Steps and coping designs created with laser templates

October 28, 2025

Laser templates make curves and multi-level garden layouts far easier to realise. We look at how our laser templating service powers up garden design.

Cutting porcelain slabs can be daunting. It's extremely dense in comparison to a lot of natural stone, and when porcelain paving first came in, it took landscapers a bit of practice to get it right. The secret is to choose the right blade and take your time. Aye Gardening agreed: “You have to be very careful cutting as porcelain can chip or break, so it takes longer. But there are techniques, such as using low revs."

The curved lines of this amphitheatre used Yorkstone segments created with laser templates. Designed and built by Langdale Landscapes.

Parallel curves

Nik Edser of Langdale Landscapes created the super little amphitheatre above. Its simple-looking lines are the elegant result of a lot of complex calculations. In this project, Nik wanted random segments, which made the cuts easier to place. Sometimes a design demands that each curve is made up of identical segments, which demands very detailed work, so that the radius on each segment looks comfortable. If you have a complicated project—or a small corner—where angles and curves make measurements a headache, then laser templating provides a solution.

Beige sawn sandstone, cut precisely to shape using our Laser Templating service, gives a perfect curve to the pool coping in this build. Photo: Timotay Playscapes.

Laser template for a swimming pool surround

Pool copings are a frequent reason to call for laser templating, as with the renovation of this swimming pool. The clients liked the pool but were sick of its dreary concrete surround. Beige sawn sandstone has really brightened the whole space, but matching the coping to the pool's curves would have been time-consuming. Instead, our laser templating service made short work of cutting the pieces to fit.

Multi-level garden made simple

This sinuous, multi-level scheme, designed by the customer used granite setts to fill in two patios with spiral and circular patterns. Reclaimed bricks kept the terracing in tune with the boundary walls. Then, toning with reclaimed Yorkstone paving, we provided Buff Yorkstone copings and steps. These emphasise the smooth curves that frame the patios. It’s a clever design that makes the small area feel spacious. You might think it would take quite a time to template but, using both laser and traditional methods, we got it sorted in an impressive 120 minutes.

Laser templating ensured a sinuous continuity to this design in Yorkstone and granite setts.

Laser templating creates a crisp line in this curved coping and not-quite-right-angled corner.

Templated curved coping

This terrace in Buff Sandstone needed coping stones and twice-weathered pier caps to finish the detail, and you’ll note that the corners weren’t quite right angles. Laser templating ensured a perfect fit, not only on top of the brickwork, but also where the paving snuggled up next to it.

Straight-up steps

And just to show the benefits of templating straight lines too... The concrete steps below were very plain and unattractive until clad in granite. Laser templating got the precise measurements of the step strings, risers and step treads, not forgetting the 40mm overhang and, to make the cladding as light as possible, the granite was calibrated to 20mm. The result? A very smart set of steps that just ooze quality.

These straight steps in granite are made easier to build with laser templating.

Let laser templates power up your garden steps and coping

Laser templating releases you from the burden of getting every measurement absolutely right, saving time and costly mistakes. But even more, it allows you to expand your potential and design gardens that might not otherwise feel do-able. Take a look at how our digital laser templating service works and contact us to find our how we can help your project.