A New Patio Laid Right, From Survey to Final Slab

The difference between a patio that lasts and one that rocks within a few years is almost entirely invisible from above: sub-base depth and compaction, bedding done properly, falls planned for drainage, and slabs laid to suit their material. We build patios in that order and refuse to skip the steps that do not show.

Survey and design first

We look at the site: levels, ground conditions, where rainwater goes now and where it should go, how the patio connects to the house and garden, and how much sun and shade the spot gets. We agree the shape, size, slab choice and any features — steps, borders, drainage channels — with you. Then we quote the whole project as a single approved price, based on the agreed design. You know the cost before a spade goes in.

Groundwork done safely and properly

Before any excavation for the patio or its edges, we locate underground services carefully and use detectors where appropriate — but no scan guarantees what lies below, so utilities' plans and a safe dig approach are boundaries we state clearly: confirming them is the customer's responsibility. Excavation goes to the depth the design needs, and the sub-base is built and compacted in layers — the part of a patio that decides whether it sinks. Edge restraints go in before the surface, so nothing creeps.

Laying the surface

Bedding is laid to the correct falls — patios should shed water away from the house, not pool in dips or run back to the door. Slabs are laid to the pattern agreed, joints finished to suit the material, and cuts made cleanly. Where the design needs steps, they are built soundly with consistent risers. Working days are agreed in the plan: the visit estimate covers a defined working day on the agreed scope, and multi-day builds are staged so the site is left safe and tidy overnight.

Weather and scheduling

Patio construction is weather-dependent — excavation, compacting and mortar all need suitable conditions, and frost or heavy rain will pause the work rather than compromise it. We schedule around the forecast and tell you plainly when weather must move a stage.

Permissions and honest limits

Planning, drainage permissions and boundary matters are the customer's responsibility; where a large paved area or its drainage may need checking with your local authority, we will say so, but we do not promise compliance status. And we do not guarantee against settlement or weathering: ground that has been built on once can shift again. What we can promise is correct depth, proper compaction and falls that work — the things that give a patio its best chance.

Aftercare

A new patio wants little: sweep it, keep joints topped up or sealed as recommended for the slab type, and never use harsh acid cleaners on natural stone. We will leave you with sensible aftercare advice for your specific surface.

Design choices that matter

The survey is where a patio earns its longevity: slab choice suited to the exposure, jointing that suits the material, falls planned around the way water actually behaves on your plot, and edges detailed so nothing creeps. Where the site is shaded and damp, we will steer you away from smooth polished surfaces that become slippery, and where it is exposed we will talk about frost-resistant materials. These conversations cost minutes at survey stage; getting them wrong costs a re-lay. We would rather spend the survey properly than quote a generic patio into your specific garden.

How to book

Start with a survey through maintenance-men.com or by phone. The booking fee is paid when you book the survey; the full project cost is quoted after the survey and approved before work starts, with slabs and materials itemised separately.