Access is the biggest surprise on most quotes
Rear gardens on terraced and semi-detached Newcastle streets are frequently reached only through the house or along a narrow side passage. Every tonne of sub-base and every pallet of slabs then moves by barrow or by hand.
That is not padding — it can be a day or more of extra labour on a modest patio. Where a back lane gives vehicle access, the same patio costs less.
Sandstone versus porcelain on price
Indian sandstone is generally the more economical slab and brings warm, varied tones that suit older brick and stone properties. Its natural variation is part of the appeal, and it is forgiving to lay around irregular boundaries.
Porcelain costs more per square metre and takes longer to lay properly: it is cut with specialist blades, bedded on a slurry primer, and demands tight, consistent joints because the format is so uniform that any drift is obvious. You pay for the precision, and you get a crisp, low-porosity surface in return.
- Sandstone: warmer, more forgiving, lower slab cost
- Porcelain: sharper, low porosity, higher slab and labour cost
- Both need the same quality of sub-base and falls
Levels, falls and steps
Every patio needs a fall away from the building so rainwater runs off rather than sitting against the wall or creeping towards a damp course. Building that fall into a garden that slopes the wrong way means either raising the patio, cutting into the garden, or adding steps.
Steps, retaining edges and raised beds are where patio budgets grow. They are also usually what makes a garden genuinely usable, so they are worth planning for rather than discovering halfway through.
Getting a comparable patio quote
Ask what the slabs are bedded on. A full mortar bed with a primer slurry on the back of each slab is the right method for porcelain and gives sandstone a much longer life than spot-bedding on five dabs.
Also confirm the jointing product and whether the quote includes disposing of the old patio, turf or concrete base. Those two lines account for a surprising share of the difference between quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Is porcelain worth the extra over sandstone?+
If you want a crisp modern look, minimal porosity and very consistent colour, yes. If you want warmth, character and a lower spend, sandstone is the better value choice.
Do you remove the old patio?+
Yes, and it is priced into the quote. Concrete bases take longer to break out than slabs laid on sand.
How long does a patio take?+
A straightforward garden patio is usually a few days. Steps, retaining work or hand-barrowed access extend it.
Can a patio be laid over an existing one?+
Rarely a good idea. It raises the level, often compromises the fall away from the house, and inherits any problems underneath.
Planning a new patio?
Send us a rough size and a photo of the access and we will give you a realistic figure.