Patios in Surrey

Plan a Surrey patio for the way you will actually use it.

A patio should fit people, furniture and movement before it fits a paving module. Record the intended use, relationship to the house and practical site constraints so an installer can assess dimensions, levels, drainage and construction.

  • Tell us what exists and what needs to change
  • One independent provider when coverage and job type match
Surrey’s 11 borough and district areas

One private enquiry

Tell us about the patios project

Tell us the approximate size, how you will use the patio, preferred materials, access and any drainage concerns.

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Layout

Test the usable area, not just the square metres

Place or measure the table, chairs, barbecue and planters you expect to use, then allow space to pull out chairs and walk through. A large paved area can still feel awkward if door swings, steps and routes through the garden are ignored.

Consider sun, shade, privacy and views at the times the patio will be used. The most obvious position beside the house is not automatically the most comfortable one.

  • Furniture dimensions and circulation
  • Doors, steps and principal garden routes
  • Sun, shade and overlooking
  • Connection to lawns and planting

Levels

Resolve thresholds and falls before fixing the pattern

The finished patio has to meet existing doors, air bricks, drains and garden levels safely. Ask the contractor to explain proposed falls and where surface water will go.

Where a patio has failed, show settlement, cracked joints, loose edges and persistent wet areas. The new specification should address the cause rather than conceal it.

  • Door and damp-sensitive levels
  • Drain and inspection-cover positions
  • Direction of proposed falls
  • Steps, retaining edges or ramps

Finish

Choose a material as part of an installation system

Porcelain, sandstone and concrete paving each require compatible preparation, bedding, cutting and jointing. Product data, slip characteristics and installation instructions should inform the proposal.

Ask to see a representative sample and discuss colour variation, staining, cleaning, sealing where applicable and future replacements. Be cautious of a comparison based only on supply price per square metre.

Quote comparison

Make the hidden work visible

A comparable quote states demolition, excavation, disposal, sub-base, bedding, paving, cuts, edges, jointing, drainage and making good. It should also explain assumptions about access and ground conditions.

If landscaping around the patio will follow later, plan service ducts, planting beds, levels and routes now. That reduces the risk of lifting finished work.

  • Measured area and material allowance
  • Ground preparation and waste
  • Drainage and edge details
  • Start conditions, programme and exclusions

Work that affects this job

Resolve adjoining work before finished surfaces go down.

Drainage, levels, access, planting, boundaries and services often cross from one trade package into another. Planning them together can avoid lifting or damaging completed work.

Paving

Understand materials, preparation and drainage in more detail.

Decking

Compare a raised platform with a paved terrace.

Landscape design

Resolve layout before construction.

Landscaping

Coordinate the patio with the wider garden.

Before anyone prices the work

Questions worth settling early.

How large should a patio be?

Base it on furniture, circulation and the relationship to the garden rather than a standard size. Marking the outline on the ground is a useful way to test it.

Is porcelain or sandstone better?

Neither is universally better. Compare appearance, wet grip, installation system, upkeep, repairability and budget for the actual site.

Can a new patio be laid over an old one?

Sometimes an existing construction can form part of a designed solution, but only after its condition, levels, drainage and bond are assessed. Overlaying a failed base can carry the failure forward.

What should I send with a patio enquiry?

Include dimensions, wide site photos, access, thresholds, drainage, intended furniture and any material preference. Mention whether old paving must be removed.

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