Patio cost

Rosa_Damascena

This is another "how long is a piece of string" question.

I'm looking to have a patio laid, c30m2 hugging my rear perimeter (an internal and external corner). It will need to be raised by roughly 500mm, have a couple of sets of wide stairs down to ground level and borders raised to a further 500mm, so effectively surrounded by a brick retainer / rising wall of 1000mm. If I am looking at modest patio slabs - say £40/sqm- how much should that cost?

Is there a standard guide to pricing, eg for no-frills extensions £2k/sqm is sufficient budget. Anything similar for patios?

Doozergirl

What you've described isn't a standard patio, it sounds like proper landscaping and bricklaying, so I'm not sure about a ballpark. It's pretty hard to imagine.  

Jeepers_Creepers

Haven't a scooby, Rosa.

But it has to be 'slabs' and not an alternative such as decking, even 'tile' type?

I'm thinking that much of the cost of your proposed project would be raising it by this 500mm (which, I understand, requires PP)?. That could be a lot of material needing removed to put down a firm base, and even more for the founds for the retaining wall, and a lot of material then put back in order to get it up to 500mm height.

I wonder if there's mileage in having a hard slab put down at just above ground level, and then using telescopic pedestals to support the slabs? Things like https://www.jouplast.com/l-en/121/126/paving-riser-pedestal.html (there are cheaper alternatives).

If decking - even composite types - is a no-no, then there are composite alternatives to 'slabs' too. (I'm pretty sure I've seen some which aren't faux-timber', but struggling to now!)

Doozergirl

To add to Jeepers, using a composite decking with composite joists would certainly save money and last for as long as you'll ever need it.  

Rosa_Damascena

Yes I started to realise why decking is so popular last night. Doesn't match my taste though!

Doozergirl

There's decking for different tastes too.  This is our friends' going in. Lovely soft tone to it.  

stuart45

Must be posh builders reading the Times instead of the Sun.

pramsay13

You should get a few landscapers out to quote. 
Anyone decent is around 6 months lead time so be wary of people that are free to do the work.
We've done something similar that was around 50m2 and it has ended up around £10,000.

Rosa_Damascena

My issue with decking is 2-fold: primarily rats, but also that it needs attention to continue to look good whereas I need something that is not only low maintenance, but zero maintenance. I decided a while ago that much as I love my home I'm not going to be wedded to its constant upkeep, a bit of cleaning is enough and I'll leave the garden and any proper maintenance to the professionals.

What has happened since is that from a relaxed work lifestyle I'm now back to working 70hr+ weeks in order to fund the build and ongoing maintenance of my home. So much for a simpler life!!

stuart45

Can you put up a rough sketch of the job?

weeg

I did a raised patio for a client a couple of years ago and we ended up going with beam and block under the slabs. We suggested decking but "The Duchess thinks a patio is more suited to the surroundings". No arguing with that! (It's was a small cottage on a large estate).

But, not cheap. As per the guy the other week doing something similar.