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.
Getting a new patio right in Cardiff starts with understanding the house you already have: its age, how it was built and what has been altered over the years. We survey first, then commit on paper to a price that holds as long as the scope stays the same. Across Wales, guide prices run at £2,300–£5,100 including VAT, and homes in Penarth, Caerphilly and Barry are covered too.
- Guide price
- £2,300–£5,100 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- CF10, CF11 and CF24
- Planning rules
- Wales
- Local area
- South Glamorgan
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Patios and paving prices in Cardiff
Every figure below is a guide for a new patio in Cardiff, inclusive of VAT. Regional pricing for Wales works out about 8% below the national guide, and the overall span is £2,300–£5,100. The survey costs you nothing, and after it we commit to a firm price for your specification in writing.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Cardiff |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio or path | Around 10m² of concrete slabs or a garden path. | £900–£2,300 |
| Typical 20m² patio | Sandstone or porcelain on a full sub-base with jointing and edging. | £2,300–£5,100 |
| Large or multi-level patio | Bigger areas, steps, retaining walls or premium stone. | £5,100–£11,000 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Patio area and the amount of excavation
- Slab material, size and laying pattern
- Drainage needed to keep water away from the house
- Access for materials and removing spoil
Scope of the work
- 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
- Site cleared, waste removed and paving cleaned
Local housing and a new patio
Cardiff has large areas of bay-fronted Victorian and Edwardian terraces in districts such as Roath, Canton and Cathays, plus interwar suburbs, post-war estates and modern flats around Cardiff Bay. Penarth has Victorian villas, Barry mixes terraces with newer estates, and Vale of Glamorgan villages are often built of local limestone.
Terraces commonly suit loft conversions, side-return and rear extensions, and bay window renewal. Suburban semis take side extensions and driveways, and stone village homes need lime-based repairs.
Knowing the typical building types in South Glamorgan helps, but a survey of your own home in Cardiff is what decides the right approach to a new patio.
Planning and building rules in Cardiff
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Cardiff comes under Wales, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
A ground-level patio does not usually need planning permission in Wales; raised platforms are more restricted.
Building Regulations do not normally apply, but levels and drainage must protect the house walls.
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
Book a visit and we'll come to you. The survey covers measurements, the state of what's there now and any obvious constraints, so the price that follows is based on your actual home, not an average.
Price and scope agreed
You get the price in writing, itemised so you can see where the money goes. As long as the specification stays the same, that is the price you pay for a new patio.
Getting ready
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 Cardiff property.
Finish and handover
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
Why homeowners choose us
Questions about a new patio in Cardiff
How much will a new patio cost in Cardiff?
As a guide, expect to pay £2,300–£5,100 including VAT for a new patio in Cardiff. That range is adjusted for Wales, which runs about 8% below the national guide. Where your project lands depends on size, materials, access and the condition of what is already there. We confirm a fixed price in writing after a free survey of your home.
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 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.
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.
Do I need planning permission in Cardiff?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Cardiff is in Wales, so Wales's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Also covering areas around Cardiff
From CF10, CF11 and CF24 to the edges of Cardiff and on into Penarth, Caerphilly and Barry, we can arrange a site visit and a written quote for your project, planned around dates that work for you.