Our builder (he's about to finish our extension) has just given us an estimate for laying a new patio. The plan is to level the hardcore accrued from the extension across the patio area as the patio needs to be slightly raised to account for a slope, then we're going to have retaining walls built from sleepers that will be raised around two sides of the patios, plus a step from the back and side of the patio to the rest of the garden. Patio area approx 45 sqm including sleeper bed. The estimate also includes lifting an old path between the house and garage and small courtyard area at the side of the house and laying new slabs, and reinstalling side gates that were taken out during the extension (about another 10 sqm of paving). We have some queries, and the estimate doesn't seem to include any form of drainage, and at the very least we don't want water collecting along the edge of the sleepers. Total estimate has come it at £10300 incl. VAT but excluding sleepers and slabs which we're buying (we've found what we want, should be about £1500).
We're getting someone else to come and look tomorrow, who laid a patio etc for us in our old house, but just wondering whether that seems expensive or par for the course. We're in South London.