Patios & Paving · 5 min read
How much does a new patio cost?
Materials are the visible cost. The base, the levels and what has to come out first usually matter more.
Material costs in perspective
Paving is typically only a third or so of a patio's total cost. Porcelain costs more per square metre than sandstone, but the difference across a modest patio is often smaller than the difference between two installers' base specifications.
What else drives the price
- Breaking out and removing an existing patio, concrete or turf
- Excavation depth and the volume of sub-base required
- Access for waste out and materials in
- Level changes, steps, retaining walls and copings
- Drainage — channel drains, gullies and connection points
- Cutting complexity around manholes, corners and curves
Where corners get cut
The classic shortcut is laying slabs on five dabs of mortar rather than a full bed. It is faster, uses less material and leads to hollow-sounding slabs, cracking and rocking within a few years. Always ask whether the quotation is for a full mortar bed.