Driveways, Patios and Building Work in Stoke-on-Trent

Most people come to us with a driveway that has had its day: cracked concrete, sunken flags, gravel that ends up in the road, or a front garden that needs to become parking. As driveway contractors we handle the whole job, from breaking out the old surface to the last block of the border, so you deal with one firm from start to finish.

A driveway is only as good as what sits underneath it. Much of Stoke-on-Trent is built on heavy clay, which holds water and moves with the seasons, so we look hard at the ground, the levels and where the rain will go before we recommend a surface. Then we quote for the driveway you actually need.

Resin driveways are the surface we are asked about most. Small natural stones are mixed with a clear resin and trowelled out by hand to a smooth, even finish with no loose stone to kick about. Laid on a suitable open base, a resin bound surface lets rainwater drain through it instead of running off.

It is also where a driveway can show some character. We lay resin in silvers, greys, buffs, golds and reds, frame it with charcoal or brindle block borders, and set contrasting bands, circles and interlocking diamond patterns into the surface. The photos on this page are our own resin driveways.

Block paving has been a favourite on Stoke-on-Trent driveways for decades, and for good reason. Each block is laid by hand on a bed of sharp sand over a compacted stone base, then vibrated down and jointed with fine sand so the whole surface locks together.

A herringbone bond is the strongest pattern for a driveway because the blocks interlock against turning wheels. We also use block paving for the borders and bands around our resin and tarmac driveways, where a crisp charcoal or brindle edge finishes the job.

A tarmac driveway is the practical choice: hard-wearing, quick to lay and usually the most cost-effective way to surface a larger area. The tarmac is laid hot, raked level and compacted with a roller to a dense, even finish.

Plain black does not have to mean plain. Nearly all of our tarmac driveways are framed with a block paved border in charcoal, red or buff, which holds the edge of the tarmac and lifts the whole look. In October 2026 we finished exactly that on a semi-detached house in Blurton.

We lay patios with the same care as our driveways, because the same rules apply: a solid base, the right falls so rain runs away from the house, and neat joints. Most of our patios are in Indian sandstone, with its natural mix of buffs, greys and browns, or in porcelain for a clean, modern look.

Gardens around Stoke-on-Trent are rarely flat or square, so a lot of our patio work involves curves, steps, low retaining walls and raised planters built in brick to match the house. We can also lay artificial lawn, edging and paths so the whole garden is finished in one go.

Platinum Home Improvements Ltd is a building firm as well as a driveway company. As builders we take on house extensions, new openings for bifold doors, garden rooms, brick garden walls and retaining walls, along with the footings, slabs and groundwork underneath them.

Having building contractors and driveway layers in one firm is useful more often than you might think. If your new driveway needs a front wall rebuilding, or an extension leaves the garden needing a patio, the same team can do both, and the work is planned as one job.