Replacing my patio - Approved installers worth it?

dominoman · 18 April 2016 at 4:39PM

I would like a new patio installed in place of an old one that is now damaged. The patio includes steps down to the garden, plus a slightly sunken area for a fire pit.

I have drawn the design on paper (not very artistically), and started looking at the paving options.

Has anyone tried the Marshall's approved installers? I know it will cost a bit extra, but perhaps it is worth it? I can't do it myself (no time and no skills)

TheCyclingProgrammer · 18 April 2016 at 5:43PM

Also curious about this as I like the look of the Marshalls stuff and have one of their approved contractors coming to look at my driveway tomorrow.

no1catman · 18 April 2016 at 10:05PM

I had two verbal quotes - one twice as much as the other, if I was going to take it further I would certainly get a third quote via an 'approved installer'.

Ebe_Scrooge · 19 April 2016 at 8:21AM

Another option is to just find a local "builder" type person who can do patios, and ask for a quote. But also ask to see some work they've done previously ( i.e. other houses in the neighbourhood ). Any good builder will be pleased to show off their previous work, and you may even be able to chat to the householder to see what they thought of the way the job was done.

EmmyLou30 · 19 April 2016 at 10:19AM

If it's more than a basic slab patio I would go with an approved installer for peace of mind. We had a general builder guy round to quote for ours (a simple random pattern patio of Marshall's Firedstone slabs edged with Marshalls Tegula blocks) and you could tell he was more of a dot/dab cheaper option who would cut slabs round drain covers etc. The Marshall's approved company who also did our block paving did a full mortar base, whacked the sub base down with the whacker plate properly first, cut the slabs very well and covered the drain covers with a proper cover that the slabs are set in so they're as invisible as they can be. It's things like that that make the job look more professional. If you're going to be looking at it for the next 30 years it's worth doing it properly.

TheCyclingProgrammer · 19 April 2016 at 10:22AM

EmmyLou30 - would you mind sharing what you paid per m2 roughly for labour?

EmmyLou30 · 19 April 2016 at 4:35PM

Off the top of my head I think the labour was £1400 for 30m2. So £46ish a m2. That was lifting the old slabs, digging it out, laying a hardcore base, whacking it down, full mortar base, laying the slabs, then jointing it all with a jointing compound (the stuff Marshalls sell that can be put on in the rain and just flows into the joints when brushed - pretty cool stuff).