From first photo to handover: how a paving job runs when you are not in Spain

How does the first contact usually work?

Most owners first get in touch by message or email from wherever they are living, with a few photos of the area and a short description. That is enough to start. We look at the photos, ask any obvious questions about use, access and existing surfaces, and give an initial view of what the job is likely to involve.

The most useful first photos are wide shots of the whole area from two or three angles, close-ups of the current surface and any damage, the gate and the access lane, and anything that might complicate the work such as steps, manholes or a pool edge. Rough measurements, even paced out, help a great deal.

At this stage we also say if the job is better suited to one of the sister services. A sunken driveway, for example, may need repair rather than new paving, and a sound but faded surface may need renovation instead.

What happens at the site visit?

The visit confirms what photos cannot: levels at doors and gates, where water currently goes, the condition of what lies under the existing surface where it can be seen, access for machinery and lorries, and the position of known services. If you cannot attend, a neighbour, property manager or key holder can open up, and you receive a summary afterwards.

Typical questions owners ask at this point are whether the old paving can be reused, how high the new surface will sit against the front door, whether a concrete base is needed and what happens to the rubble. We answer these in writing as part of the quote so the answers do not depend on memory.

What does the written quote look like?

You receive an itemised quote, with each stage of the job as a separate line: lifting and waste removal where needed, excavation, sub-base, any bound base, bedding, blocks with format and colour, jointing, kerbs or edging and drainage elements, with the tax position stated. Spanish terms are explained in English.

If something is uncertain until the old surface is lifted, such as the condition of the ground underneath, the quote says so and explains how any extra work would be agreed before it is done. Our article on what a block paving quote should list uses the same structure, so you can check ours against it.

Who sorts out the paperwork?

The owner submits whatever the town hall requires, often through a gestor or an administrator, and the community of owners approves work on common elements. We provide the itemised quote and a description of the works for those submissions. We do not draft projects or act as technicians. Because procedures depend on each ayuntamiento's ordinance, we recommend checking before fixing a start date. Our guide to permits and rules for paving explains the general framework.

How is the work planned around the property?

Before starting, we agree practical details that make a big difference on site: where the skip or lorry can stand, where pallets of blocks are stored, which access to the house stays open, where water and electricity can be taken from and whether neighbours should be told about deliveries. In an urbanización, the community or security staff may also need to know when lorries are coming.

If the property is empty, we confirm who holds keys, how gates are locked at the end of each day and whether an alarm needs to be managed. If it is occupied, by you, family or guests, the noisiest stages are planned at sensible hours and the work area is kept separated. All of this is written into a short message so there is no doubt about the arrangements.

How are you kept informed during the works?

Updates are agreed before the job starts, so you know what to expect and when. Photos are sent at the stages where decisions are made or where the work will soon be hidden. The usual sequence is listed below. Extra stages can be added on request.

1. Area marked out and existing surface lifted.
2. Excavation complete, showing the formation.
3. Sub-base compacted, with levels and falls visible.
4. Edging set and first area of blocks laid.
5. Joints filled and surface compacted.
6. Finished surface, cleaned, with a water test.

If a decision is needed, for instance about an unexpected pipe or a level at a threshold, we send photos and a short explanation and wait for your written answer before going ahead. That pause rarely holds the job up for long, and it means nothing is built that you have not approved.

What happens at handover?

At the end, the surface is cleaned, joints are checked and topped up where needed, and water is run over the paving to confirm it flows to the planned outlets. You receive final photos from the same angles as the first ones, the invoice matching the quote and, where possible, a few spare blocks from the same batch.

We also explain how to look after the surface: sweeping, keeping joints full, what to avoid on new paving in the first period and when to get in touch if something looks wrong. Owners who return later in the year sometimes ask for a short check visit, which can be arranged.

What questions do owners abroad ask most often?

• Can the work be done while the villa is let? Sometimes, if one access stays open and noisy stages are planned.
• Do I need to be there at any point? Not necessarily, if a key holder can provide access.
• How will I know the base was built properly? From the photos taken before the blocks go down.
• Can I change the pattern once work starts? Before laying, yes; afterwards it means relaying.
• Who do I contact with a question? One named person, by message.

The services behind this process are described on our concrete block paving, concrete base for paving and paving replacement pages. Send us a photo and the approximate m² – free, no-obligation quote. The same process applies whichever of them your job involves.

Frequently asked questions