--- title: "Patios in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire" description: "Patio installation for Great Shelford village homes. Correct falls, full sub-base, and material options to suit your garden." canonical: "https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/areas/great-shelford-cambridgeshire" lastmod: "2026-10-05T11:28:40.315Z" --- # Patios In Great Shelford Patio installation for Great Shelford village homes. ## Services We Provide in Great Shelford From new installations and material selection to drainage, repairs and finishing work. - **[Patios](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/)**: Full patio installation covering excavation, Type 1 sub-base, bedding and jointing. - **[Porcelain Patios](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/porcelain-patios)**: Non-porous porcelain slabs laid on a full mortar bed with primer slurry and jointing compound. - **[Indian Sandstone Patios](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/indian-sandstone-patios)**: Natural sandstone slabs, including Raj Green, laid on a mortar bed with sealed jointing compound. - **[Limestone & Natural Stone Patios](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/limestone-natural-stone-patios)**: Limestone and natural stone slabs laid on a compacted sub-base with correct drainage falls. - **[Block Paved Patios](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/block-paved-patios)**: Block paving laid on a compacted sub-base and bedding layer with jointing sand and edging restraints. - **[Patio Extensions & Resurfacing](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/patio-extensions-resurfacing)**: Existing patio assessed for drainage, joint condition and slab stability before any work is quoted. - **[Patio Steps & Raised Terraces](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/patio-steps-raised-terraces)**: Steps and raised terraces built with consistent rise and tread sizing, mortar bed and drainage fall. - **[Garden Paths & Walkways](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/garden-paths-walkways)**: Paving slab, brick and natural stone paths laid on a compacted sub-base with edging and drainage. - **[Patio Drainage & Levelling](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/patio-drainage-levelling)**: Fall direction checked with a laser level; slabs lifted, sub-base rebuilt and relaid to correct gradient. - **[Patio Edging & Retaining Walls](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/patio-edging-retaining-walls)**: Edging blocks and retaining walls set on a compacted granular base with drainage and landscape adhesive. - **[Patio Lighting & Finishing](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/patio-lighting-finishing)**: LED step lights, wall fittings and concealed low-voltage cabling fitted to an existing patio surface. - **[Patio Cleaning, Repointing & Repair](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/patio-cleaning-repointing-repair)**: Pressure washing, joint raking, repointing with jointing compound and loose slab re-bedding. - **[New Build Garden Patios](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/new-build-garden-patios)**: Full patio installation from excavation and sub-base through to jointing, edging and drainage falls. [View all services](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services) ## Getting the ground right in Great Shelford’s valley soils Sandy and gravelly soils near the River Granta shift under thin beds, the sub-base preparation matters before a single slab is laid. Great Shelford sits on alluvium and gravel deposits laid down by the River Cam and River Granta. Those sandy, gravelly valley soils drain quickly in some spots and hold water in others, particularly on lower ground closer to the river. A patio laid on a thin sand bed without a compacted Type 1 sub-base will settle unevenly within a season or two. The survey assesses the existing ground, confirms the depth of excavation needed, and sets the falls so surface water runs clear of the house and its damp-proof course. Properties around Woollards Lane and Station Road include detached and semi-detached houses with rear gardens that often slope or sit on uneven ground. Narrower village roads can limit how materials are delivered, so access is checked at the survey stage. Material choices, porcelain on a full mortar bed with primer slurry, sandstone with sealed joints, or block paving on Type 1, are matched to the site conditions and the garden layout, not simply to price. Freeze-thaw cycles in winter put particular stress on jointing compound, so the right bedding method for the material is specified from the outset. ## Questions we get in Great Shelford ### Can you fit a patio around a sloping or uneven garden? Yes. The installer surveys the existing levels before quoting. Falls are set to drain surface water away from the house, and the excavation depth is adjusted to suit the slope. Uneven ground often needs more sub-base material, which is quoted as a separate line so you can see exactly what the preparation involves. ### Do you work on gardens near the River Cam side of Great Shelford? Yes. Lower ground near the river valley can hold more moisture, which affects how the sub-base is prepared and how joints are finished. The installer checks drainage conditions on site before specifying the bedding method and jointing compound, so the patio performs through wet winters. ### How do you plan access for homes on narrower village roads? Access is assessed at the survey stage. The installer checks road width, gate openings and any restrictions before materials are ordered. Where standard delivery vehicles cannot reach, smaller loads or alternative drop points are arranged so the project is not delayed. ### Can you replace an old patio with something easier to maintain? Yes. The survey covers what is already down, how it currently drains and whether the existing sub-base can be reused. Porcelain is a common replacement choice because it resists staining and needs no sealing, though the correct bedding method, full mortar bed with primer slurry, must be used or the slabs will lift. ## Tell Us About Your Patio Project We schedule a site survey and quote excavation, sub-base, bedding and paving as separate lines, so there are no hidden groundwork costs. [Start Your Enquiry](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/contact) ## Business details ### Contact - **Phone**: [07787 475312](tel:07787475312) - **Email**: [contact@cambridgepatios.co.uk](mailto:contact@cambridgepatios.co.uk) - **Based in**: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 - **Enquiries**: [Send an enquiry](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/contact) — We ask for your name, phone number, email and a message. ### Opening hours - **Monday**: 08:00 – 18:00 - **Tuesday**: 08:00 – 18:00 - **Wednesday**: 08:00 – 18:00 - **Thursday**: 08:00 – 18:00 - **Friday**: 08:00 – 18:00 - **Saturday**: 10:00 – 16:00 - **Sunday**: 10:00 – 16:00 [Business details](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/about/business.md)