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 Hertford home and give you a price in writing. Homes in the East of England typically come in at £2,600–£5,800, VAT included, for this kind of work. We also cover Hoddesdon, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, and the same steps apply wherever you are in Hertfordshire.
- Guide price
- £2,600–£5,800 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- SG13 and SG14
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Hertfordshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new patio cost in Hertford?
The table below shows guide prices for a new patio in Hertford. They are based on rates in the East of England, which run about 5% above the national guide, giving an overall range of £2,600–£5,800. All figures include VAT and are firmed up after a free site survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Hertford |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio or path | Around 10m² of concrete slabs or a garden path. | £1,050–£2,600 |
| Typical 20m² patio | Sandstone or porcelain on a full sub-base with jointing and edging. | £2,600–£5,800 |
| Large or multi-level patio | Bigger areas, steps, retaining walls or premium stone. | £5,800–£12,500 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Patio area and the amount of excavation
- Slab material, size and laying pattern
- Ground levels, slopes, steps and retaining walls
- Drainage needed to keep water away from the house
What’s included?
- 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
- Jointing with mortar or a brush-in compound
- Edging and neat cuts around drains and walls
Homes in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is home to the first garden cities, Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City, and the post-war new towns of Stevenage, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead. Watford and St Albans have Victorian terraces and Georgian streets, interwar semis line the commuter suburbs, and brick-and-flint cottages appear in Chiltern villages to the west.
New-town and garden-city homes often suit extensions, window replacement and roofline renewal, though some garden-city estates have their own design guidance. Victorian terraces commonly take loft rooms and side-return extensions.
Knowing the typical building types in Hertfordshire helps, but a survey of your own home in Hertford is what decides the right approach to a new patio.
Permissions for a new patio in Hertford
Which rules apply depends on where you live. For Hertford, the answer is England, and the points below reflect that; we verify them with the council before quoting.
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?
We look at the job
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.
Your fixed price
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.
Finish and handover
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.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Questions about a new patio in Hertford
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 long will a new patio take?
On a typical home, allow 3–7 days on site. Larger projects, older buildings and extra work found once things are opened up can extend that, while simpler jobs may be shorter. Your quote includes an estimate of time on site, and your point of contact keeps you updated on the programme as the work progresses.
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.
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 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.
Also covering areas around Hertford
From SG13 and SG14 to the edges of Hertford and on into Hoddesdon, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, we can arrange a site visit and a written quote for your project, planned around dates that work for you.