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.
For a homeowner in Blackheath, planning a new patio tends to begin with two questions: what will it cost, and how disruptive will it be? Our guide range is £3,200–£7,200 including VAT, and a typical job runs to 3–7 days on site. Both numbers firm up once we have seen the property, measured up and agreed exactly what is included.
- Guide price
- £3,200–£7,200 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- SE3, SE4, SE7, SE10 and SE12
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Greater London
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new patio cost in Blackheath?
Below is a breakdown of typical costs for a new patio in Blackheath. Because rates in London are about 30% above the national guide, the overall guide comes to £3,200–£7,200, including VAT. Size, materials and access move the figure, and a free-of-charge survey settles it.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Blackheath |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio or path | Around 10m² of concrete slabs or a garden path. | £1,300–£3,200 |
| Typical 20m² patio | Sandstone or porcelain on a full sub-base with jointing and edging. | £3,200–£7,200 |
| Large or multi-level patio | Bigger areas, steps, retaining walls or premium stone. | £7,200–£15,500 |
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 does the job include in Blackheath?
- Survey of levels, damp-proof course, drainage and access
- Excavation and removal of turf, soil or old paving
- 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
Homes in London
London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.
Terraces suit side-return extensions and rear dormer loft conversions; interwar semis commonly take hip-to-gable lofts. Shared party walls, restricted parking and conservation rules often shape the plans and the programme.
Building traditions across London also raise conservation and planning questions, so we check those for a new patio in Blackheath at the survey stage.
Permissions for a new patio in Blackheath
As Blackheath is in England, read the following with that system of planning and building control in mind. We check what applies to your house with the council before you receive a 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.
The four stages
A visit to your home
We arrange a free site survey on a date convenient to you. We measure up, look at the existing structure and access, and discuss your plans for a new patio so the price reflects your home.
Quote in writing
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.
Booking the work
Before anyone starts, we confirm the programme in writing, check whether consents are required and arrange deliveries. If a skip or scaffolding on the road needs a permit, we apply for it.
Build and hand over
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.
What you can expect from us
Questions about a new patio in Blackheath
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.
Which postcodes in Blackheath do you cover?
We cover SE3, SE4, SE7 and SE10, along with the rest of London. 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.
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.
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 Blackheath
We survey and quote throughout Blackheath's SE3, SE4, SE7 and SE10 postcodes and in surrounding places such as Greenwich, Catford and Eltham. The process and pricing approach are identical in each of them.