Imprinted Concrete Patio and Footpath Transformation in Coombe Dingle

A good entrance to a home sets the tone before you even reach the front door.

For a returning customer in Coombe Dingle, the space in front of the house had felt tired and underused for too long. What should have been a welcoming area had become overrun with withered plants and debris, so the homeowner wanted to make better use of it and create a more appealing approach to the property.

They also wanted a bigger patio area that felt practical, tidy, and easier to maintain.

Having worked with this customer twice before, we already knew the property and had a good understanding of what they wanted from the space. This time, the goal was to create a smarter, more usable outdoor area using imprinted concrete, giving the property a cleaner, more modern finish. 

The challenge

The main issue was that the front of the property was not being used to its full potential.

The area had become cluttered with withered plants and debris, making the entrance feel far less inviting or practical than it should. Our customer wanted to clear and reshape the space, so it felt like a proper part of the home again, rather than an area that had been left to deteriorate.

The side of the property had suffered the same fate. Overgrown grass and overflowing soil, combined with a lack of accessible paving, restricted access to the property’s outhouse.

Alongside this, our customer wanted to extend their existing imprinted concrete garden patio, which we had installed months earlier.

The customer wanted:

• A more attractive welcome into the property
• A cleaner, more usable area in front of the house
• A wider side footpath
• An extended rear patio area
• Access to the property through steps and a sloped path
• A strong, low-maintenance surface
• A finish that looked smart and suited the house

It became clear that a big part of the job would involve widening the side footpath. That meant removing a lot of soil and rock, not just skimming the surface or making small adjustments. We had to excavate the area properly so the new layout would have enough space, the right levels, and a solid base underneath.

Because retaining walls were also needed, the project had to be completed in stages. We handled the excavation and groundwork first, then stepped away while the bricklayers built the walls, before returning to complete the concrete installation.

Our solution

We recommended imprinted concrete in a sidewalk slate pattern, finished in charcoal.

This was the perfect choice for this project. It would seamlessly match the existing patio we had previously installed, bringing the home together without the ongoing movement, weeds, or unevenness you can get with individual paving slabs.

It was also a practical fit for the design. The customer wanted to integrate a brickwork path within the patio, and imprinted concrete allowed us to factor practical features like steps into the installation without compromising the overall finish.

The charcoal colour worked well for the entrance and patio. It created a bold, tidy finish without looking too busy. For a property entrance, that matters – as it ensures the space looks considered, not overdone.

The plan was to reshape the side access, clear and improve the area in front of the house, create the new patio area, prepare the ground properly, and then install the imprinted concrete once the retaining walls were finished.

The process

We started with the excavation work and footings.

This took four days in total. During that stage, we removed a large amount of soil and rock from the site so the side footpath could be widened properly. It was one of those jobs where the finished surface looks simple, but most of the hard work happens underneath.

Once the excavation was complete and the footings were in, we came off-site to allow the bricklayers to build the retaining walls.

That sequencing was important. The walls needed to be in place before we could complete the final preparation and concrete installation. Rushing that stage would have made the job harder and risked compromising the finish.

After the retaining walls were built, we returned for half a day to add more Type 1 sub-base and finish preparing the area.

The next stage was the concrete pour. We laid the colour and printed all the concrete in one day, using the sidewalk slate pattern to create the textured finish across the patio and footpath.

Two half-days followed after that. One was used for washing down the surface, and the other for sealing it.

The sealant is what helps bring out the colour, protect the surface, and give the imprinted concrete its finished look.

The results

The finished space gave the customer exactly what they were looking for: a more appealing entrance and a much more usable area in front of the house.

Instead of a tired space filled with withered plants and debris, the homeowner now has a clean, practical patio area that makes better use of the available space. The widened side footpath made access feel much more comfortable, while the charcoal sidewalk slate finish tied everything together and gave the property a much smarter first impression.

The extension of the rear patio brought the whole project together and helped unify the outdoor space. 

Because the customer had worked with us twice before, it was especially nice to be invited back for another project. There’s no better compliment than a customer coming back to us. It shows confidence in how we work from start to finish.

Final thoughts

This Coombe Dingle project is a perfect example of why preparation matters so much.

The finished surface is what everyone sees, but the excavation, footings, sub-base, levels, and timing all play a major role in how well the project turns out.

By clearing and reshaping the space in front of the house, widening the side footpath, creating a bigger patio, and finishing the area in charcoal sidewalk slate imprinted concrete, we helped give this property a smarter welcome and a more practical outdoor space.

For a returning customer, that is always the best result: another job completed properly, and another part of the home transformed.

Thinking about improving the outdoor space around your home? Get in touch today to discuss your project and see how imprinted concrete could help you create a practical, low-maintenance finish that looks the part.