Patios and walls built for Teignmouth's red soils and sea air
Patios, paving, driveways, drainage, walls and groundworks in Teignmouth (TQ14), from our base in Newton Abbot.
Teignmouth is at the mouth of the Teign, a short run down the estuary from our base in Newton Abbot along the A381. The town centre is flat and closely built, with Georgian and Victorian terraces near the seafront, while the newer housing climbs the hills behind, where gardens are steeper and often terraced.
Teignmouth sits on the red sandstone and soils that run along this stretch of coast. That ground can be soft when wet and is prone to washing out on slopes, so walls and patios need good foundations and drainage behind them. Homes near the front also take salt-laden wind and spray, which affects the choice of materials and fixings for anything we build outside.
Red sandstone soils
The red soils here hold water and lose strength when saturated. Walls get proper footings and weep holes, and patios a deeper compacted base, so they stay put through wet winters.
Narrow streets in the centre
Older streets near the seafront are tight for parking and deliveries. Teignbridge District Council handles planning and Devon County Council deals with skip permits and dropped kerbs, so we check what is needed before a job starts.
What we build in Teignmouth
- BricklayingRetaining walls on Teignmouth's hillside gardens need drainage behind them so wet red soil does not push them over.
- PatiosNear the seafront we steer towards dense stone or porcelain that copes with salt and is easy to clean.
- DrainageSoft red soils wash out easily, so we take run-off to a proper outlet rather than letting it soak in beside a wall.
Examples of K D’s work from around South Devon.
Building work in Teignmouth: questions
Will salt air damage a new patio in Teignmouth?
Salt and spray can mark softer stone over time. Close to the sea we suggest denser sandstone, granite or porcelain, and stainless or galvanised fixings for anything metal.
Why is my garden wall in Teignmouth leaning?
Often because water has built up behind it in the red soil. A rebuild with a proper footing, drainage behind and weep holes usually solves it.
Do I need planning permission for a front wall in Teignmouth?
A front wall up to one metre high next to a road is usually permitted development, but parts of Teignmouth are conservation areas with tighter rules. Check with Teignbridge District Council first.
Also near Teignmouth
A quote in Teignmouth
Send a couple of photos and a rough idea of what you want. We’ll come out, look at the ground and the levels, and give you a written quote.