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Original poster

Quote for paving slabs

43 replies

SpunkyPombear · 07/08/2025 15:34

Ive been quoted £3600-£6500 for paving slabs in my back garden. The higher quotes were for a different type but I don't think it would have bumped it up that much. Council pavers v Indian stone.

How on earth do you choose? The in the middle quite at £5600 isn't getting back with a date.

The £3600 (would cost £4k with my preferred black paving type paving) seemed ok. English guy, 40s, a couple of good reviews on Facebook - but can't find much else.

Thoughts?

It's 35 m square. Will require leveling of.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 09:11

GRex · 08/08/2025 09:09

You should separate materials from labour and price up the actual materials you want. You can search online and order for yourself if you want something in particular. For the effort, you need to understand what each one is doing to level and prepare the ground. The higher or lower quote might be shit if you've picked someone who isn't going to do the job properly. Maybe start again and ask what they plan to actually do.

Thanks but I don't want to order my own materials, the contractor can do t

OP posts:
GRex · 08/08/2025 09:09

You should separate materials from labour and price up the actual materials you want. You can search online and order for yourself if you want something in particular. For the effort, you need to understand what each one is doing to level and prepare the ground. The higher or lower quote might be shit if you've picked someone who isn't going to do the job properly. Maybe start again and ask what they plan to actually do.

Mycatsrulex2 · 08/08/2025 09:09

SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 08:17

I just don't know how someone can charge 40% less

My neighbours have just had a wall built around the front garden, artificial lawn and small back patio and the quote they went with was 50% cheaper than the other two. He's done a fantastic job so it doesn't necessarily mean a lot to quote less.

Yabberwok · 08/08/2025 09:05

SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 09:00

Ps a Facebook group for trades people,,, are you a trades person?

Show quote history

I was a gardener. My wife is a cleaner/gardener. I have stayed in the group as some of the customers requests are fantastically ridiculous...as I said £100 a day for a plumber.

Original poster
SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 09:02

Lemonadeat8 · 08/08/2025 09:01

My friend has his own landscaping business and paving can cost his customers thousands!

Of course, like all things.... It's easy enough to get a rough price online.... I'm young for budget Indian stone....

OP posts:
Lemonadeat8 · 08/08/2025 09:01

My friend has his own landscaping business and paving can cost his customers thousands!

Original poster
SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 09:00

Yabberwok · 08/08/2025 08:25

I'm on a FB group for trades people. And continually see shared posts asking for plumbers/decorators to work for £100 a day. They are always accompanied by a list so if you will I will kindly remind you why it's so high:
Insurance - liability insurance for landscapers is so expensive...I still have jobbing gardeners insurance as my wife still occasionally does some. One year they miss quoted at over £3k.
Tools to actually do the job...a decent stone cutting blade is about £15 and doesn't last long.
Experience and skills... I've done landscaping and it's a skilled occupation just to get the patio to look level but actually slope so water runs off.
Materials have rocketed I built a wall in my garden last year, just tiny decorative, the materials have gone up about 15% since. Plus there are delivery costs.
Plus disposing of waste has become ridiculously expensive.

If you can afford the guy with the good reputation go for it, it's not getting any cheaper

Ps a Facebook group for trades people,,, are you a trades person?

OP posts:
Original poster
SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 08:59

Orders76 · 08/08/2025 00:01

Recently got 15 sq m sandstone for 500, sand, primers and grout another 150 so you'd be looking at 1500 on materials?
Few days work and the lower quote v reasonable

I've messaged him :) I could probably afford to get more replaced in the garden now because of his quote

OP posts:
Original poster
SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 08:58

CheshireDing · 08/08/2025 08:07

That's probably reasonable for levelling, prepping etc, making sure any suitable drainage put in.

Were you going to pink the flags which are white and pink/white and yellow for the council flags ? That will look nowhere near as nice in comparison to the Indian Stone I think.

I don't know if it's too cheap. Others on my builder etc have stated it would cost £3.5k and a paving guy I know says he charges £100 plus vat. So about the same. His work is ok but he's too far away to be able to work for me.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 08:57

caramac04 · 08/08/2025 08:09

Sounds reasonable quotes. If you can afford it I would go for the Indian sandstone.
I had porcelain tiles last year on my large patio and love them.

Thanks.

Indian is the cheapest pavers. Porcelain wouldn't look good at my house.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 08:56

Yabberwok · 08/08/2025 08:25

I'm on a FB group for trades people. And continually see shared posts asking for plumbers/decorators to work for £100 a day. They are always accompanied by a list so if you will I will kindly remind you why it's so high:
Insurance - liability insurance for landscapers is so expensive...I still have jobbing gardeners insurance as my wife still occasionally does some. One year they miss quoted at over £3k.
Tools to actually do the job...a decent stone cutting blade is about £15 and doesn't last long.
Experience and skills... I've done landscaping and it's a skilled occupation just to get the patio to look level but actually slope so water runs off.
Materials have rocketed I built a wall in my garden last year, just tiny decorative, the materials have gone up about 15% since. Plus there are delivery costs.
Plus disposing of waste has become ridiculously expensive.

If you can afford the guy with the good reputation go for it, it's not getting any cheaper

Wow what a post, so much to unpick.

I'm not asking for someone to work for £100 a day, I'm asking for what is reasonable. .

No one is saying £110 m2 is too cheap nor £160 me too expensive.

They all have good reputations, but that's only based on Facebook reviews which aren't mandatory.

Waste is £190 for 5 tonne. Yes it's more expensive but only gone up £60 in 4 years.

As bad as someone else gloating that her partner did it and how it was so cheap.

OP posts:
Yabberwok · 08/08/2025 08:25

I'm on a FB group for trades people. And continually see shared posts asking for plumbers/decorators to work for £100 a day. They are always accompanied by a list so if you will I will kindly remind you why it's so high:
Insurance - liability insurance for landscapers is so expensive...I still have jobbing gardeners insurance as my wife still occasionally does some. One year they miss quoted at over £3k.
Tools to actually do the job...a decent stone cutting blade is about £15 and doesn't last long.
Experience and skills... I've done landscaping and it's a skilled occupation just to get the patio to look level but actually slope so water runs off.
Materials have rocketed I built a wall in my garden last year, just tiny decorative, the materials have gone up about 15% since. Plus there are delivery costs.
Plus disposing of waste has become ridiculously expensive.

If you can afford the guy with the good reputation go for it, it's not getting any cheaper

Original poster
SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 08:23

CheshireDing · 08/08/2025 08:07

That's probably reasonable for levelling, prepping etc, making sure any suitable drainage put in.

Were you going to pink the flags which are white and pink/white and yellow for the council flags ? That will look nowhere near as nice in comparison to the Indian Stone I think.

Not sure what you mean by pink etc

OP posts:
Original poster
SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 08:17

I just don't know how someone can charge 40% less

OP posts:
caramac04 · 08/08/2025 08:09

Sounds reasonable quotes. If you can afford it I would go for the Indian sandstone.
I had porcelain tiles last year on my large patio and love them.

CheshireDing · 08/08/2025 08:07

That's probably reasonable for levelling, prepping etc, making sure any suitable drainage put in.

Were you going to pink the flags which are white and pink/white and yellow for the council flags ? That will look nowhere near as nice in comparison to the Indian Stone I think.

Original poster
SpunkyPombear · 08/08/2025 00:02

Thank you

OP posts:
Orders76 · 08/08/2025 00:01

Recently got 15 sq m sandstone for 500, sand, primers and grout another 150 so you'd be looking at 1500 on materials?
Few days work and the lower quote v reasonable