Edinburgh · Midlothian · The Lothians
Hard Landscaping in Edinburgh & the Lothians
The structure of a garden: patios, paths, steps, walls and edging, built on groundwork that lasts.
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Hard landscaping in Edinburgh is our core trade – patios, paths, steps, walls, edging and paving – built on a properly prepared sub-base so it stays level and drains well.
Hard landscaping is everything in a garden that isn't planted. It's the skeleton the rest of the garden hangs on, and it's the part that's expensive and disruptive to redo, so it's worth getting right the first time. Because we're bricklayers as well as landscapers, we build all of it ourselves.
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Hard landscaping in Edinburgh: the groundwork that matters
Every piece of hard landscaping follows the same principles, whatever it looks like on top.
Excavation to firm ground
Topsoil and soft material removed, not built on.
Compacted sub-base
Crushed stone compacted in layers to carry the load.
Levels and falls
Surfaces set to shed water away from the house and into somewhere that can take it.
Edge restraint
Paving and blocks held in place by edging set in concrete.
Foundations for walls and steps
Concrete footings below frost depth.
Drainage
Channel drains, soakaways and weep holes where water needs a route out.
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What we build
Garden walls and retaining walls
Boundary walls, dwarf walls, raised beds and walls that hold back slopes. Garden walls,
Edging and borders
Brick, block, stone or steel edging to separate lawns, beds and paths and keep them crisp.
Gravel areas
Gravel paths and seating areas on a proper sub-base with edging, so the gravel stays put.
Bin stores and utility areas
Paved bases for sheds, bins and heat pumps, with low walls or screens to tidy them away.
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Planning hard landscaping as a whole
The best gardens treat hard landscaping as one design rather than a collection of separate jobs. Using the same stone for the patio, path and wall copings ties the garden together. Putting steps where people naturally walk means they'll be used. And doing all the groundwork in one go saves money and disruption. If you're planning a full garden, see garden design.
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Hard landscaping for Edinburgh gardens
Sloping gardens
need terraces, retaining walls and steps.
Heavy, wet ground
needs deeper sub-base and drainage.
Small city gardens
benefit from fewer, larger materials and built-in seating and storage.
Older properties
look best with natural stone and traditional details.
New-build plots
often need the builder's compacted ground and rubble dug out before anything is laid.
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Where we work
Across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Loanhead, Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik, Musselburgh and Livingston.
Hard landscaping FAQs
What's the difference between hard and soft landscaping?
Hard landscaping is the built structure: paving, walls, steps, edging. Soft landscaping is the living part: lawns, beds and planting. We do both.
Can you do hard landscaping in stages?
Yes. Groundwork and structural elements are usually done first, then finishes and planting, which helps spread the cost.
How long does a hard landscaping project take?
A single patio might take a week; a full garden with walls, steps and paths can take several weeks.
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Get a quote for hard landscaping
Send photos and tell us what you'd like to build. Call or text 07426 792387 or request a free quote.
Free quotes
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Call or text 07426 792387, or send photos through the quote form.