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.
Homeowners in Bath usually consider a new patio for one of a few reasons: something has worn out, the house no longer suits the way they live, or they are getting it ready to sell. We visit, agree a specification and put a fixed price in writing. Most jobs like this take 3–7 days on site, and we work across Somerset, including Keynsham, Trowbridge and Kingswood.
- Guide price
- £2,600–£5,600 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- BA1 and BA2
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new patio cost in Bath?
Below is a breakdown of typical costs for a new patio in Bath. Because rates in the South West are about 2% above the national guide, the overall guide comes to £2,600–£5,600, 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 Bath |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio or path | Around 10m² of concrete slabs or a garden path. | £1,000–£2,600 |
| Typical 20m² patio | Sandstone or porcelain on a full sub-base with jointing and edging. | £2,600–£5,600 |
| Large or multi-level patio | Bigger areas, steps, retaining walls or premium stone. | £5,600–£12,000 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- 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 do you get?
- Survey of levels, damp-proof course, drainage and access
- Compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base
- Slabs laid on a full mortar bed with falls away from the house
- 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
Somerset's building stone varies widely: Bath stone in Bath, golden Ham stone around Yeovil, blue lias in villages on the Levels and Mendip stone in the north. Weston-super-Mare has Victorian villas and terraces, Taunton and Bridgwater have brick terraces and post-war estates, and new housing continues to spread around the larger towns.
The Somerset Levels are low and prone to flooding, coastal areas face Bristol Channel winds, and Exmoor is wet and exposed.
Knowing the typical building types in Somerset helps, but a survey of your own home in Bath is what decides the right approach to a new patio.
Permissions for a new patio in Bath
The notes below cover England, which is where Bath sits. Rules change and every property is different, so we speak to the council before pricing your job.
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.
How does the job run?
Free site survey
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.
Written quote
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.
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 job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.
What you can expect from us
Common questions
How do I clean and look after my patio?
Most patios just need regular sweeping and an occasional wash with water and a mild patio cleaner. Porcelain is the easiest to keep clean. Natural stone benefits from a sealant to reduce staining and from prompt cleaning of spills like oil or wine. Re-point any joints that crack or wash out. Avoid high-pressure jet washing close to joints, which can damage them.
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.
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.
Do you cover Keynsham, Trowbridge and Kingswood?
Yes. As well as Bath, we cover Keynsham, Trowbridge and Kingswood and the rest of Somerset. 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.
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.
Nearby towns
Homes across BA1 and BA2 in Bath are within our coverage, as are those in Keynsham, Trowbridge and Kingswood. If you are just outside these areas, ask anyway, because we work right across the UK.