The paving journal
Great spaces start underfoot.
There’s more to good paving than a handsome slab. Get a clearer view of the materials, groundwork and small decisions that make an outdoor space work.
Get into the detailsPaths. Patios. Driveways. No unnecessary jargon.
below the surface.
Looks matter.
Levels matter more.
We make room for both.Find your footing
The whole project.
Not just the pretty part.
Whether you’re weighing up a new patio or trying to understand a tired driveway, start with the questions that make a difference.
Materials with a purpose
Natural stone, concrete blocks or porcelain? Look beyond colour to texture, maintenance, loading and how the surface behaves when wet.
Explore materialsWhat’s underneath counts
Base preparation, finished levels, edges and drainage aren’t glamorous. They’re the details worth discussing before installation begins.
Think through the buildA little care, well judged
Cleaning, joint repairs and the occasional reset: understand the problem before reaching for a pressure washer or a bottle of sealer.
Read about upkeep
Before the first slab
Ask better questions.
Build a better brief.
A useful paving plan starts with how a space will be used—not a sample board. Take these questions into your first conversation with an installer.
- Use Will it carry people, furniture or vehicles?
- Water Where will rainwater go, and is that route suitable?
- Levels How will the surface meet doors, walls and existing ground?
- Care What upkeep are you genuinely happy to do?
A note on our approach
Less hard sell.
More solid advice.
What Paul Harris Wrote is a paving publication, not an installation service. We focus on explaining choices, trade-offs and the questions worth asking—without pretending one answer fits every site.
Get to know the publicationSomething on your mind?
Let’s talk paving.
Send a topic idea, a reader question or a detail we should take a closer look at.