When people price a patio, they often look only at the cost of the paving slabs. In practice, the slabs can be less than half the bill.
Understanding the breakdown helps you compare quotes fairly and spot corners being cut.
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Materials
Concrete slabs are the cheapest, followed by sandstone and other natural stones, with porcelain and premium granite at the top end. Large-format slabs need more careful handling and a very level base.
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Groundwork
Digging out, removing spoil, and laying a compacted sub-base of crushed stone is labour-intensive and the main factor in a patio’s lifespan. A thin or poorly compacted base leads to sinking and cracked slabs within a few years.
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Other cost factors
- ✿Access: if everything has to be barrowed through the house, labour rises
- ✿Levels: steps, walls, or raised areas add significantly
- ✿Drainage: channel drains or soakaways where water cannot run off
- ✿Pointing: brush-in jointing compounds or traditional mortar
- ✿Edging, lighting, and cuts around curves or obstacles
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Comparing quotes
Ask every landscaper to specify sub-base depth, the bedding method (a full mortar bed is more durable than spot-bedding), the jointing product, and whether waste removal is included. A noticeably cheaper quote often skimps on one of these.
This is general landscaping and garden information, not professional advice. Costs, regulations, and plant suitability vary by location. Call before you dig to locate buried utilities, and consult a licensed landscaper or engineer for retaining walls, drainage, and structural work.