Frequently Asked Questions

Overtime, concrete floors can crack. This happens when the concrete shrinks and then pulls apart. However, this can create a rustic looking floor and if the cracks become an eyesore, an additional smooth surface can always be applied.

This varies depending on what the concrete is being used for.

When shoes are not worn, concrete is hard underfoot which therefore makes it louder than a softer flooring type. However, it is the hardness that makes it so abrasive and an excellent choice for a commercial environment where foot traffic is heavy.

Concrete is made up from a mixture of aggregates and cement.

With the correct tools and the right experience, concrete is relatively easy to install.

No, concrete is not waterproof.

No, concrete is not stain resistant.

The durability of the concrete will depend on the strength of the mix.

Concrete is a naturally cold material but can be just as cold as ceramic tiles or stone flooring.

Yes, underfloor heating can be used beneath concrete to diminish the cold temperature.

Most garden landscaping projects won’t need planning permission, however it is worth double checking if you’re doing anything major. Things that might need permission include turning your front garden into a hard surface for car parking or any large outbuildings (above 15 square metres) you want to add.

Whatever your landscaping project, Neil Sullivan & Sons has the materials to help, from top-quality topsoil and turf to all the aggregates you could need for paving, bedding and other applications. And, of course, for those really big jobs, our concrete services are second to none in and around Essex.

With immediate collection available from our Wickford yard, or very rapid delivery directly to your site, we’re here for you with all your landscaping essentials when you need us.
Contact us today to find out more, or place your order online now.

You can landscape a garden to achieve a number of goals, and one of these can certainly be to make maintenance easier. For example, introducing more hard landscaping elements such paving and railway sleepers will mean less upkeep is required than with flower beds and lawns.

Meanwhile, adding aggregates such as our Cotswold chippings or 10mm shingle to your paths and flower beds won’t just make them look more attractive, they’ll also stop weeds growing.

Different times of year have different benefits. For example, the summer months allow longer days with better weather, so you’re likely to get things done faster when landscaping at that time of year. That’s also a good time of year for laying any concrete so that it dries quickly. And with less rain around, there should also be a lot less mess involved in the whole project as well.

However, if there’s going to be a lot of planting involved, autumn through to early spring is the best time to allow them to settle in before the growing season starts. Similarly, any new turf is best laid in spring or autumn so that it can establish itself in time for the summer sun or winter frosts.

Any garden can be landscaped, the trick is making sure that best use is made of the space available. If you are working with a very small space, keep the number of things that you want to achieve fairly limited, otherwise none of them will happen in a satisfying way.

Naturally, you can do your own garden design, but you’ll almost certainly end up with a better result with an expert. A good garden designer will take the time to talk with you about what it is you want from your garden and what’s most important for you. That could be: well laid-out areas for socialising; co-ordinated planting that provides colour throughout the year; a design that leads you on a journey from one end of your garden to the other; somewhere for the kids to play safely; easy maintenance; or, of course, all of the above!

The thing to remember is that an experienced garden designer will have landscaped gardens of all shapes and sizes, so will have a good idea of the best way to capture what’s most important to you in the space you have.