Patio Installation: A UK Guide
A well-laid patio is one of the most useful garden investments. Get the materials and sub-base preparation wrong and you end up with slabs that lift, crack or fail to drain properly within a few years.
Material Costs (Supply Only)
- Indian sandstone: £20 to £45 per m2
- Porcelain: £30 to £80 per m2
- Limestone: £40 to £90 per m2
- Concrete paving slabs: £10 to £25 per m2
- Brick pavers: £20 to £40 per m2
Add £40 to £80 per m2 for professional installation. A 20m2 patio in mid-range natural stone typically costs £2,500 to £4,000 all-in.
Sub-base: The Critical Part
Most patio failures result from poor preparation, not the surface material. A correct base requires: excavation to at least 150mm depth; a compacted hardcore sub-base (MOT Type 1) of at least 100mm; a concrete or sand-and-cement laying course; and correct falls (at least 1 in 80, or 12mm per metre) to direct water away from the house.
Porcelain paving requires full mortar bed adhesive — not spot-bedding. Spot-bedded porcelain creates hollow spots that crack under foot traffic.
Drainage
Water run-off from a hard surface must not discharge directly into a soakaway within 5 metres of a building foundation under Building Regulations. A patio near the house needs a channel drain or gully connected to the drainage system. Ask about drainage at the quoting stage.
Red Flags in Quotes
- No mention of sub-base depth or specification
- No reference to falls or drainage
- Request for more than 30% deposit upfront
- No written breakdown of materials by specification
