Stripping the garden back
The old deck and the rotten sleeper steps were removed and the garden cleared, with over six skips of waste taken away.
Case study · South Norwood SE25 · June 2025
Curved porcelain patio, composite deck and new lawn in South Norwood
Trevor's garden in South Norwood was stripped right back and rebuilt from scratch. The old deck and rotten sleeper steps came out, with over six skips of waste removed. We built a retaining wall in concrete blocks laid flat and finished it in white silicone render, laid around 20m² of beige 60x90 porcelain in a flowing curve with flower beds along the sides, and supplied and fitted a 4m x 4m composite deck on a new timber frame. A step leads down to a new lawn with circular flower beds, and two brick steps finish the lower end. Two weeks on site.
- Location
- South Norwood, SE25
- Client
- Trevor
- Price
- £17,000–£22,000
- Time on site
- 2 weeks
- Patio
- Around 20m² beige porcelain, 60x90, curved
- Deck
- 4m x 4m composite, new timber frame
Where we started
The brief
Trevor's garden in South Norwood had an old deck and rotten sleeper steps, and the levels did not work. Trevor wanted a garden built from scratch: a patio and deck for sitting out, planting space and a proper lawn.
The garden was stripped back completely, with over six skips of waste taken away, and a new layout built around a curved patio. It is the kind of complete build our landscape gardeners near Norwood take on from start to finish.
Before & after
The same garden, during and after the work
The tricky parts
What went into it
Step by step
How we built it
The retaining wall and step
A retaining wall was built in concrete blocks laid flat, rendered white in silicone render, with a step down to the lawn.
Rendered retaining wall and step down from the porcelain patio 
White silicone-rendered retaining wall with the patio above The curved porcelain patio
Around 20m² of beige 60x90 porcelain was laid with a curved edge and flower beds along the sides.
Beige porcelain patio with a curved edge in South Norwood 
Curved porcelain patio with flower beds along the side The composite deck
A new timber frame was built and a 4m x 4m composite deck fitted on top.
New timber frame for the composite deck 
Finished 4m x 4m composite deck New lawn, circular beds and brick steps
New turf was laid with circular flower beds, and two brick steps finished the lower end of the garden.
New turf being laid in the South Norwood garden 
New lawn leading to the lower brick steps
Video
The finished garden
A look round Trevor's finished garden in South Norwood: the curved porcelain patio, composite deck, rendered wall and new lawn.
The finished work
The finished garden
“They transformed the garden completely and delivered exactly what we wanted. The team were professional and reliable throughout.”
Budget
What it cost
This project came in at £17,000–£22,000, covering the full strip-out and over six skips of waste, a rendered retaining wall in concrete blocks, around 20m² of beige porcelain in a curved layout, a 4m x 4m composite deck on a new timber frame, three new steps, new turf and circular flower beds, over two weeks. See our landscape gardeners near Norwood page for more.
Get a free quote- Price
- £17,000–£22,000
- Time on site
- 2 weeks
- Patio
- Around 20m² beige porcelain, 60x90, curved
Questions
About full garden transformations
Thinking about something similar? These are the questions we hear most.
How much does a full garden transformation cost in South Norwood?
Trevor's garden in South Norwood SE25 came in at £17,000–£22,000 for a full strip-out, a rendered retaining wall, a curved porcelain patio, a 4m x 4m composite deck, steps, new turf and circular flower beds, over two weeks.
Can a porcelain patio be laid in a curve?
Yes. The slabs along the edge are cut to follow the curve, as here, which softens the layout and leaves room for planting along the sides.
How do you build a retaining wall for a patio?
Here it was built in concrete blocks laid flat to hold back the higher ground, then finished in white silicone render so it looks clean and stays that way.
Why have a deck and a patio?
A patio gives a hard, easy-clean area for dining, while a composite deck adds a warmer surface for sitting. Combining them, as here, gives two distinct spaces.
How much waste does a garden strip-out produce?
It depends on the garden. Taking out the old deck and sleeper steps on this job meant over six skips of waste.
Do you work near South Norwood?
Yes, including Upper Norwood, Thornton Heath, Crystal Palace, Penge and Croydon.
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020 3633 5529 info@finelandscape.co.ukFine Landscape Ltd
31 Tylecroft Road, Norbury, London SW16 4BL
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