Hard Landscaping Services South Wales – Patios, Driveways & Stonework

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Professional Hard Landscaping Services Across South Wales

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Welsh Stonework – Your local experts in high-quality hard landscaping within a 25-mile radius of Swansea. We specialise in patios, driveways, stone walls, retaining walls, garden paths, steps and all forms of hard landscaping using authentic Welsh Blue Pennant stone and other premium materials.

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What is Hard Landscaping?

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Hard landscaping (sometimes called hardscape) includes all the non-living, structural elements of your outdoor space. This covers everything from paved patios and block-paving driveways to natural stone walls, steps, raised beds, pergolas and water features.

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In the wet and windy climate of South Wales, properly installed hard landscaping is essential for creating outdoor areas that are beautiful, functional and built to last for decades with minimal maintenance.

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Our Complete Hard Landscaping Services

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  • Patio Design & Installation – Indian sandstone, porcelain, Welsh slate or traditional Blue Pennant flagstones

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  • Driveways & Forecourts – Block paving, resin-bound, tarmac, gravel or natural stone setts

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  • Natural Stone Walling – Dry-stone walls, mortared boundary walls and feature walls using local Welsh stone

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  • Retaining Walls & Terracing – Essential for sloping gardens in the Swansea Valley and Gower

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  • Garden Paths & Steps – Safe, non-slip surfaces perfect for steep Welsh gardens

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  • Raised Beds & Planters – Built with reclaimed or new Welsh stone

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  • Decking, Pergolas & Timber Structures – To complement stone features

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  • Drainage & Groundworks – Proper sub-base, membrane and drainage included on every job

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  • Full Garden Makeovers – Combining hard and soft landscaping for a complete transformation

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Why Choose Welsh Blue Pennant Stone?

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Welsh Blue Pennant is one of the toughest natural sandstones in the UK. Quarried locally in the Forest of Dean and South Wales coalfield, it has been used for centuries across Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot because it:

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  • Withstands freeze-thaw cycles better than imported stone

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  • Offers a non-slip surface even when wet

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  • Weathers beautifully to a classic grey-blue colour

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  • Blends perfectly with traditional Welsh architecture

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Our 25-Mile Service Area – Where We Work

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We proudly serve homeowners and businesses within approximately 25 miles of Swansea, including all of the following towns and villages:

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  • Swansea (city centre, Sketty, Uplands, Killay, Dunvant, Gorseinon)

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  • Neath & Neath Port Talbot

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  • Port Talbot & Margam

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  • Llanelli & surrounding villages

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  • Mumbles, Langland, Caswell & Bishopston

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  • Gowerton, Penclawdd, Three Crosses & Dunvant

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  • Pontarddulais, Gorseinon & Loughor

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  • Briton Ferry, Baglan & Aberavon

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  • The Gower Peninsula (Rhossili, Port Eynon, Oxwich, Parkmill, Southgate)

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  • Swansea Valley (Clydach, Pontardawe, Ystradgynlais)

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  • Morriston, Llansamlet, Birchgrove & Glais

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If your property falls within this area, we’d love to help. Not sure? Just give us a call – we’re always happy to confirm.

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Why South Wales Homeowners Trust Welsh Stonework

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  • Over 20 years’ experience in Welsh stonework and hard landscaping

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  • 100% local – we live and work in Swansea

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  • Full public liability insurance & all work guaranteed

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  • No deposits required – you only pay when you’re completely satisfied

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  • Free, no-obligation quotations with fixed pricing

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  • We leave your site clean and tidy every day

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  • Hundreds of happy customers across Swansea, Neath, Llanelli & Gower

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Recent Hard Landscaping Projects (2024–2025)

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Large rear patio in Mumbles – 90 m² of sawn Welsh Blue Pennant with charcoal block border
nResin-bound driveway in Sketty – 140 m² replacement of old concrete
nDry-stone retaining wall in Pontarddulais – 18 m long x 1.4 m high using reclaimed local stone
nPorcelain patio & raised beds in Killay – Modern grey porcelain with LED lighting
nFull garden makeover in Bishopston – New patio, paths, walls and turf

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Get Your Free Hard Landscaping Quote Today

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Ready to transform your garden or driveway? Contact Welsh Stonework for professional, reliable hard landscaping services anywhere within our 25-mile Swansea radius.

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Call us on 01792 123456 or 07890 123456
nEmail: info@welshstonework.co.uk

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n Request a Free Quote →n

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How long does a typical patio take?
nMost domestic patios are completed in 3–7 days depending on size and access.

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Do you handle planning permission?
nPermitted development usually covers patios and driveways, but we’ll advise you if anything needs approval.

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Can you work on sloping gardens?
nYes – we specialise in terracing and retaining walls for the hilly gardens common across South Wales.

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Are you fully insured?
nYes – £5 million public liability insurance and all work is fully guaranteed.

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Semi-coursed Walling Stone

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Fine grained semi-coursed Blue Pennant sandstone.

Predominantly blue grey in colour with some brown tones from the Rhondda Beds of the Pennant series of Carboniferous Sandstones It a ideal walling stone for any application, giving a great decorative and long lasting appearance. We can supply a wide range of walling stone products at trade prices in our Stone Store

Standing Stones – Pennant Stone

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One of the most striking features in landscaping design incorporates the use of standing stones or “megaliths”.

Steeped in mystery for thousands of years, these “standing stones” invoke feelings of awe and wonder as to their original purpose. Why are they here? Who moved them to their final positions? How were they moved, as many stones are estimated to weigh hundreds of tons?

Obviously the stones we can provide are not such heavy weights, but they can provide a focal point in any landscaping project.

Not an undertaking to be taken lightly, with forethought and planning, this is not beyond the abilities of any DIY enthusiast. Variations on a theme involve setting out the “standing stones” in either groups clustered around a central stone or as stone circles. The only limitations are the ones imposed by the builder

Please get in touch if you require specialist standing stones or ideas .

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Landscape Design

Landscaping With Stone

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Natural stone is a great choice for landscaping. Not only is it durable, but it offers a classic, timeless look. Landscaping rock provides you with a great foundation to create any type of landscaping design you wish. In order to make your garden more remarkable and unique, try adding rocks, small stones or boulders in your garden.

Generally when we think about landscaping, a picture of shrubs, plants, and trees come to mind. These things are common in any garden, however using rock to add colour and definition to your landscaping is a great idea. Most rock is very inexpensive and easy to maintain. It also doesn’t require water or other types of care like living landscaping features do. The use of landscaping rock to personalize your landscaping is quite easy.

Landscape Designing Tips:

Stone Garden Hard Landscaping

First decide where you would like to place the rock. Take into account the shape of your home and select a rock complementing your home. Any open space in the garden will be ideal for placing the rocks. You can place stone around plants, which will create a wall around them, giving a separate entity to each plant. You can separate different sections of your garden with a rock wall too, or you can use rocks for stepping stones. For stepping stones you must use flat stones to avoid the risk of accidents. Our Blue Pennant Crazy Paving is a great example of suitable stone.

If your garden has a stream or pond, adding small rocks creates the look of river banks along the sides of a river, adding a more natural look to your landscape. Do not worry about the colour of rocks not blending with your home. Once you find appropriate rocks, you can easily colour them, so that they could complement your home.

Front Garden Landscaping

Large boulders can add distinction to your landscaping. They also make the area look wider and make great centre pieces or striking focal points. You can purchase boulders that are small enough to be put in place by a few healthy individuals or ones that are so large they require a crane to put them into place. Boulders are available in all shapes, sizes, and colours to give you a very unique look. You definitely get a good deal when you invest in natural stone. It can be used to accentuate walkways and patios or to build them. If You need landscape gardeners Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Areas of South Wales  Please Contact us

Gwrhyd Blue Pennant Sandstone

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Gwrhyd Blue Pennant Sandstone from Rhiwfawr Quarry in the Upper Swansea Valley  is one of the strongest available in the UK. The quarry is roughly 12 miles north of Swansea and not far from the small hamlet of Rhiwfawr and the outskirts Neath.


Its technical properties are far superior to other sources of pennant and allow it to be either used in thinner thicknesses compared to other stones or to carry higher loads. For instance a 400x900mm flag stone at 50mm in Gwrhyd Pennant will carry a class 5 loading as shown in the table below where normal pennant will only carry class 2.

Class Min Breaking Load kN Typical Use
0 0 Decoration
1 0.75 Slabs bedded on mortar, pedestrian only.
2 3.5 Pedestrian and cycle areas. Garden Balconies.
3 6 Occasional car, light vehicle and motorcycle access. Garage entrances
4 9 Walking areas, market places occasionally used by delivery vehicles.
5 14 Pedestrian areas often used by heavy vehicles.
6 25 Roads and streets, petrol stations.

Swansea Patio Construction Pennant flagstone


All Gwrhyd blue pennant stone is tested to British Standards. This includes durability tests such as freeze thaw and flexural tests after freeze action. Beyond this our products are also tested for other durability indicators not covered in the British Standards such as polished paver test vales. This gives security that the product will be sound during service.

What you will see an abundance of marks made by animals that burrowed into the wet sand when it was the bed of a shallow sea or river. You can also clearly see the ripple marks caused by the action of the water. There are superb examples of this in the Gwrhyd Pennant Quarry sandstone paving  at the entrance of National Waterfront Museum in Swansea.

New Build Construction

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Swansea House Build Stone Work Local Construction CompanyThis is a recent build completed in the Swansea Valley. The main build material was locally quarried Blue Pennant Stone. We Managed this Project from concept to completion.  All of the construction was completed by us and we  also undertook  the role of Project Manager. Our project management  services can be suited to manage all or part of your new self build project. By using  Welsh Stonework, it should help ensure completion on time and a quality of build of which you you can be proud. We have the  experience  to ensure your commission is built to budget.
Swansea Patio Construction Blue Pennant flagstone

neath stone fireplace new build

Stone Care Tips – Before and After the Party

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Visitors to your home — from parties to overnight guests —can  create wear and tear on your stone floors (wether marble, granite, limestone, slate or travertine) .

This makes protecting your stone countertops, walls, vanities and floors, a must before and after entertaining.

 

Following are tips to help ensure your “stone zones” are clean and protected.

 

Preparing for Guests

  • Test the Sealer — Before your guests arrive, take a few minutes to determine if your stone surface requires resealing. Simply place a drop of water on the surface and let it sit for 15 minutes. If the surface darkens or the water is absorbed into the surface, reseal as soon as possible. If it remains on the surface, clean it up — there is no need to reseal. Continue to maintain the surface with water-based daily stone cleaners. If the stone does require resealing, select a water-based stone sealer that protects the surface from staining and is safe for kitchen and bathroom use. Protective sealers are often suited to both countertop and stone floor use, and prevent water and food-oil stains.
  • Prevent Dull Surfaces — Polish your stone countertops and vanities to enhance color, prevent dulling, remove beverage rings and shower wall streaks before the guests arrive. Be sure to use a product that is safe for kitchen and bathroom use.
  • Last Minute Clean Up — If the seal is good and your surfaces are protected, be sure to wash stone surfaces before guests arrive with a water-based stone cleaner.

Use products made for stone surfaces that do not require rinsing. Always avoid any acids, harsh chemicals, oils and standing water. Also, when using cleaners on countertops, ensure they are safe for food handling.

When the Party’s Over

  • Once the guests are gone, check your stone surfaces to identify any stains. To remove stains use a product that contains poultice powder. Poultice powders work by reabsorbing stubborn stains from the natural stone surface.

If you require maintenance,repairs or new work and, are in South Wales(Neath, Swansea, Bridgend, Cardiff ) and please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements.

Ten Potential Stone Problems & Solutions

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Marble, granite, limestone and other decorative stone are durable materials that will last a lifetime. However, if not installed correctly or properly cared for problems may result that will shorten its life.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS THAT MAY OCCUR

1. Loss of shine

The loss of the high polish on certain marble and granite can be attributed to wear. This is especially true of marble, since it is much softer then granite. When shoes track in dirt and sand, the bottoms of the shoes can act like sandpaper on a stone floor surface and over time will wear the polish off. A stone restoration professional can restore the polish.

2. Etching

The dull, whitish spot created when liquids containing acids are spilled on marble is called etching. Marble and limestone etch very easily. Granite is very acid-resistant and will rarely etch. To prevent etching, avoid using cleaners and chemicals that contain acids. Light etching can be removed with a little marble polishing powder. Deep etching or large areas will require the services of a restoration professional.

3. Stains

Some stone surfaces can become stained easily if they are not properly sealed. Many foods, drinks, ink, oil and rust can cause stains. Most stains on stone can be removed. For some, more difficult stains, professional techniques by a stone restoration provider may be the only hope. Permanent stains can occur but not often.

4. Efflorescence

Efflorescence appears as a white powdery residue on the surface of the stone. It is a common condition on new stone installations or when the stone is exposed to a large quantity of water, such as flooding. This powder is a mineral salt from the setting bed. To remove efflorescence do not use water. Buff the stone with a clean polishing pad or #0000 steel wool pad. The stone will continue to effloresce until it is completely dry. This drying process can take several days to as long as one year. Do not seal the stone until any efflorescense is gone.

5. Spalling, Flaking and Pitting

If your stone is developing small pits or small pieces of stone are popping off the surface (spalling) then you have a problem. This condition is common on stone exposed to large amounts of water or when deicing salts are used for ice removal. Like efflorescence, mineral salts are the cause for spalling and pitting. Instead of the salts depositing on the surface (efflorescence) they deposit below the surface of the stone, causing pressure within the stone, causing stone spalls, flakes or pits. Unfortunately once a stone begins to spall it is almost impossible to repair. It is recommended that the stone be replaced.

6. Yellowing

There are several reasons why a stone will turn yellow: Embedded dirt and grime can give the stone a yellow, dingy look. Waxes and other coatings can yellow with age. Certain stones will naturally yellow with age as a result of oxidation of the iron within the stone. This is especially problematic with white marbles. If the yellowing is caused by dirt or wax build up, have the stone cleaned with an alkaline cleaner or wax stripper. This may be a job best left to professionals. If the yellowing is the result of aged stone or iron oxidation, it is not coming out.

7. Uneven Tile (Lippage)

Lippage is the term given to tiles that are set unevenly. In other words, the edge of one tile is higher than the next and is the result of a poor installation. If the lippage is higher than the thickness of a nickel, it is considered excessive and the tile will have to be ground by a restoration contractor to flatten the floor.

8. Cracks and Chips

Cracks in stone can be caused by settling, poor installation, inadequate underlying support or excessive vibration. Chips can result from a bad installation or when a heavy object falls on a vulnerable corner.Repairs can be done by a professional stone restoration contractor by filling with a color matched polyester or epoxy.

9. White Stun Marks

Stun marks appear as white marks on the surface of the stone and are common in certain types of marble. These stuns are the result of tiny explosions inside the crystal of the stone. Pin point pressures placed on the marble cause these marks. Women’s high heels or blunt pointed instruments are common reasons for stun marks. Stun marks can be difficult to remove. Grinding and/or honing can reduce the number of stuns, but some travel through the entire thickness of the stone.

10. Water Rings/Spots

Water rings and spots are very common on marble and other natural stone surfaces. They are either areas that have become etched or are from hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium that are left behind when water evaporates, leaving a ring or a spot. To remove either type of these spots, use a marble polishing powder. Moderate to severe etching or larger damaged areas will require professional honing by a stone restoration contractor.

If you require maintenance,repairs or new work and, are in South Wales(Neath, Swansea, Bridgend, Cardiff ) and please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements.

Clean Stone Tile Floor

How to Clean Stone Tile Floors

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Stone floors are beautiful and they are a good investment. As with any floors they need a regular maintenance. Sweeping stone tile floors with a dust mop or broom will remove dust and dirt as well as sand and other abrasive materials. If you use a vacuum cleaner be sure to remove the beater bar as it may scratch the stone tile. In order to protect your stone tile floors you might want to use mats and rugs in high traffic areas to trap any dirt, grit and sand that may scratch it as well as use protection cape on your furniture legs. Sealing may be helpful in protecting stone tile floors from staining.

Cleaning Tips

Do not use acid containing cleaners as well as vinegar. The bathroom, grout and tile cleaners can contain acid so use only special soap for stone. Avoid any abrasive cleaners. Take a clean mop and add a bit of soap to the bucket of water. Do not use too much soap as it will leave streaks on the stone tile. The mop should be damp without any excess of water. Since stone is porous the water, oil and other liquids can soak in and cause stains, so wipe any spills and dry mop your stone floors after each mopping.

The stone tile pavements in the outdoors can be cleaned with a mild bleach mixed with water as it is quite helpful in removing algae and moss from the stone. Don’t forget about precaution tips – do not mix bleach and ammonia; add bleach to the water not the other way around; prepare plenty of clean water to rinse the pavement and any bleach spillage to your flower bedding.

Remember that acid can make your stone floors look dull. Be sure to dry floors after mopping and wipe out any liquid spillage. Vacuum cleaner’s bristles can scratch stone tile as well as can grit and sand. Do not use cleaners for bathrooms, tile, and grout to clean stone tile floors.

If you require maintenance,repairs or new work and, are in South Wales(Neath, Swansea, Bridgend, Cardiff ) and please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements.

Flagstone Paving

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Flagstone when used on floors, patios, walkways and foyers always  looks exceptional. Blue Pennant patterned stone has a formal, yet rustic appearance, which is great for creating that special touch.

Gwrhyd Pennant  fine grained riven sandstone varies from light blue/grey through to brown/rust colors.  Gwrhyd Pennant stone is quarried  from the Rhondda Beds of the Pennant series of Carboniferous Sandstones.

Riven paving has a naturally rough surface because it is hand split, or ‘riven’, from large flagstone paving slabs. The blocks are formed in sedimentary layers called strata or beds which allows the stone to be split with hand tools.

For stone sales please visit our quarried stone products page. For information about Flagstones please check out Flagstone Information page.

 

Gwrhyd Blue Pennant  Stonework  building work covering Neath ,Swansea, Port Talbot, Bridgend,Cardiff, Carmarthen, Merthyr Tydfil. National Delivery of Gwrhyd Blue Pennant Stone Products at trade prices