11/06/2026
🛠️ Behind the scenes at Helmsley Retreat…
One of those jobs we’d wanted to do ever since buying the cottage was repointing the patio.
Over time there was very little grout left between the stones, which meant rain slowly washed more away and the area never looked as tidy or finished as we wanted it to.
Over the last couple of weeks we finally got it done and we’re so pleased with the result - it instantly made the whole space feel cleaner, neater and much more finished ✨
BUT… as often happens in life (and property ownership!) fixing one thing revealed another…
Without the gaps, rainwater suddenly had nowhere to drain and started sitting on the patio. So after chatting with a couple of builder friends and thinking it through, we came up with another solution - cutting a drainage channel and filling it with gravel to help the water escape.
Thankfully it worked a treat 🙌 and if anything… we think it actually looks even better than before.
Always improving, always learning, and always trying to make Helmsley Retreat that little bit better for our guests 💜
·
·
·