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.
Whatever prompted you to look into a new patio, whether wear and tear, a growing family or plans to move, we can survey your Antrim home and give you a price in writing. Homes in Northern Ireland typically come in at £2,200–£4,700, VAT included, for this kind of work. We also cover Ballymena, Newtownabbey and Belfast, and the same steps apply wherever you are in County Antrim.
- Guide price
- £2,200–£4,700 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- BT41
- Planning rules
- Northern Ireland
- Local area
- County Antrim
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Patios and paving prices in Antrim
What should you budget for a new patio in Antrim? Use the figures below as a starting point. Prices in Northern Ireland sit about 14% below the national guide, so the range here is £2,200–£4,700 including VAT. Your fixed price comes in writing once we've surveyed the property, at no charge.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Antrim |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio or path | Around 10m² of concrete slabs or a garden path. | £850–£2,200 |
| Typical 20m² patio | Sandstone or porcelain on a full sub-base with jointing and edging. | £2,200–£4,700 |
| Large or multi-level patio | Bigger areas, steps, retaining walls or premium stone. | £4,700–£10,500 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- Patio area and the amount of excavation
- Ground levels, slopes, steps and retaining walls
- Drainage needed to keep water away from the house
- Access for materials and removing spoil
What does the job include in Antrim?
- Survey of levels, damp-proof course, drainage and access
- Excavation and removal of turf, soil or old paving
- Slabs laid on a full mortar bed with falls away from the house
- Primer on porcelain slabs for a strong bond
- Jointing with mortar or a brush-in compound
- Site cleared, waste removed and paving cleaned
What are homes like around Antrim?
Belfast has long rows of red-brick Victorian terraces, Edwardian villas in the north and south of the city and large post-war estates, while towns such as Ballymena, Antrim, Larne and Carrickfergus mix terraces, semis and newer developments. Dark basalt appears in older rural buildings, and pebbledash or roughcast is a very common finish.
Terraces suit loft conversions and rear extensions, and many need window and roof renewal. Pebbledashed homes commonly need re-rendering, and detached rural houses often take extensions, porches and driveways.
If your house in Antrim fits one of these patterns, it helps us anticipate what a new patio will involve, though we always confirm the details on site.
Permissions for a new patio in Antrim
Antrim is in Northern Ireland, so the planning and building rules set out below are the ones that apply. We confirm the details with the council before we quote.
A ground-level patio does not usually need planning permission in Northern Ireland; raised platforms are more restricted.
Building control approval is not normally needed for a patio.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Survey and measure
It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about a new patio.
Your fixed price
We turn the survey notes into a written quote. The price is fixed for the specification we agree, and the document sets out materials, scope and payment stages in plain language.
Getting ready
With the quote agreed, we book the work in and handle preparation: permissions where needed, building control notifications, material orders and access arrangements for your Antrim property.
Build and hand over
During the work we protect the areas around it and tidy up at the end of each day. Once complete, we check the finish, remove our materials and hand over paperwork such as building control sign-off where it applies.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
Can you combine a new patio with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan a new patio alongside other work on your Antrim home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
How long does it take to lay a patio?
Laying a typical 20m² patio takes around three to five days, from excavation and sub-base to laying, jointing and cleaning. Larger or multi-level patios with steps and walls take longer. The mortar bed needs time to set, so light foot traffic is usually fine after a day or two and furniture can go on after about a week. We confirm timings with your quote.
What happens if my garden slopes?
A sloping garden can still have a level patio by cutting into the slope, building up with retaining walls, or creating terraces with steps between them. Retaining walls must be built to hold back the soil and allow drainage behind them. This adds cost but creates usable, level space. We look at the slope during the survey and suggest the most practical design.
Also covering areas around Antrim
Our coverage in Antrim includes BT41. We also travel to Ballymena, Newtownabbey and Belfast, so neighbouring addresses are looked after on exactly the same terms as those in town.