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The summer is almost here, and so is the urge to make the most of the sunshine in our gardens. 

But is your patio ready?

Whether you plan to entertain family and friends or put your feet up with an ice-cold beverage, you’ll need to choose patio slabs for your garden that create the perfect space. That means weighing up whether you want something sleek and simple or something with natural character.

At Silverton Builders Merchants, we supply a variety of slabs - including porcelain and natural paving stones - to homeowners across East Anglia and beyond. This month, we’re comparing the two most popular choices to help you with this design dilemma. 

The modern benefits of porcelain paving

Over the last decade or so, porcelain paving has transformed the outdoor materials market. It’s now one of the most popular choices for contemporary gardens across the UK, and for good reason.

Fired at extremely high temperatures, porcelain slabs are dense and hard-wearing. They also absorb virtually zero water, so they can resist the frost and won’t crack in freeze-thaw cycles. That lack of porosity also means less cleaning, because moss, stains and algae can’t gain a foothold.

At Silverton, we hold a variety of styles and colours available for fast delivery across  Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and the wider East Anglia region for your summer season, but here are the key things to know about porcelain paving:

• Maintenance: Very low

• Durability: Extremely high

• Appearance: Uniform and contemporary

• Best suited to: Modern or minimalist gardens

• Slip resistance: Good (on textured finishes)
  
  

The classic appeal of natural stone and sandstone

Where porcelain wins on practicality, natural stone wins on character. There are subtle variations in colours, texture and veining that mean no two slabs are identical, giving your patio a feeling of warmth and individuality.

With different quarried sandstone slabs providing different tones, you can work this natural charm into almost any garden. The slightly textured surface means there is good grip underfoot and, when sealed correctly, it can retain a rich, lasting finish that only improves with age.

For homeowners who value beauty and a classic aesthetic, our range of outstanding natural stone slabs remains a popular choice. Here’s what you need to know about sandstone:

• Maintenance: Moderate

• Durability: High

• Appearance: Varied, natural

• Best suited to: Traditional homes and gardens

• Slip resistance: Good
  
  

Planning your patio: Calculating your materials

Before you place your order, it’s worth spending a few minutes getting your quantities right. Over-ordering wastes your budget, while under-ordering can mean you have to stop mid-project to order more, creating a delay in your summer plans.

Start by measuring your patio area, then multiply the length by the width in metres to get your total square meterage. Always add a little extra on to account for cuts, wastage and breakages, especially if your space is curved or has awkward areas.

Once you have your dimensions, you can use our handy online paving calculator to get an accurate estimate of how many slabs you need. It only takes a few seconds and can remove the guesswork for you.

Whether you choose porcelain slabs or natural stone, at Silverton Builders Merchants, we provide premium paving products at competitive prices. With free local delivery in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and the wider East Anglia region when you spend over £20, you can get your garden ready for summer today. Alternatively, come see and feel the quality of our paving stone for yourself at any of our branches.

Garden sleepers have become one of the most popular landscaping materials here in the UK, with residents in East Anglia particularly fond of our range at Silverton Builders Merchants. It’s easy to see why, because they’re robust, long-lasting and bring natural charm to both contemporary and traditional gardens. 

Whether you’re planning a quick weekend project or an ambitious transformation, railway sleepers and garden sleepers are a versatile option. With a consistent shape, they’re genuinely DIY-friendly and easy to plan around. Here’s how to choose the right sleepers and make the most of them in common garden applications.

Building railway sleeper planters and raised beds

Railway sleeper planters can make for a satisfying weekend build, offering rigidity and weight to withstand the pressure of compacted soil, roots and wet compost. This is something lighter timber edging can’t handle over long periods.

For railway sleeper raised beds and planters, we recommend:

• Small brown softwood sleepers

• Small oak sleepers

Here’s how to build a stable planter:

1. Start with a flat surface or dig a trench; this helps you to lock in the base layer and prevent it from moving laterally. 

2. Use sleeper brackets to connect sections securely at the corners.

3. Stack additional sleepers in a brick-bond pattern, offsetting joins between layers.

4. Fix with long structural screws or sleeper pins for extra rigidity on taller planters.

Creating straight railway sleeper edging

A simple, single layer of sleepers can give your borders a nice structural edge that holds a crisp line year after year. Mowing against it is easy, and it’s a step up in appearance when compared to plastic trims.

Small graphite sleepers can add natural beauty, but before you start, bear in mind that:

• Sleepers need a reasonably flat, level base as they don’t follow the undulations of the ground. 

• They work best on straight edges and geometric borders; for curved shapes, you need a more flexible alternative.

• Each sleeper should be partially bedded into the ground to prevent it from shifting over time.

At Silverton, we carry an extensive stock of both treated timbers and oak railway sleepers for Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and the wider East Anglia region. With a range of colours, you can make border runs straightforward and aesthetically pleasing.

Constructing a railway sleeper retaining wall or garden slope

For more demanding projects, such as a terraced bank, railway sleeper retaining wall or some garden steps, extra planning can go a long way. 

Here are our tips for retaining walls built with sleepers:

• Low walls of one or two courses can be held in place with timber stakes driven into the ground behind each sleeper.

• Taller walls will need a concrete base for the first layer to bear onto, helping it hold back significant weight.

• Always offset joins between courses for improved structural strength.

For garden steps:

• Lay each tread as a stacked pair of sleepers, giving a solid feel underfoot.

• Pin or screw each pair together before you position them.

• Bed the back edge of each tread slightly into the bank for added stability.

• Fill in gaps between and around the steps with decorative stone — golden shingle or granite chippings add a touch of class while softening the edges.

How much are sleepers for the garden?

With a large, consistent stock of treated sleepers, you can order online for as little as £23.95 per sleeper from our online store at Silverton Builders Merchants, along with everything else you could possibly need. You’ll get free local delivery on orders over £20, saving you the hassle of trying to load up your car or van — which means more time to prepare your garden.

Not sure how many you need? Or just want to see them in person to inspire your railway sleeper border ideas? Then visit any of our branches, and we’ll be happy to help.

The cherry on the top of a well-maintained garden is a brand new fence. Not only does it provide privacy and mark your boundary, but it also gives your space a tidy finish.

So how much does a new garden fence cost if you’re installing it yourself in East Anglia? This month at Silverton Builders Merchants, we’ll guide you through all the elements you can choose from and the price ranges you can expect depending on your preferences.

Digging your fence post holes

All new fences will start with some groundwork. That means digging the holes for your fence posts to be secured in. One cost you may not have considered is the cement specifically designed for fence posts:

• We recommend FP McCann Post Crete, available in 20kg bags - £6.72 per bag, using 1.5 bags for each post (industry standard). 

If you know you want to raise your fence panels off the ground, you might also need to account for gravel boards. Available in concrete and timber, the former is better for avoiding rot long-term. These start at £4.55 for our cheapest timber gravel board and go up depending on the size and material.

Choosing fence posts and weighing costs

Whether you want timber fence posts or concrete fence posts, you can find a range of sizes and shapes in our fence post category. 

• Timber fence posts - Offering a more natural feel, timber fence posts are a little cheaper, starting at just £7.50 for 1.8m posts, but they may require more maintenance and could need replacing sooner than concrete posts.
  
  

• Concrete fence posts - Robust and low-maintenance, our concrete fence posts start from £19.14 for a 5-foot slotted post. You’ll need to consider how many end posts, corner posts and 3-way posts you need for your border.

We also sell machine round pointed fence poles if you’re after something more unique, starting at £3.62 for 1.8m poles. 

How much do fence panels cost?

Your aesthetic preference will dictate which fence panels you go for. Whether you prefer simple panels or the more traditional and eye-catching installations, we offer a range of options, including:

• Closeboard fence panels (vertical slats) - Starting from £34.14 and available in sizes upwards of 6x3 feet.

• Waney fence panels (horizontal slats) - Starting from £28.80 and available in sizes upwards of 6x3’6 feet.

• Picket fence panels - Starting from £28.22 for either rounded or pointed tops in a 6x3 feet size.

Remember that you’ll need to multiply the price by the number of panels you require.

Fencing fastenings, trellises and treatments

While the panels and posts may make up the majority of the budget, there are important fence fixings, such as screws, nails and staples, to consider. On top of that, you can also add extra accessories, such as a trellis for fence topping and wood treatments, if you’ve taken the timber route.

Final fencing price example

So, what’s the final cost for a single, standard section of new fencing? Here’s a rough calculation, but remember to adjust based on your preferences for materials, fence height and additions. The following are “starting from” prices for a basic fence panel and post replacement:

• 3x Bags of fence post concrete: £20.16

• 2x Timber fence posts: £15

• 1x Waney fence panel: £28.80

• 12x Fence clips: £14.40

  • Total: £78.36

Fencing supplies delivered to you

Thinking of replacing your old fence this summer? Or do you need a whole new fence for a property you’ve moved into? At Silverton Builders Merchants, we deliver fencing supplies across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and the wider East Anglia region.

Browse and buy online to customise your fence and get everything you need in one handy order. If you need any further advice, simply get in touch with us today or visit one of our branches.

Spring is finally here, which means it's time to wake up your garden after the winter, tackle tired borders and prepare paths and beds before the growing season really gets going.

At Silverton Builders Merchants, we’re helping you to choose the right landscaping and gardening materials for healthier planting, tidier borders and easier upkeep.

Read on to find out where bark, topsoil, shingle, mulch and manure all play their part in your garden.

The benefits of garden mulch and manure

Garden mulch helps to retain moisture, suppress weeds, protect roots and reduce your ongoing maintenance chores. Think of it as an organic, soil-enriching material, not simply a surface finisher.

Mulch and manure are both great for growing, but there is a slight distinction to keep in mind:

• Mulch is a protective layer for the top of your soil - shop our Equigrow fertile mulch
• Manure is organic matter to feed and improve soil - shop our soil and manure mix

The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) recommends mid-to-late spring for laying down your mulch and manure.

Laying the groundwork: Topsoil vs garden compost

Now, let’s look at what’s underneath.

Topsoil is great for building up the levels in your garden, including creating new beds, but it can also improve your ground ready for planting or turf.

Garden compost, on the other hand, is better for adding more fertility to your soil, along with texture and moisture retention.

• Choose our mushroom compost (soil conditioner) to improve your soil for growing
• Choose our topsoil bulk bag if you’re adding height or creating flower beds

Low-maintenance aesthetics with garden bark

You’re all set with your soil, but how do you keep that space looking beautiful without the backache from hours and hours of maintenance? This is where garden bark is ideal, bringing you:

• Tidier-looking borders
• Reduced weed growth
• Better moisture retention
• A more natural finish

This works well around shrubs, beds and pathways, and many people prefer it to bare earth. We have two options, depending on how you use your garden:

• Check out our play bark if you need a softer material for children’s play areas
• Check out our decorative bark for a natural-looking cover over larger areas

Finishing touches: Shingles and decorative aggregates

Looking for a finishing touch this spring that adds kerb appeal and some much-needed texture? Decorative aggregates are the perfect way to keep some structure in gardens of any size.

Our range of decorative aggregates includes great chippings and shingles, including the pristine polar ice chippings and the mixed-colour flamingo chippings. All you have to do is tip them out and spread them as a tidy top layer wherever you need it, whether you’re marking an edge or covering a whole section of the garden.

Buying in bulk: Bagged aggregates and soil delivery

We all love convenience, but cost-efficiency is often king when it comes to garden care and spring projects. That’s why we offer bagged aggregates and soil delivery across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and the wider East Anglia region. From 20kg bags to whopping 850kg loads, you can get everything you need delivered with ease.

Choosing to buy in bulk is ideal if:

• You want to save the hassle of repeating your order
• You want to cover large borders and long paths or carry out full refreshes
• You don’t want to make multiple trips with materials in your car

When a few bags just aren’t enough, get the right quantity and avoid under-ordering with our delivery of topsoil, mulch, manure, bark and decorative aggregates.

Order your spring garden preparation essentials online with us today and get free local delivery when you spend £20 or more in a single order. Alternatively, for further help and advice, get in touch with our customer services team or visit our branches.