure materials, and the balance is split across 3 to 4 stage payments agreed before work starts.
Who will be on site
Work is led by Michael Speller, a City & Guilds qualified bricklayer with NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 in Brickwork, with a core team of four. Where your project needs electrical or plumbing work, we bring in trusted subcontracted trades and coordinate them, so you deal with one contractor throughout. We hold public liability insurance.
Questions
Hard Landscaping FAQs
How much does hard landscaping cost?
It depends on the size and elements of the project. Book a free site visit for a written quote.
Is paving guaranteed?
Yes. Paving work comes with a 5-year guarantee.
How long does a garden project take?
It depends on the scope. Your written quote will include a realistic timescale.
Can you deal with a sloping garden?
Yes. Terracing with retaining walls and steps is a common way to make sloping gardens usable.
Do you build garden walls?
Yes. Garden and retaining walls are built by a City & Guilds qualified bricklayer.
How do payments work?
Larger projects use a one-third deposit, then 3 to 4 agreed stage payments.
Do you do planting or turfing?
We focus on the built elements of the garden: groundworks, paving, walls and steps.
Do you cover Headcorn and West Malling?
Yes, along with Maidstone, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, wider Kent, London and the South East.
Make your garden a space you use
Book a free site visit and get a written quote for your hard landscaping.
City & Guilds qualified · Free written quote · No obligation