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.
Alton sits within our coverage for a new patio, as do neighbouring Bordon, Farnham and Basingstoke. Before giving a price we want to see the property: the condition of what's there now, the access, and anything that might need extra work. The guide range for the South East is £2,800–£6,200 including VAT, and your written quote will spell out exactly what that covers.
- Guide price
- £2,800–£6,200 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- GU34
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Hampshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new patio cost in Alton?
These are guide costs, not quotes. For a new patio in Alton 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 Alton |
|---|---|---|
| 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:
- 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
What’s included?
- Survey of levels, damp-proof course, drainage and access
- 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
- Edging and neat cuts around drains and walls
- Site cleared, waste removed and paving cleaned
Local housing and a new patio
Southampton and Portsmouth have dense Victorian terraces, with plenty of post-war rebuilding after wartime bombing. Winchester keeps Georgian and medieval streets, Basingstoke expanded rapidly with 1960s and 1970s estates, and New Forest villages feature cob, thatch and brick. Brick and flint is common on the chalk downs, and new estates ring most towns.
Terraces suit loft rooms and side-return extensions; post-war and expanded-town homes often need window, roofline and cladding renewal. Cottages in the Forest may call for lime repairs and planning-sensitive windows.
Building traditions across Hampshire also raise conservation and planning questions, so we check those for a new patio in Alton at the survey stage.
Planning and building rules in Alton
Alton is in England, 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 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.
What happens after you get in touch?
A visit to your home
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.
Price and scope agreed
We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.
Plan and prepare
Once you accept, we agree start dates, order materials and deal with any planning, building control or neighbour notices the job needs. You'll know who is coming and when before work begins.
Build and hand over
On site, the agreed plan is followed and any change is put in writing first. At completion we do a final clean, go through the snagging list with you and leave you with the relevant documents.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Questions about a new patio in Alton
Is porcelain or sandstone better for a patio?
Porcelain is dense, stain-resistant and stays looking clean with little care, making it a good choice if you want a modern, low-maintenance patio. Indian sandstone has natural colour variation and a softer, traditional look, and costs a little less, but it can stain and weather over time and benefits from sealing. Both make durable patios when properly laid. We bring samples to the survey.
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.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
Do you cover Bordon, Farnham and Basingstoke?
Yes. As well as Alton, we cover Bordon, Farnham and Basingstoke and the rest of Hampshire. 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.
What should I do before the work starts?
Before work starts, clear garden furniture, pots and ornaments from the area and agree where materials will be delivered and stored. We need a route for wheelbarrows and, on larger jobs, a small digger, so let us know about side gates, narrow passages or access through the house. Tell us about any known drains, cables or pipes in the area.
Near Alton
We survey and quote throughout Alton's GU34 postcodes and in surrounding places such as Bordon, Farnham and Basingstoke. The process and pricing approach are identical in each of them.