Budget for front garden makeover

[Bloodybridget]

We're aiming to get our front garden redone, it's a double fronted Victorian terrace, the ugly cracked concrete surface is the worst thing about it, but we want to make the planting area larger, have a tiled path, new low wall with railings, timber bin shelter with green roof. Not sure about surface for non-tiled, non-planted bits, maybe wood chips (aiming for maximum nature-friendliness, but avoiding damp issues for the house).
I have contacted a landscaper who's asking about budget, and I really have no idea what it might cost. I told him 5 - 10k, just off the top of my head . . we're in London so labour etc. might be more than in some areas, but has anyone done similar who can advise me?

Not too sure what we spent. Taking up concrete is quick and easy so should cost much. A Victorian tiled path will probably cost over 1k (depending on how long it is) as the tiles are expensive and fiddly. Building a wall is even pricier but I would think that overall 5-10k is realistic.

Need a pic or at least some dimensions!

Thanks, both. The dimensions are approx 900 cm width, 270 depth. There's nothing unusual about it, two bay windows, the existing front wall would have to be demolished of course but we'd probably leave the side walls as they are. The landscaper came back to me saying 15 - 25k based on materials etc. We've asked him to go ahead with design but might not get him to do the build. It seems a huge amount to me!

We had a block driveway done last year - dig out and remove existing concrete - then put base layer down and blocks.

Cost was about 7k, area about 70sq meters.

We got about 6 quotes varying from 12k to 6k - didn't like the very cheap ones (just didn't like them - the work might have been fine, but they would not put anything in writing).

Get several quotes

That quote sounds way off. Does it specify how much for each thing?

We definitely didn’t spend that sort of money but we just got a separate tiler to do the path and a garden designer to take up concrete and do some planting. Our front wall was fine.

Thanks again @JoJoSM2 and @PaulaSmith1. The landscaper I contacted has now said it would be better for us to work with a local garden designer, who could then recommend or find a landscaper to carry out the work (he obviously didn't want to just do the planning). He recommended a few people so we're considering our options - DP is putting a call out on a trusted traders type website. Good thought to get a few quotes for the actual work.

We’re in London, single fronted but not that different in area from yours, been quoted £10-12k for a front garden refurb. But that doesn’t include new wall, railings or tiled path. It includes new stone paving (incl new sub base), paved path and timber bin store.

Victorian style tiles cost a lot and laying them is quite a specialist job so that could add at least a couple of £k. Then a brick wall and railings will add quite a lot especially for double fronted. I can see yours getting up near £20k based on our quotes... we had 3 quotes all reasonably similar.

Landscape gardeners are incredibly busy in London right now (post covid everyone wants their garden done) and so to some extent can name their price. If you can wait it may be better.

Might be worth asking around neighbours too. I find that gets good recommendations.

Thanks @minipie, that's interesting re your spend. We're probably going for simple square tiles for the path laid diamond style, not the very complex designs, so are hoping that won't cost squillions . . Can see how it all adds up, though. Yes @jojosm2 we will ask neighbours too.

If you find the tiles are coming out very expensive, check if they are quoting for 9mm tiles or 5mm tiles - if you use 5mm it’s a lot cheaper. Martin Mosaic supplies the 5mm ones.

Cheers again @minipie - that's the thickness, right?

Doesn’t sound like you need a designer as you know what you want. Victorian tile paths are v costly. If you see one being dine ask or ask around for recommendations.

You could get quotes from builders landscapers for putting the wall in and levelling existing path or new path. Then find a tiler, it’s a specialist job for a nice Victorian style psth.

Think about whether you want electrics put in for lighting.

Railings are expensive too, look for a local wrought iron company, we were quoted £800 for a wrought iron gate.

I had hard landscaping put in on a double fronted house, 2 Big square patios leaving big borders round. £1800 for materials, Removal of lawn and all the work. Local two man band from a recommendation.

I’ve had 2 Victorian (well Edwardian to be precise) paths done and both times by just general tilers. It’s not that specialist, it’s just really fiddly as the tiles are smaller so there’s more of them. Both times I sourced the tiles myself, once through a local shop and the other time ordered online.

The advantage of having a garden designer is that they’ll also project manage and take responsibility for the whole make over so might be worth it for clients who haven’t got the time/patience to deal with individual trades. They’ll also come up with v attractive planting.

We were quoted 7-8k to get rid of a huge ugly concrete path, awful brick bedding areas and excess soil (2 skips worth) border the lawn, add 7 tonne of gravel and supply a 10 x 14 shed.

Did it ourselves over 2 weeks in summer for total of £1800, it looks amazing, totally transformed! Was hard work though...

Yep @Bloodybridget. The 5mm come in limited sizes (just 5cm x 5cm squares really) but if you want a plain diamonds pattern that’s fine. Agree with pp that for plain diamonds and a straight path you may not need a specialist Victorian tiler but you do need a good careful tiler and a good sub base (ie new concrete under it) and pay attention to how they do the design - get them to lay it out first and check if you are happy with the corners/borders/locations of any cut tiles.

Agree you don’t need a garden designer if you know what you want. And you don’t need one to pull all the trades together, you need a landscape gardening company for this. They’ll be able to sort all the bits you need. This may be a bit more expensive than hiring individual bricklayer, tiler, carpenter etc but it’s a huge amount easier and the people will be “pre vetted” by the landscape gardening co.

It’s just worth being aware that the thinner tiles will be less durable. They may be cheaper in the short term, but are more likely to crack over time. It might be worth just talking to a specialist about your choice and how long the tiles should last. It also may not be such an issue in London where the weather is so balmy.

Yeah, we went in not knowing what we were really doing in getting a tiled path laid, left the tiler to it, and it ended up looking like a 1970s supermarket toilet floor. Not diamond shaped, the tiles looked cheap in place....

Mmm true SunnySomer if you get a lot of hard frosts, we are in London so don’t.

Many thanks for all the helpful posts and comments. We have got a date with a local garden landscaper for an initial consultation, next week. @RunningThrough I'm very impressed with you doing the work yourselves, unfortunately that's definitely not an option for us two old ladies!
There's a complication for us re management etc. in that we'll both be shielding for several months from late November when I start chemotherapy, so it probably will be necessary for us to have someone sorting everything out; we won't want to be interacting with several different tradespeople/companies, even on the doorstep. There's a family member living nearby who might be able to do it for us (but am wary in case things go wrong!).