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.
Thinking about a new patio in Belfast? We take charge of the whole project, co-ordinating every trade involved, and one person keeps you updated. Guide prices for Northern Ireland sit at £2,200–£4,700 including VAT, and a typical job takes 3–7 days on site. Your own figure depends on what the survey finds and the specification you settle on.
- Guide price
- £2,200–£4,700 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- BT1, BT2, BT6, BT7 and BT12
- Planning rules
- Northern Ireland
- Local area
- County Antrim
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new patio cost in Belfast?
The costs listed here are typical for a new patio around Belfast and include VAT. They reflect labour and material costs in Northern Ireland, about 14% below the national guide, giving a range of £2,200–£4,700. Exact pricing depends on your home, so we only fix it once a free site survey is done.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Belfast |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Slab material, size and laying pattern
- Ground levels, slopes, steps and retaining walls
- Drainage needed to keep water away from the house
- 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
- Slabs laid on a full mortar bed with falls away from the house
- Edging and neat cuts around drains and walls
- Site cleared, waste removed and paving cleaned
What are homes like around Belfast?
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.
The north coast and glens are exposed to strong winds, salt and frequent rain, which affects render, roofline and outdoor work.
So when we survey a Belfast property for a new patio, the first step is working out how it was built and what has been changed since.
Do you need permission in Belfast?
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Belfast comes under Northern Ireland, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
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
A free survey comes first. It gives us what we need to price a new patio properly, including dimensions, existing materials and access for deliveries, and gives you the chance to ask anything you like.
Written quote
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.
Plan and prepare
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 Belfast property.
On site to finish
The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
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.
How much does a new patio cost?
A typical 20m² patio in sandstone or porcelain costs £2,200–£4,700, 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.
Who do I deal with during the job?
One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.
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.
Which postcodes in Belfast do you cover?
We cover BT1, BT2, BT6 and BT7, along with the rest of County Antrim. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
Nearby towns
Homes across BT1, BT2, BT6 and BT7 in Belfast are within our coverage, as are those in Castlereagh, Newtownabbey and Lisburn. If you are just outside these areas, ask anyway, because we work right across the UK.