Paving and driveways for all budgets

A round up of our new garden paving This month Sara Hall, Turnbull's online merchandiser, is keen to shine the spotlight on our new paving stock.  She says, 'We love to match customers' projects with the perfect paving solution, both in style and price range.  This season Marshalls and Stonemarket have come up with some fabulous new products and I wanted to give them a bit of an introduction.' Traditional paving for period looks and timeless appeal Marshalls Chaplegate was an instant hit with the entire paving team when we received our first samples. Designed to look like reclaimed Yorkstone flags, Chaplegate flags are riven textured sandstone paving slabs with a classic Yorkstone weathered finish.  The stones are a blend...

A quick look at our contemporary garden paving ranges If you want a contemporary look to your garden, the Turnbull team can recommend some affordable patio slab options.  We chat to our savvy customers when we are processing orders and deliveries.  They tell us about their projects, and the slabs we feature below have all been used very successfully to achieve a contemporary garden look. Cheapest contemporary garden paving A real bargain patio slab to consider is Marshalls Textured Utility Paving Slabs - don’t be put off by the name!  Marshalls make everything from the most basic slabs to the most luxurious stone paving, and everything conforms to their rigorous manufacturing standards.  It’s a lightly shot-blasted textured slab...

Do I need sealant for my garden patio slabs or driveway? The Turnbull team answer this important FAQ You’ll see some patio paving or driveway blocks on sale that recommend you purchase litres of specialist paving sealant.  A 5 litre can will set you back £20-30 and will cover only 10m2.   These specialist sealants can only be applied 3 months after installation and only when your surface is bone dry and there is no chance of rain.  It’s an additional and unnecessary cost.  Sealants do come into their own in commercial, high traffic locations like garage forecourts, airports and town centres but most experienced installers will not think its necessary for low traffic domestic areas.  If you are thinking...

So many patio laying patterns to choose from So, you’ve sourced a great patio slab.  It's a colour and texture you love. It’s decent quality and you’re confident it’s good value for money. You know approximately how much you’ll need, but here’s where you’ll need a laying pattern. This essential diagram will help you calculate exactly how much you need to buy and allow you to visualise the end result. You'll know that different layout patterns create very different visual effects in your garden, whether it’s rectangular slabs laid in herringbone, a strong linear slab leading the eye towards a focal point, or a stretcher bond using square slabs.  With so many options, it's worth exploring what would look...

Stonemarket: inspirational paving for your dream garden Stonemarket supplies a range of natural stone slabs and manufactured concrete paving.  Their range is a real treasure trove of paving for all budgets, and well worth your attention if you are looking for high quality, reliable paving for your project.  Our most popular Stonemarket garden paving Stonemarket Timberstone Replica Garden Sleepers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN6KVT2ld-g If you want an informal, relaxed garden with wildlife friendly planting schemes and water features, you’ll love Stonemarket’s Timberstone range. It’s paving that replicates aged, weathered timber, but it’s not going to rot, splinter or split over time! It looks fabulous with rounded decorative gravels and pebbles like Long Rake Spar Decorative Pea Gravel or Moonstone Gravel that have...

Permeable driveway block paving handles heavy rainfall See for yourself!  This Marshalls video shows how permeable paving handles a ridiculous amount of water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-lNIToVuAo Permeable paving is an engineering solution to cope with the run-off from paths, driveways, parking areas in periods of intense rainfall. It’s block paving which provides an efficient and environmentally sustainable paving surface to support our street drainage systems. Surface water permeates through the surface of a path or driveway and into the ground to be released slowly back into the environment and into water courses. It’s a solution which reduces flood risk cost very effectively. How is permeable paving installed? Permeable paving requires different installation to regular block paving. Before foundations are laid, the...

Our top tip: read your manufacturer's paving installation guide You’ve chosen your paving, sorted your design and layout, and it’s now delivered and waiting for installation. If you haven’t done so already, this is definitely the point you need to check with your paving manufacturer’s recommendations for installation - well, tbh, these are essential if you want your paving to look good and stay fit for purpose. If you’ve booked a landscaper and he’s not interested in reading the technical specifications and guidance, has always done it ‘his way’, then alarm bells should be ringing. Every one of our Marshalls and Stonemarket paving and walling products comes with an installation guide. These guides often run to 3 or 4 pages. Their...

Garden paving made by UK companies with you in mind While natural stone always delivers looks and quality, many homeowners have wised up to the wide choice of concrete garden paving products manufactured in the UK. Product development is pretty impressive these days and you’ll find choice of colour and texture in all price ranges. Paving colour charts Marshalls create useful colour charts for their paving products, so you can compare slabs with the same ‘look’. They’ve also grouped them to show similar textures with handy thumbnail images for close comparison. You’ll find these in their latest brochure - free on request and a great resource for helping you choose your paving slab. Or try out their latest Inspire...

The Turnbull team get you up to speed with this handy guide to sandstone paving So what’s the deal about Indian sandstone? Valued for its strength and pale beauty, sandstone from Rajasthan, India, has been quarried for centuries. Affordable imported natural stone alternatives 25-30 years ago, Marshalls began to explore ways of obtaining Indian sandstone for garden paving as an alternative to our native sandstone, natural slates and limestone slabs.  They knew customers would love this natural stone’s characteristics - its cut or split surface reveals tiny quartz crystals which give each slab a subtle, glasspaper sheen.  Landscapers and garden designers were quick to recommend sandstone to clients looking for something different and lovely.   Know your sandstone paving...

‘Landscape is a good investment’ Want to make sure your property keeps good value in your local housing market?  Look after your garden and hope your neighbours do the same!  AXA  confirmed that the general public believes a well-kept garden adds about £2K to the value of a home.  We all enjoy visiting a nice neighbourhood with attractive front gardens, and it's that positive impression that plays an important part in the local housing market. So you won't be surprised to know that the business brains at The Economist Intelligence Unit say it makes sound economic sense to invest in our gardens and parks. They see  quality landscape as a sign of a thriving community. Places where ‘landscape is...

Slate is still the nation's favourite natural stone paving Wander through the grounds of  our historic houses and you can’t fail to notice how slate has been used by architects and garden designers over the centuries.  Slate paving slabs, slate walling, slate terraces and steps - this natural stone brings a rich colour palette to any landscape.  Today slate remains a top choice for garden paths and patios. Where does slate paving come from? British slate is still produced in Wales, Cornwall and the Lake District.  In these areas, you’ll see it used as walls, roofing, hedging, kerbing as well as for paths and garden paving slabs.   High quality slate patio slabs can be sourced from China, India...

We gardeners can make a difference! Gardens make a huge difference to the quality of the environment in our cities and towns, according to scientists at the respected Royal Horticultural Society in their latest report 'Gardening Matters’                                                                                                                                                                   It’s easy...

The Turnbull Paving Team answer some technical FAQs to give you peace of mind when buying Indian sandstone. Turnbull sells high quality sandstone paving produced by Marshalls and we’re confident our customers are getting a great product. But don’t just take our word for it! What does the Marshalls ‘Stone Standard Exceeded’ logo mean?   All stone supplied by Marshalls exceeds the base technical levels set by British Standards for stone paving products.  So, when you see ‘Stone Standard Exceeded’ logo on a Marshalls product, you know you’re getting paving, walling or driveway blocks that are technically superior and of the highest quality. You won’t find sub-standard sandstone on sale on our website! What is the Marshalls Stone Standard? Marshalls...

Marshalls Paving Bestsellers Top quality paving at great prices means these Marshalls slabs and driveway blocks are flying out of the yard to satisfied Turnbull customers.   Read on to find out what's hot in paving this season and why. Marshalls Natural Stone Paving Winners First past the line every time is Marshalls Indian Sandstone Paving.  Indian sandstone comes in a range of soft, subtle colours, has delicate quartz veining and a fabulous, glasspaper sheen. It has a high percentage of quartz which makes it strong and more unlikely to crack, split or peel off in bits even after years of tough British winters.  Our high quality sandstone is supplied by leading producers Marshalls and Stonemarket.  If you find sandstone...

Turnbull can help you achieve a wonderful outdoor social space that's perfect for family get-togethers and special occasions when you need a bit more elbow room.  From adding a new paving patio area to injecting a bit of colour to the garden, follow our infographic guide and get ready to entertain.                                                                                                                                          ...

Get your perfect patio design in minutes Technology can be very helpful when it comes to imagining exactly what a new patio layout will look like, or calculating how many paving slabs you will need. The paving team at Turnbull takes a look at what’s out there to help cut corners and make the job even easier. Marshalls online paving planner makes it so easy Our paving supplier Marshalls has great online planning and design tools anyone can use for free - they’re rated by Saga online magazine too! Our top tip - before you sit down to design your paving project, go out and measure your plot dimensions. Pop those into the Marshalls paving planner and within minutes you’ll...

Exceptional paving slabs If you’re browsing for a suitable garden patio slab, you’ll have noticed that suppliers like Turnbull offer Indian sandstone paving products. It’s now a hugely popular consumer choice since its introduction to the market about 30 years ago. Sandstone is a superb natural stone surface but why Indian Sandstone, we hear you ask? Well, there are a few very good reasons. Indian sandstone - an affordable, mid-range paving slab If Indian sandstone is so good, it’s probably out of your price range? Not so. There are lots of mid-range sandstone options. Marshalls Indian Sandstone Paving and Sandstone Circle comes in three colours and starts around £20 a square metre. Riven Harena is a superior mid-range split...

Once you start looking for patio paving, you’ll realise the choice of colours, finishes and patterns are enormous. And price varies as much as design. Whether you’re planning to do it yourself or not, you’ll want something that will last, look good and be an asset to your property. You can’t beat a natural stone surface Of course, natural stone paving looks the business – it’s timeless, tough, has been there for centuries already and will continue to look amazing in your garden. Marshalls and Stonemarket have slabs that are split to reveal the stone’s natural unpolished uneven surface. This ‘riven’ surface gives a special tactile character and evokes the rougher flagstones of earlier times. Marshall’s Antique Alverno and Riven...

Many of us in the United Kingdom live in areas that are at risk of flooding. The damage caused by floods has been well documented by the media. The Government reports that we must prepare for further flooding. There’s plenty of information online to help you prepare for a flood. One long-term solution, used extensively in other flood-prone countries, is permeable paving. Your house — and paving system, in particular — may not be as resilient as you think. Permeable paving reduces the risks of flooding by enabling water to drain away in a controlled manner. An Introduction to Permeable Paving Permeable paving is a fairly recent development. While countries like Japan and the US are familiar with the benefits...

Marshalls Paving? Garden Walling? Discover the Garden Trends of 2017 Your garden paving and landscaping choices expand each year with a host of exciting new products from Marshalls and Stonemarket. Turnbull is here with a few on-trend suggestions for your garden retreat. Eco-Friendly Garden Paving and Landscaping Your choice of paving is  an area to go green. Opting for permeable Marshalls paving means rainwater is absorbed rather than pushed into drains, which benefits the ecosystem and reduces the risk of flooding. All Marshalls products that are produced in the UK have been carbon footprinted and are certified by The Carbon Trust. You can even use Marshalls’ carbon footprint calculator to determine the footprint of your project. The environment will also have...

Paving slabs and blocks like Marshalls Saxon Textured Garden Paving or Stonemarket Trident Textured Driveway Paviors which have been developed with slip-resistant qualities are an excellent choice for our varied UK weather conditions, but low temperatures, heavy rain, snow and ice will take their toll on the toughest driveways, paths and patios. We’ve already covered routine maintenance for a problem-free paving year in our blog, so here’s a handy guide on how to prepare your driveway paving and slabs for the chilly weather.     1. Clear and clean your paving slabs If you want to be ready for winter, you need to start by cleaning your paving and driveways. Check for any accumulated debris, including any weeds or unwanted growth...

So many garden slabs, so much choice! Choosing the right paving for your dream garden really matters - you're going to live with it for a long time.  A well-designed and installed garden patio can transform a dull outdoor space into a relaxing place that's a joy to look at and to use. We’ve previously compared the advantages of paving with natural stone or concrete, and we’ve also looked at the best Marshalls paving for your home. However, choosing the right garden paving for your garden patio is a challenge as there is so much choice in different price ranges. Here are some design pointers to help generate ideas for your next project: Think about your garden paving will be used...

An outdoor living space is a top priority for renovators and home buyers. Gardens can have a dramatic impact on the value of your home and that’s why sellers are investing in new garden paving, installing or upgrading existing patios as well as thinking about the kerb appeal of their front garden . Houses for sale with appealing outdoor space go at premium prices.  A well-designed patio or an inviting garden path to a carefully placed arbour are not just bonuses for you; they will impress potential buyers. Here's how to upgrade your garden, increase the value of your home and secure a sale! Use garden walling to create order out of chaos  A neglected garden is uninviting. It’s a telltale...

Gardens, like gardeners, are all different and come with their own unique quirks. Whether your garden is an ordered space for family and friends to enjoy themselves or a place where nature reigns supreme, a garden wall will create a special aspect in your garden design. Garden walling as a feature can inject magic and class into your garden.  But choosing a garden wall is no easy task, with many factors and different designs to consider. Here are five of our favourite garden walling designs to give you a helping hand. 1. The Classical Appeal: Croft Stone Garden Walling Croft Stone Garden Walling will always be a top choice for gardeners due to its stunning, earthy look and easy-to-build appeal. The...

Yes! Selling Marshalls paving slabs for 25 years! We have now been working with Marshalls for over 25 years, selling their entire range, and so we thought it only right that we share some of our extensive knowledge with you and fill you in on some of the amazing Marshalls paving slabs out there. Paving your outdoor space is becoming increasingly popular and not without good reason. Hard landscaping can have a hugely positive impact on your home. Not only do paving or blocks give your garden or driveway a more organised and clean look, but they also add quality, character and value. We sure you'll want to know just what's available and which paving will suit you and your project...

Paving problems avoided and year round maintenance advice courtesy of the Turnbull Paving Team A smart cleaning routine It’s worth having a good yearly maintenance routine for your driveway or paving area – keep a close eye on these areas and they’ll remain an asset to your property, staying attractive and welcoming. Good maintenance keeps the problems away and prolongs the life of paving. You’ll save money in the long run. Spring clean Marshalls and Stonemarket recommend giving your paving the first clean of the year in the spring to remove any build-up of algae, moss, dirt and debris that can happen over the winter months. This is also a good time to check that the joints are still filled, especially...

Look after your paving and driveway investment Hard landscaping can be a significant investment for every homeowner, so we do recommend these regular easy steps to keep driveways, paths and patios looking like new. Brushing is best for patios We have to say, the best and easiest way to keep a patio looking good is to brush it regularly. Sweep slabs with a good stiff brush to remove all the dirt and debris that collects at any time of the year.  Larger driveway areas may be more of a physical challenge, but it's still the best, low-cost way to clean your hard landscaping. Cleaning with a jet washer Cleaning your paving with a jet washer can be very effective, but we...

The Turnbull paving team apply their wisdom to the issues of horse boxes, paving in the rain, weeds and barbecue stains Foundations for garden pavers need to be at least 150mm deep. If you are putting a patio or pavers next to your house, the surface of your patio must also be 150mm below the damp proof course of the house. The depth of driveway foundations depends entirely on the total weight that will be on the driveway at any one time.As a rule of thumb, pavers under 50mm thickness will NOT be suitable for use in a driveway as there is not enough stone to cope with the weight of a vehicle. Call us on 01529 308839 and...

Save money on your paving order When ordering garden paving slabs or driveway block paving it's sensible to allow for wastage to complete your project. Adding an allowance for wastage means you'll still have enough slabs or blocks to finish, even if you drop one, or make a mistake when cutting.  It happens to us all! The norm for garden slabs is around 5%, but you can reduce this figure by using the Marshalls Paving Planner. This handy free online calculator will give you a more precise number of slabs/packs for a particular paving product using a specific laying pattern. For more explanation, read our paving team's guide to planning here. Under-ordering can mean waiting for, and paying for...

How to lay garden paving: tips from the Turnbull team Laying garden paving is a pretty straightforward task but that can depend on your choice of paving slab. So, before you pay the earth for those amazing reclaimed flags you've found somewhere, read on! Choose a paving slab designed for easy installation Believe it or not, some slabs are easier to install than others. They've been designed to make laying simpler, quicker and to ensure a successful, professional end result with minimal experience. So we recommend some smart shopping before you get stuck in. If you are choosing natural stone, select a calibrated design and you'll get slabs that have been cut to the same thickness. This will make...