Your questions answered
Everything you might want to ask.
Grouped by where you are in the decision — from early research through the build to the years after. If your question isn't here, just call and ask.
Before you call
Do you charge for a site visit or quote?
No. The first site visit and the itemised quote that follows are free and come with no obligation. Nick comes out, walks the plot with you, works out what the ground and the levels actually need, and puts a clear, priced breakdown to it — whether it's a single patio or a full garden transformation. David Carter's review describes exactly this: 'Excellent service from initial site visit by Nick to finished project.'
Will I deal with Nick himself, or a salesperson?
Nick. He owns Dorking Paving and Landscapes, quotes the work himself and is on site through the build with his team, Connor and Ben. That's why clients name them personally in the reviews — there's no sales layer between you and the people laying the stone. When you have a question, you ask the man who's answerable for the job.
What certifications and memberships do you hold?
Three, each independently checked. We're a registered member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, a member of Interlay (the block-paving industry's own standards body), and approved under the Trading Standards Buy with Confidence scheme. We're a limited company — Dorking Paving and Landscapes Ltd, company number 8344413, VAT registered — not a cash-only outfit.
What areas do you cover?
We're based at 54 Nutwood Avenue in Brockham and cover Dorking, Brockham and Betchworth and the towns around them — Reigate, Leatherhead, Bookham, Westcott and Holmwood. For larger paving and landscaping projects we'll travel further across Surrey. See our service-area page for the full list.
Roughly what should I budget?
It depends on the size, the surface you choose and how much groundwork the base needs — but we'd rather give you a sense than leave you guessing. A run of new turf or planting sits at the smaller end; a quality Indian-sandstone patio typically lands in the mid thousands; a full garden transformation with clearance, walling, paving and planting is a multi-week project priced accordingly. Every quote is itemised and free — see our costs guide for the bands.
During the project
How do I know the paving is built to last, not just to look right?
Because the difference is all in what you can't see. We excavate to depth, build a properly consolidated sub-base, set edgings to hold the paving, and lay to correct falls so water drains away — not on a thin bed of sand that lets a patio rock and lift a few years on. As Interlay members we lay to the industry's own standard, and we show you the full build-up in the quote so you know what's going in under the surface.
Will you keep the site tidy and work around my neighbours?
That's what clients single out most. Karolina Dobrzynska wrote that we 'kept everything incredibly tidy throughout the project and were consistently polite and considerate with our neighbours'; Jonathan Quick called us 'tidy and above all excellent work'. A paving job is disruptive by nature, so keeping it orderly and considerate is part of doing it properly.
How long does a project take?
It depends on the scope — a straightforward patio might be a week or so, a driveway a little longer, and a full garden transformation a couple of weeks. Karolina's whole garden was rebuilt 'in less than two weeks'. We give you a realistic timescale with your quote and stick to it: David Carter noted his work was 'carried out within estimated time scale', even with a couple of extras thrown in along the way.
Can you handle extra bits added along the way?
Within reason, yes — we'd rather get the finished result right than rigidly hold you to the first drawing. David Carter's review puts it well: 'a couple of extra requirements we threw in along the way… nothing seemed to faze the team.' We'll always tell you what any change means for the price and the programme before we do it.
Can you work on sloping or awkward plots?
Very much so. A lot of Mole Valley gardens are tiered or sloping, which is where retaining walls, levels and drainage earn their keep. On one job we cleared a wild area and built retaining walls to make the ground usable — the client called the effect 'transformative'. Getting the structure and the drainage right on a slope is core to what we do.
Guarantee & after we're done
What does the six-year guarantee cover?
All our hard-landscaping workmanship. If something we built — a patio, driveway, wall, steps or path — isn't right because of how we installed it, you have it in writing that we'll come back and put it right, for six years after the job. It sits on top of your normal statutory rights, not instead of them.
Why should the guarantee reassure me more than a five-star rating?
Because a review tells you a past customer was happy; a written guarantee tells you what happens if you're not. Backing six years of workmanship in writing is only sensible for a firm confident its foundations and falls are built to last — which is exactly why we build them the way we do.
Do you supply the materials, or do I?
We supply and lay everything as one package — sub-base, edgings, the paving or stone you choose, and any drainage — so there's a single point of responsibility for the finished job and the guarantee covers the lot. If you have a particular product or supplier in mind, we're happy to work with it.
Do you do smaller jobs, or only full transformations?
Both. We take on full garden transformations, but we'll also lay a single patio, build a wall, put in a path or resurface a driveway. Michelle Dickinson came to us for a patio and driveway; other clients start with one job and have us back for the next.
Still wondering about something?
The quickest way to a straight answer is a quick call or a WhatsApp photo of the patio, drive or garden. No obligation, no pressure.