Moving over 100 tonnes of soil
Over 100 tonnes of soil was dug out and taken away, and more than 60 tonnes of hardcore brought in for the bases. Around 10 grab lorries were used, with a digger and dumper working on site.
Case study · Orpington BR6 · March–April 2025
Block paving driveway and Indian sandstone garden in Orpington
Harshad's home in Orpington was transformed from the front gate to the back fence. At the front, the old driveway was removed and a new red-brown block paving driveway laid with eco drains. Autumn Indian sandstone runs down the side of the house and across the back, with five new steps fully clad in the same stone, an elegant curved paved path beside new turf, a raised wooden sleeper bed, three recessed manhole covers and a ramp for easy access. Over 100 tonnes of soil came out, a digger and dumper were on site, and the whole project took four weeks for around £45,000 all in, including VAT.
- Location
- Orpington, BR6
- Client
- Harshad
- Price
- Around £45,000 inc. VAT
- Time on site
- 4 weeks (17 March to April 2025)
- Driveway
- Red-brown block paving, eco drains
- Garden
- Autumn Indian sandstone, 5 clad steps, turf
Where we started
The brief
Harshad wanted the whole property done in one go: a new driveway at the front, paving down the side of the house, and a back garden that was easy to use, with a lawn, planting space and level access all the way to the shed.
With levels to change and a lot of ground to move, the job needed a digger, a dumper and careful planning of deliveries and waste. It is the kind of project our landscape gardeners in Orpington take on from start to finish, covering driveways in Orpington and patios in Orpington in one build.
Before & after
The same home, before and after
The tricky parts
What went into it
Step by step
How we built it
Digging out with a digger and dumper
The front and back were dug out with a digger and dumper. Over 100 tonnes of soil was removed using around 10 grab lorries.
Mini digger digging out the back garden in Orpington 
Soil dug out of the front garden ready for removal Preparing the driveway base
With more than 60 tonnes of hardcore delivered, the driveway base was laid and compacted before the blocks arrived.
Compacting the hardcore base for the new driveway 
Pallets of block paving delivered for the Orpington driveway Block paving and eco drains
Red-brown block paving was laid across the driveway, with eco drains along the front.
Block paving being laid across the driveway 
Eco drain channel set into the block paving Indian sandstone down the side and across the back
Autumn Indian sandstone was laid down the side of the house and across the back of the garden.
Autumn Indian sandstone being laid along the garden 
Sandstone paving taking shape across the back garden Building and cladding the steps
Five steps were built and fully clad in the same sandstone, linking the lower patio to the garden.
Five sandstone-clad steps up from the patio 
New steps clad in Autumn Indian sandstone beside the raised bed Curved path, turf and the back of the garden
Half the garden was paved in a curve with turf laid alongside, a raised sleeper bed was built, and the very back was paved with a ramp for easy access.
Curved sandstone path beside new turf after jet washing 
Paved area at the very back of the garden by the shed
The finished work
The finished project
Budget
What it cost
This project came to around £45,000 including VAT, all in: removing the old driveway, full groundworks with over 100 tonnes of soil out and 60+ tonnes of hardcore in, a red-brown block paving driveway, Autumn Indian sandstone to the side and back, five clad steps, a ramp, a curved path, natural turf, a raised sleeper bed, eco drains, three recessed manhole covers and cabling for lighting and the shed, over four weeks. See our landscape gardeners in Orpington page for more.
Get a free quote- Price
- Around £45,000 inc. VAT
- Time on site
- 4 weeks (17 March to April 2025)
- Driveway
- Red-brown block paving, eco drains
Questions
About full driveway and garden projects
Thinking about something similar? These are the questions we hear most.
How much does a full driveway and garden makeover cost in Orpington?
Harshad's project in Orpington BR6 came to around £45,000 including VAT for a new block paving driveway, Autumn Indian sandstone down the side and across the back, five clad steps, a ramp, a curved path, turf, a sleeper bed, eco drains, three recessed manhole covers and garden cabling, over four weeks.
How long does a front and back garden project take?
This one took four weeks from 17 March 2025. A project of this size needs time for heavy groundworks, deliveries and waste removal before the paving and finishing work can start.
How do you deal with that much soil and waste?
On this job over 100 tonnes of soil came out and more than 60 tonnes of hardcore went in. We used around 10 grab lorries, with a digger and dumper on site, so the waste left as the work progressed.
Can steps be clad in the same stone as the patio?
Yes. Here five new steps were fully clad in the same Autumn Indian sandstone as the paving, so the steps and patio look like one piece.
Can you add a ramp for easier access?
Yes. A ramp was built into the paving on this project so the garden can be reached without using the steps.
Do you install cables for garden lighting?
On this project electric cables were laid for garden lighting and run to the shed while the ground was open, which saves digging up new paving later.
Do you work near Orpington?
Yes, including Chislehurst, Bromley, Sidcup and Bexley. See our driveways in Orpington and patios in Orpington pages too.
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020 3633 5529 info@finelandscape.co.ukFine Landscape Ltd
31 Tylecroft Road, Norbury, London SW16 4BL
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