The cost to lay a patio is between £1400 to £5500. Gravel is one of the cheapest options, whiles if you go for porcelain, it will be the most expensive. The most popular choice is block paving.
Laying a patio helps to significantly increase the value of your home while also enhancing the outer look of your property greatly. There are several elements that you need to put into consideration when laying a patio. That is why you should always do the proper research before beginning any project. We take a look at some of these elements, which will affect the cost you will incur.
Labour cost
Labour costs have to be at the top of your list if you are laying a patio. You may opt for cheaper labour if you want to remove the old patio and pay more to the one that will install it. Although the process of laying a patio or a walkway is not complicated, quite some experience and practice are required if you expect to get good results. Having a professional patio installer do the job will greatly impact whether your patio or walkway will develop cracks soon since they are prone to this.
Patio repairs cost
As a homeowner, you should expect to pay between £1200 and £1800 for a professional patio repair. This cost will cater to the required tool and the additional labour charges. With time, brick patios tend to fade or chip, while concrete patios often end up cracking due to bad weather or an unstable foundation. If you need to repoint, it will cost you between £10- £20 per square metre.
A professional will charge slightly higher for a concrete patio repair. It is, however, also important to note that a concrete patio is more durable than a brick patio.
Labour expenses and time scales
Working with a landscape gardener for your patio installation should cost you about £100 daily. In most cases, they will be dealing with a basic labourer bringing the total cost up to approximately £200.
It will take around two days to finish a common installation for a small patio measuring 10 square meters. This will cost you around £400 for labour. A 20 square meter patio area would take two tradespersons approximately three days to finish bringing the cost to £600 to finish.
Patio cost calculator
As a rough estimate, your patio cost should sum up to about £55-£150 per square metre with £900 being the average laying cost. Laying a patio is one of the most difficult jobs to estimate especially with the many variables that are involved.
To calculate the cost of your patio, you should start by measuring the area which you need paved. You should also not forget to factor in the cost of disposal of the old patio and ground preparation for the new patio which might range around £40 per square meter.
The fee you pay for laying your patio is bespoke to the final design you envisioned. This further emphasises the importance of getting several quotes from experts who are locally recommended for you to get a clear understanding of the amount you might pay.
Different types of patios to consider
You will find a wide range of materials which will help you achieve your desired patio design, whether it’s a more traditional style you are looking to achieve or if you are looking to get a sleek modern look. Before concluding the final cost, you need to decide on the type of patio you want. Here are some common materials you might get to choose from.
- Concrete
- Flagstone
- Raised
- Resin
Concrete
Concrete patios cost about £2500 to £3000 to install. One of the largest benefits of having a concrete patio is the fact that it will not crack and allow space for weeds and moss to grow in between the cracks. Concrete patios are also quite easy to set up as they are laid on one flat surface.
The durability and weatherproof quality of concrete are quite incredible and it is very easy to clean making it the ideal outdoor patio. To improve the final look of a concrete patio, it can easily be stamped, coloured, engraved, or textured to make it look like a brick patio.
Although concrete doesn’t crack easily, it is quite expensive to repair in the event of cracking. Concrete is also very slippery when it gets wet.
Flagstone
Installing a flagstone patio should cost you about £1300 to £1900. A major convenience found in flagstone patios is their versatility. Various laying patterns and coloured stones can be used and they can be cut in both regular and irregular shapes.
Flagstone patios are also resistant to moisture and heat making them quite durable and appealing to look at years after their installation.
Although the installation of flagstones is quite simple, they are quite bulky and difficult to work with. Getting a pattern that will work well with your patio size is also a time-consuming task.
Raised
The cost for a raised patio starts from around £45 per square meter. Raised patios are the perfect way to create a seamless transition to the outdoors on your property.
Raised patios have very few constraints and are low maintenance and quite versatile. You are also able to choose from a wide range of styles, colours, and materials depending on what you expect your final outlook to be.
Raised patios are, however quite complex to construct compared to flat patios. This is mostly due to the large amount of earth that requires moving to get the final result. They are also quite expensive in comparison to other patios.
Resin
Resin involves a mixture of resin and aggregate. This will cost you an estimate of £1600 to £2900 to get installed. Resin is considered to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing patio options and has a variety of choices to pick from. It is also quite easy to install a resin patio, therefore, bringing the labour cost down significantly.
A major drawback of having a resin patio is that it is extremely susceptible to sunlight and tends to fade after a while. It is also not prone to weed and moss growth and therefore requires a significant amount of maintenance to be done.
| Patio | Price |
|---|---|
| Concrete patio | £2500 – £3000 |
| Gravel | £1500 – £2000 |
| Tile | £1400 – £5500 |
| Clay Brick | £2000 – £2500 |
| Resin | £1600 -£2900 |
On average to lay a patio, it will cost you between £1400 to £5500. Installing a gavel patio will be budget-friendly while the tiles option falls into the high-end. Tiles will be easier to maintain and clean. On the other hand, gravel may lead to uneven surfaces.