BJ Surfacing vs Inventive Drives and Patios: which for patio & garden paving?
Both of these Cheltenham contractors turn up with strong review records, but they differ in ways that matter once you narrow the job down to patio and garden paving specifically. This comparison weighs their track record on stone and block work, crew reliability, and site care, using our methodology to frame the scores.
Side by side
- Google rating
- BJ Surfacing: 4.8 (148 reviews)
- Inventive drives and patios LTD: 5 (20 reviews)
- Services
- BJ Surfacing: natural stone paving, commercial paving, block paving, driveway paving
- Inventive drives and patios LTD: natural stone paving, commercial paving, block paving, driveway paving
- Best for stone patios
- BJ Surfacing: Solid, but praise leans more toward resin and block paving
- Inventive drives and patios LTD: Named strength in Indian sandstone and natural stone patios
- Best for larger or complex gardens
- BJ Surfacing: Deeper track record across driveways, patios, and dropped kerbs suggests more experience with varied groundwork
- Inventive drives and patios LTD: Strong but smaller sample, less evidence on complex multi-surface jobs
- Verification
- BJ Surfacing: Google-verified
- Inventive drives and patios LTD: Google-verified
- Composite score
- BJ Surfacing: 88
- Inventive drives and patios LTD: 77
What reviewers say
BJ Surfacing
Work consistently exceeds expectations. Reviewers praise swift execution, attention to detail, and friendly professionalism. The team arrives on time, completes jobs efficiently, and leaves sites spotless. Will (the owner) communicates at every stage and handles complications proactively.
Across driveways, patios, and dropped kerbs, finishes are polished and durable. Resin surfaces, tarmac layers, and block paving transformations draw particular praise. The crew works in difficult weather, respects neighbours, and handles groundwork and aftercare with equal care.
Inventive drives and patios LTD
All 20 reviews are five-star. Customers highlight fast turnaround, clean site management, and competitive pricing consistently. Lawrence and his team are named in multiple reviews as skilled and personable, delivering work that ranges from block paved driveways to Indian sandstone patios, often finishing ahead of schedule or within tight timescales.
Which should you pick?
Pick BJ Surfacing if
- You want a contractor with a long, proven history across resin, tarmac, and block paving patios
- You value an owner who personally communicates through every stage of a more involved garden project
- You need a crew comfortable working in difficult weather without losing pace
Pick Inventive drives and patios LTD if
- Your patio project centres on Indian sandstone or natural stone
- You want a contractor with a perfect review record, even if the sample is smaller
- You're working to a tight timescale and want a team known for finishing early
Verdict
The right choice depends on the stone you want underfoot. For a garden paving job built around natural stone like Indian sandstone, Inventive Drives and Patios' specific track record in that material makes it the sharper fit. For resin, block paving, or a patio project that's part of wider groundwork like driveways or kerbs, BJ Surfacing's much larger review base and hands-on owner involvement give more confidence over a bigger or more complex job.
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FAQ
- Which contractor has more experience with patios specifically?
- BJ Surfacing has a larger overall review base (148 vs 20) covering patios alongside driveways and dropped kerbs, giving a broader sample of finished work.
- Who is better for a natural stone patio?
- Inventive Drives and Patios LTD is specifically praised for Indian sandstone and natural stone work, making it the stronger pick for that material.
- Which business finishes jobs faster?
- Both are praised for quick turnaround, but Inventive Drives and Patios is repeatedly noted for finishing ahead of schedule.