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.
We offer a new patio across Northamptonshire, and Kettering is one of the places we cover, along with nearby Wellingborough, Corby and Rushden. Before anything is agreed we visit, check the existing structure and talk through your options. You then receive a written quote setting out the full scope; for most homes in the East Midlands it sits within £2,400–£5,300 including VAT.
- Guide price
- £2,400–£5,300 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- NN15 and NN16
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Northamptonshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a new patio in Kettering?
The costs listed here are typical for a new patio around Kettering and include VAT. They reflect labour and material costs in the East Midlands, about 4% below the national guide, giving a range of £2,400–£5,300. 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 Kettering |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio or path | Around 10m² of concrete slabs or a garden path. | £950–£2,400 |
| Typical 20m² patio | Sandstone or porcelain on a full sub-base with jointing and edging. | £2,400–£5,300 |
| Large or multi-level patio | Bigger areas, steps, retaining walls or premium stone. | £5,300–£11,500 |
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
What’s included?
- 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
- Jointing with mortar or a brush-in compound
- Site cleared, waste removed and paving cleaned
What are homes like around Kettering?
Orange-brown ironstone is the signature material of many Northamptonshire villages, with limestone and Collyweston stone-slate roofs in the north-east. Northampton has Victorian terraces from its shoemaking era, Corby expanded as a post-war steel town, and Wellingborough, Kettering and Daventry have interwar, post-war and recent estates.
Ironstone cottages often need lime repairs and careful repointing. Terraces suit loft conversions and kitchen extensions, while estate homes commonly take garage conversions, porches and driveways.
Building traditions across Northamptonshire also raise conservation and planning questions, so we check those for a new patio in Kettering at the survey stage.
Do you need permission in Kettering?
For anyone in Kettering, the relevant framework is England's. The summary below is general, so we always contact the council about your address before putting a price in writing.
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?
Free site survey
First, someone visits your home in Kettering 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.
Quote in writing
After the survey we send a quote for a new patio that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
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 Kettering property.
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
Frequently asked questions
What happens at the survey?
We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from a new patio, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.
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.
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.
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.
Do you cover Wellingborough, Corby and Rushden?
Yes. As well as Kettering, we cover Wellingborough, Corby and Rushden and the rest of Northamptonshire. 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.
Near Kettering
If your address falls within NN15 and NN16, we cover it. The same goes for neighbouring Wellingborough, Corby and Rushden, which we include alongside Kettering when arranging surveys and quotes.