BJ Surfacing vs Inventive Drives and Patios: which is right for your patio job?
Both of these Cheltenham contractors turn up with strong review records, but they sit at different points on the track-record scale. BJ Surfacing has 148 reviews behind its 4.8 rating and a broad materials range, while Inventive Drives and Patios LTD has a perfect 5.0 from 20 jobs with Indian sandstone patio work called out by name. This comparison, built using our methodology, looks at what actually matters when the job in question is patio or garden paving specifically.
The differences that matter
- Track record depth. BJ Surfacing has completed enough jobs to rack up 148 reviews, giving more confidence in consistency across many patio and driveway projects, while Inventive Drives and Patios LTD's 20 reviews are all five-star but represent a smaller sample.
- Patio material specialism. Inventive Drives and Patios LTD's summary calls out Indian sandstone patios specifically alongside block driveways, whereas BJ Surfacing's patio work sits within a wider catalogue of resin, tarmac, block, gravel and concrete surfacing.
- Speed on large-scale jobs. Inventive Drives and Patios LTD has documented cases of finishing big jobs in a fraction of the expected time (a 300 sqm job in 10 days, a garden transform in 2 days instead of 5), a strong signal for anyone with a tight garden timeline.
- Aftercare and paperwork support. BJ Surfacing stands out for helping with paperwork and remedial issues after the job, useful if your patio project involves planning sign-off or neighbour boundary issues.
- Site logistics on tighter properties. BJ Surfacing has one noted complaint about materials blocking road and neighbour access during a job, worth asking about upfront if your property has limited access for deliveries.
Side by side
- Google rating
- BJ Surfacing: 4.8 (148 reviews)
- Inventive drives and patios LTD: 5 (20 reviews)
- Services
- BJ Surfacing: driveway paving, repair maintenance, commercial paving, block paving
- Inventive drives and patios LTD: repair maintenance, driveway paving, commercial paving, block paving
- Best for
- BJ Surfacing: Larger or multi-element garden paving projects needing ongoing support after completion
- Inventive drives and patios LTD: Sandstone or block patio jobs where a fast, clean turnaround is the priority
- Team consistency signal
- BJ Surfacing: High volume of reviews backs up a repeatable process across many crews and jobs
- Inventive drives and patios LTD: Smaller job count but zero negative feedback across all 20 reviews
- 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 gets done fast and to a high standard, with the team consistently leaving sites clean and tidy. What sets this business apart is their communication at every stage and willingness to help with paperwork and remedial issues; reviewers describe a skilled, friendly crew that keeps the site organised and finishes on time or earlier than expected.
Their services span driveway materials (resin, tarmac, block, gravel, concrete), dropped kerbs, patios, and larger groundworks, and they handle both residential and multi-element jobs with the same attention to detail. Pricing comes across as competitive rather than premium, and their aftercare reputation builds loyalty for follow-on work.
Inventive drives and patios LTD
Twenty consecutive five-star reviews establish consistent quality. Customers praise speed of completion, with a 300-square-metre job finished in 10 days and another large garden transformation done in 2 rather than 5. The team keeps sites clean, communicates clearly at each stage, and finishes to high standards. Driveway block paving and Indian sandstone patios feature strongly, along with notes of competitive quoting and fair pricing.
Lawrence leads the team with professional assessment and reassurance from quote to payment. Reviewers highlight courteous staff, attention to detail in fitting manhole covers and finishing steps, and willingness to add services like weeding and door fixing. No negative feedback surfaces in the available reviews.
Which should you pick?
Pick BJ Surfacing if
- You want a contractor with a long, deep review history covering many different paving materials
- Your patio project is part of a larger groundworks or multi-element job
- You anticipate needing help with paperwork, planning issues, or remedial fixes after the work
Pick Inventive drives and patios LTD if
- You specifically want Indian sandstone or block paving for a patio and value a specialist feel
- Speed matters and you want a team with a track record of finishing large jobs well ahead of schedule
- You prefer a smaller, tightly-run outfit with a spotless five-star record, even if the sample size is smaller
Verdict
Pick based on the scale and material of your patio job, not the headline score. If you want a contractor who can fold your patio into a bigger garden or driveway project and stick around for aftercare, BJ Surfacing's depth of experience and paperwork support make it the safer bet. If your priority is a fast, clean sandstone or block patio finished well ahead of schedule, Inventive Drives and Patios LTD's specialism and perfect review run make it the stronger fit despite the smaller track record.
Which paving contractor is right for your job?
Describe your project and compare quotes from paving contractor in Cheltenham.
When you submit a quote or contact form here, we may pass your inquiry to partner providers who offer the service. We may receive a referral fee, but our rankings and scores are based solely on our published scoring method and are never affected by referral fees.
FAQ
- Which business has more patio-specific experience?
- Inventive Drives and Patios LTD's review summary specifically highlights Indian sandstone patios and block paving, while BJ Surfacing's patio work is part of a broader driveway and groundworks offering.
- Which contractor works faster on large patio or garden jobs?
- Inventive Drives and Patios LTD has documented examples of finishing large jobs in less than half the typical time, including a 300 sqm job in 10 days.
- Which business has the longer track record?
- BJ Surfacing has 148 reviews compared to 20 for Inventive Drives and Patios LTD, giving it a larger sample to judge consistency from.
- Does either business help after the paving work is finished?
- BJ Surfacing is specifically noted for helping with paperwork and remedial issues after the job is done.