A patio is a paved outdoor area next to the house or in the garden, laid in porcelain, natural stone or concrete slabs on a compacted sub-base and mortar bed, with falls that direct rainwater away from the house.
Every house in Chesham is a little different, so we never price a new patio from a brochure. We look at the structure, access and existing finishes first, then put in writing a fixed figure for the scope we settle on. As a rough steer, homeowners in the South East should budget £2,800–£6,200 including VAT, with work typically taking 3–7 days on site.
- Guide price
- £2,800–£6,200 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- HP5
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Buckinghamshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new patio cost in Chesham?
These are guide costs, not quotes. For a new patio in Chesham the range is £2,800–£6,200, VAT included, reflecting prices in the South East that are about 12% above the national guide. Once we have visited for a free survey, you get a firm figure for the scope you approve.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Chesham |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio or path | Around 10m² of concrete slabs or a garden path. | £1,100–£2,800 |
| Typical 20m² patio | Sandstone or porcelain on a full sub-base with jointing and edging. | £2,800–£6,200 |
| Large or multi-level patio | Bigger areas, steps, retaining walls or premium stone. | £6,200–£13,500 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- Patio area and the amount of excavation
- Slab material, size and laying pattern
- Ground levels, slopes, steps and retaining walls
- Access for materials and removing spoil
Scope of the work
- Survey of levels, damp-proof course, drainage and access
- Excavation and removal of turf, soil or old paving
- Compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base
- Primer on porcelain slabs for a strong bond
- Edging and neat cuts around drains and walls
- Site cleared, waste removed and paving cleaned
What are homes like around Chesham?
Buckinghamshire runs from Chiltern villages of brick and flint, through Metroland interwar semis around Amersham and Chesham, to Victorian terraces in High Wycombe and Aylesbury. Milton Keynes adds estates built from the 1970s onwards in brick, render and timber frame, and new housing continues to spread around its edges.
Chiltern cottages may need lime repairs and careful window choices in conservation areas. Interwar semis suit hip-to-gable lofts and rear extensions, while Milton Keynes homes often need roofline renewal, replacement doors and garage conversions.
None of this holds for every street in Chesham, which is why we look at your actual house before pricing a new patio rather than assuming from its age alone.
Permissions for a new patio in Chesham
Planning law differs across the UK. For a home in Chesham, it is the England rules below that count, and we check them with the council ahead of any quote.
A ground-level patio in a back garden does not usually need planning permission in England. Raised decks or platforms more than 30 cm high do.
Building Regulations do not normally apply to patios, but levels must stay below the damp-proof course and drain away from the house.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
A visit to your home
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a new patio, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Written quote
The quote arrives in writing, not over the phone. It covers the full scope, the finishes you've chosen, any exclusions and the payment schedule, with a fixed price tied to that specification.
Plan and prepare
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
The work itself
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
How do you make sure water drains away from the house?
A patio needs a gentle fall, usually a little over 1 in 80, so rainwater runs away from the house towards the garden, a drain or a soakaway. The surface should also sit well below the damp-proof course. If the patio meets a door threshold, a channel drain may be needed. We set levels with string lines and check falls as we lay each section.
Do you cover Amersham, Berkhamsted and Chalfont Saint Peter?
Yes. As well as Chesham, we cover Amersham, Berkhamsted and Chalfont Saint Peter and the rest of Buckinghamshire. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
How much does a new patio cost?
A typical 20m² patio in sandstone or porcelain costs £2,800–£6,200, including excavation, sub-base, laying and jointing. As a guide, allow roughly £100–£220 per square metre plus fixed costs for set-up and waste. Concrete slabs cost less, while slate, granite and large-format porcelain cost more. Steps, walls and drainage add to the total. We confirm a fixed price after the survey.
Does a patio need planning permission?
Most patios do not need planning permission, but it depends on the size, height and location, your home's position, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you are in. Raised patios or decking more than a small height above the ground may need permission because of overlooking. We check the position for your garden before quoting.
Also covering areas around Chesham
Our coverage in Chesham includes HP5. We also travel to Amersham, Berkhamsted and Chalfont Saint Peter, so neighbouring addresses are looked after on exactly the same terms as those in town.