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Original poster

DIY patio? Costs?

21 replies

3kids3dogs · 12/07/2024 07:29

I’m currently in the process of renovating a house and am thinking about replacing and extending an awful broken patio. It was laid wrong so pools water which sits alongside the house causing damp. It’s also mostly smashed and broken so constantly full of weeds.

It’s a big space. One bit is around 3m by around 5m, leading to another area which is 11.5m by 3.3m. It wraps around the house hence 2 sides.

Ive been quoted 7k for block paving and 8k for sandstone flags. Firstly does this price sound about right or high? I wasn’t expecting it to be so much to be honest but I am considering a remortgage for this and some other works.

My husband is thinking about DIY. We are not DIY people normally but he has basic skills. Is this something I would be stupid to attempt? If you have done one did you save much money?

Thankyou

OP posts:
Cocoaone · 12/07/2024 07:46

We were quoted £8k 2 years ago to lay roughly 50sqm of porcelain tiles, including the tiles. South east.

This year our neighbour was quoted £12k for a slightly larger area in sandstone slabs

We decided to diy and it's been stressful and a long process to get everything at the right level and getting it all done in our free time at the weekends when it's not raining (electric concrete mixer). However, we're definitely coming in under £5k, even with large amounts of sand/type 1 and renting whackers to compact it all etc. So, it's doable - but a lot of hard work! Getting the level and sub base right is critical to ensure it lasts.

Original poster
3kids3dogs · 12/07/2024 08:06

Hi @Cocoaone how did you learn how to level it etc? Just YouTube?

Im not sure how to calculate how many square metres I would need but I presume a lot. I have two under 2 so not a lot of free time but I do have a few weeks in August where we are both able to be around.

OP posts:
alwaysmovingforwards · 12/07/2024 08:09

3kids3dogs · 12/07/2024 08:06

Hi @Cocoaone how did you learn how to level it etc? Just YouTube?

Im not sure how to calculate how many square metres I would need but I presume a lot. I have two under 2 so not a lot of free time but I do have a few weeks in August where we are both able to be around.

With respect, based on this I’d hire a professional.

Original poster
3kids3dogs · 12/07/2024 08:27

alwaysmovingforwards · 12/07/2024 08:09

With respect, based on this I’d hire a professional.

Show quote history

Yes, you’re probably right. I’m not thick as in I can calculate m2, but it’s more about needing a path connecting the 2 patio areas and borders etc. I’ve no idea where to start deciding what and how much to order! I don’t want to end up with half a job.

In that case is 8k about right?

OP posts:
Cocoaone · 12/07/2024 08:34

So it sounds like you'd be around 60sqm - 3m by 5m is 15sqm and 11.5 x 3.3 is 38sqm - so 53 sqm and you need extra for breakage etc

My DH has experience in doing this sort of thing and we have a lot of the tools - tile cutter, we borrowed a concrete mixer, have wheelbarrows and big spirit levels etc.
I'd say that it's possible to diy after watching lots of YouTube videos - but it will be slow and 55sqm is a lot to do - next door's took just over a week and there were 3-4 professionals. Its always the unexpected which throws you out- corners, keeping it all straight so it doesn't start going squiffy

I would have preferred to pay someone to do it be honest, for the sake of a few grand and it being done quickly. Ours still isn't done after 3 months 😁

Sugarsnapper · 12/07/2024 08:36

After trying to do a small patio ourselves I’d say get a company in to do it. It’s a lot cheaper than a divorce!

TheFlis · 12/07/2024 08:38

Sugarsnapper · 12/07/2024 08:36

After trying to do a small patio ourselves I’d say get a company in to do it. It’s a lot cheaper than a divorce!

This!!! We did one small area ourselves and it was a nightmare, took forever and doesn’t look anywhere near as good as the professionally laid ones we have do.

Petrine · 12/07/2024 08:41

We’ve just had porcelain tiles professionally laid. It was £14,500 for 50 square metres.

I would get a professional to do it as it isn’t easy to get levels and cuts right. You could pay a lot for materials and still end up with it looking shoddy if you don’t know what you’re doing.

DeedlessIndeed · 12/07/2024 08:42

Is it really worth trying to DIY it, with the amount you'd save?

You have two babies who'll need lots of attention and likely be under your feet for the majority of the time you've got allocated for it. You'll use up valuable annual leave, and there is no guarantee that you'll get it finished in that time. In which case you'll be down all the material costs, with a half finished job hanging over you for months.

Given the fact that it is causing damp, I'd push the button and swallow the extra couple of K to get it done in good time and to a high standard by a professional. It's not like you'll be laying patios all the time, that these skills will come in super handy going forward.

sugarbyebye · 12/07/2024 08:44

Just pay someone. The price sounds reasonable and landscapers are skilled to deal with water movement which is the main issue with hardscapes outside.

Nourishinghandcream · 12/07/2024 08:50

We have done this sort of thing in the past but OH is very hands-on and has all the tools, experience, ability etc. It can be very hard work and remember that laying the slabs is only the end as the base needs to be laid correctly which will almost certainly mean you have a lot of digging out to be done and levels to be set before you can start with the slabs.

We took the easy option recently and paid to have our garden landscaped (Inc new paths & patio) to avoid the weeks of hard work and disruption which would been the case if we did it DIY.
It rankled slightly watching the work being done and thinking "we could have done that" but we were thinking that while sat on the sofa, drinking tea looking out at them working in the rain!😆

ChopSue · 12/07/2024 08:50

My husband decided he’d have a go at ours - 5 years later I still have a building site and he damaged his back in the process. We are shortly going to pay someone to put it right.

Don't underestimate how difficult this might be. I think your quotes seem high but it depends on the materials you have chosen. Typically landscape companies are quieter in winter so if you want until autumn when the ground is still fairly warm but their order book may be quieter, you could get a better price.

Dahliaaaa · 12/07/2024 08:52

I was quoted 10k for 55 sq m in March so I would say your quote is very reasonable

ChopSue · 12/07/2024 08:56

Interested to know (as we’re about to embark on paying ourselves) how these quotes are broken down?

Original poster
3kids3dogs · 12/07/2024 09:05

Thankyou all!

Right I am going to pay someone based on this! We managed to tile a bathroom etc ourselves but I really want this to look nice. We have a really big garden which has taken me 2 years to half tame and I really would like to just enjoy it.

Any thoughts on block paving as a patio? It’s hugely cheaper but will it look crap. We have a block paved drive by the same company which has lasted well but I’m not sure about it wrapping around the whole house? We aren’t sure if it’s a forever home so need to also consider whether it would put people off. Oh and we have dogs so dog urine run off.

The quote included all work, border:retaining wall around an area of border, removal of old patio and aco drains around the bottom of the house. 8k was for historic flags, 6.8k for the same block paving we have at the front.

OP posts:
sugarbyebye · 12/07/2024 09:09

what material is your house made of?

LottieMary · 12/07/2024 09:15

Wouldn’t like block paving personally, it feels like driveway

paying someone is right call - I’m in your position and it’s def pick your battles with kids and diy. I’ll do indoor things that can also be done in evenings or stopped and come back to. Patio would be v v demanding physically and not something you can interrupt if kids need things.

Lifeinlists · 12/07/2024 09:34

I'd say your quote is reasonable. We paid 8k 3 years ago for a similar area. I wouldn't have block paving - we have limestone flags in different sizes which look good and are less absorbent than sandstone.

OP posts:
Skelterskelter · 12/07/2024 12:20

We had a block paved patio left by a previous owner it was so much maintenance scraping between each tiny bit of block paving to get rid of weeds and moss every year so for such a large area I would avoid that. I also think it looks quite old fashioned/traditional and that clean lines with large slabs would look more appealing as well as being easier to maintain. Although the exact material depends on your budget/aesthetic you are going for.

Cocoaone · 12/07/2024 12:27

We ripped up block paving and are replacing with porcelain slabs. The brick looked fine and had lasted 30-odd years without cracking or dipping, but we are north facing and they got so mossy and had horrendous weeds growing through the joins constantly - literally within weeks of power washing and resanding with weed suppression sand

One positive with brick (and I think sandstone?) paving is that the water drains away quickly. With porcelain slabs it's even more important to make sure the slopes and drainage are correct as it's not porous so the water has to run off somewhere

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