A custom-made pergola
The pergola was made to measure for the side return, then supplied and fitted by us, framing the space between the house and the fence. The pergola alone was around £3,000 of the total.
Case study · Thornton Heath CR7 · March 2026
Custom pergola, French drains and garden refresh in Thornton Heath
At Jane's home in Thornton Heath we built a custom pergola over the side return, jet washed and regrouted the crazy paving patio, installed around 15m of French drains around the property connected to the gullies and finished with panda gravel, and laid random concrete stepping stones across the lawn to the shed. Supplied, installed and all waste removed in four days, £7,500 including VAT.
- Location
- Thornton Heath, CR7
- Client
- Jane
- Price
- £7,500 inc. VAT
- Time on site
- 4 days
- Pergola
- Custom made (£3,000 of total)
- Drainage
- 15m French drains to gullies
Where we started
The brief
Jane's house in Thornton Heath has a crazy paving patio along the side return and a lawn leading to a shed at the back. Jane wanted a pergola over the side return, the old paving brought back to life, better drainage around the house and an easy route across the lawn.
We took it on as one project: a custom pergola, cleaning and regrouting, French drains and stepping stones. It is a good example of the pergolas and French drains in Thornton Heath we install.
The tricky parts
What went into it
Step by step
How we built it
Jet washing the crazy paving
The crazy paving patio was jet washed to remove the dirt and staining.
Jet washing the crazy paving patio 
Crazy paving side return after jet washing Regrouting and French drains
The paving was regrouted, and around 15m of French drains were installed around the property, connected to the gullies and finished with panda gravel.
Regrouted crazy paving beside the house 
Crazy paving and panda gravel along the house The custom pergola
The made-to-measure pergola was supplied and fitted over the side return.
Custom timber pergola over the side return 
Pergola with panda gravel and crazy paving below Stepping stones across the lawn
Random concrete paver stepping stones were set into the lawn to make a path to the shed, and all the waste was removed on day four.
Laying the stepping stones into the lawn 
Random stepping stones leading to the shed
The finished work
The finished garden
Budget
What it cost
This project came to £7,500 including VAT over four days, supplied, installed and with all waste removed. The custom pergola was around £3,000 of that; the rest covered jet washing and regrouting the crazy paving, around 15m of French drains connected to the gullies, the panda gravel and the concrete stepping stones. See our pergolas in Thornton Heath page for more options.
Get a free quote- Price
- £7,500 inc. VAT
- Time on site
- 4 days
- Pergola
- Custom made (£3,000 of total)
Questions
About pergolas, French drains and stepping stones
Thinking about something similar? These are the questions we hear most.
How much does a pergola cost in Thornton Heath?
The custom-made pergola in Jane's garden in Thornton Heath CR7 was around £3,000 supplied and fitted, as part of a £7,500 project including VAT, done in four days, that also covered 15m of French drains, patio cleaning and regrouting, and stepping stones.
What is a French drain?
A French drain is a trench filled with gravel around a perforated pipe. It collects surface and ground water and carries it away, here into the existing gullies, so it does not sit against the house.
Can old crazy paving be restored?
Usually, yes. If the stones are sound, jet washing and regrouting brings crazy paving back to life for much less than replacing it, as we did at Jane's.
What is panda gravel?
Panda gravel is a decorative mix of black and white stones. It drains freely, which makes it a good finish over French drains and along the house.
Do stepping stones damage the lawn?
No. They are set level with the grass so you can mow straight over them, and they stop a worn, muddy track forming where people walk.
How long did this garden project take?
Jane's project took four days: the pergola, cleaning and regrouting the crazy paving, 15m of French drains and the stepping stones, with all waste removed.
Do you work near Thornton Heath?
Yes, including Norbury, Croydon and Streatham. See all our landscaping in Thornton Heath.
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020 3633 5529 info@finelandscape.co.ukFine Landscape Ltd
31 Tylecroft Road, Norbury, London SW16 4BL
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