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.
Anyone planning a new patio in Totton wants three things: a clear price, a realistic timetable and a tidy job. We publish a guide of £2,800–£6,200 including VAT for the South East up front, explain that work normally takes 3–7 days on site, and confirm both in writing after a free survey of your property.
- Guide price
- £2,800–£6,200 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- SO40
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Hampshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new patio cost in Totton?
Use the table to gauge the cost of a new patio in Totton before we visit. Figures include VAT and are scaled for the South East, coming out about 12% above the national guide, which gives £2,800–£6,200 overall. After a free survey, you receive a fixed written price.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Totton |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
The main things that change the figure:
- 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 do you get?
- 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
- Primer on porcelain slabs for a strong bond
- Edging and neat cuts around drains and walls
- Site cleared, waste removed and paving cleaned
Building in Totton
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.
Coastal areas along the Solent face salt and wind, while chalk downland is better drained but exposed; inland clay can move in dry summers.
These patterns matter for a new patio: older walls, roofs and floors in Totton can need different materials or extra preparation compared with newer homes.
Do you need permission in Totton?
Each UK nation sets its own consent rules, and Totton is in England. What follows is a plain summary; we check the specifics for your property with the council before pricing anything.
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
Survey and measure
First, someone visits your home in Totton to see the space, take measurements and note anything that could affect the work, such as access or the condition of what is there. There is no charge for this visit.
Price and scope agreed
Next you receive a written quote with a fixed price for the agreed specification. It lists what is included, what is not, and how payments are staged, so you can compare it properly.
Dates and permissions
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.
What you can expect from us
Questions about a new patio in Totton
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.
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 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 Totton 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.
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.
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.
Near Totton
We welcome enquiries from all SO40 postcodes in Totton, plus Southampton, Hythe and Eastleigh. Each one gets the same survey at no charge and a written price fixed for the work described.

