Patio Costs - Am I being ripped off?

[XJ75]

As part of a large extension project, we had our builder create a new patio area from what previously was part of the garden.

This includes a rectangular patio and side path, nothing fancy, just square 800x800 porcelain slabs, no edging or anything. Total area is 55 square metres.

We supplied the slabs, so all I had to pay the builder for was labour and materials (hardcore/sand/cement/grout etc).

Total cost has come in at £9.3k inc VAT, not including the slabs.

I'm based in Surrey. Stupidly we didn't get a quote beforehand, it was all done as part of the building works.

Not sure where to go from here, although I suspect we will have to swallow it and learn from the experience.

Thanks.

[p1stonhead]

Holy crap £170/m2!

At least three times too expensive.

£50-70m2 is what I pay depending on how awkward the material and laying pattern is and that’s generally on super prime developments.

Edited by p1stonhead on Wednesday 16th September 14:37

[hotchy]

Iv never had a patio etc made so not experienced enough but imo I'd go without for that kind of money, especially for what your saying it is.

[Foliage]

yeah your'e being ripped off, id think it would be £3-4k for a top notch job, if you supplied the slabs. Interested to see what other people say

£163 per square metre is rather excessive

[XJ75]

Another point to add is that after the initial ground works for the patio I had an invoice of £3.4k inc VAT, which I paid. I asked for an estimate of how much was remaining and he said £2k. Then invoiced me for a further £5.9k. When I questioned it, he said it was only a rough estimate.

[UTH]

Yikes!!! I'm also about to move to Surrey and sorting out the current patio will be part of my to do list, and I would not want to be paying as much as you have! How does your size compare with mine below:

[p1stonhead]

XJ75 said:

Another point to add is that after the initial ground works for the patio I had an invoice of £3.4k inc VAT, which I paid. I asked for an estimate of how much was remaining and he said £2k. Then invoiced me for a further £5.9k. When I questioned it, he said it was only a rough estimate.

I’d argue the st out of that. It’s his problem for not confirming costs. An estimate doesn’t mean crack on and charge triple the estimate!

[Taita]

XJ75 said:

Another point to add is that after the initial ground works for the patio I had an invoice of £3.4k inc VAT, which I paid. I asked for an estimate of how much was remaining and he said £2k. Then invoiced me for a further £5.9k. When I questioned it, he said it was only a rough estimate.

Lol what?!?! He is ripping the piss - costs increase etc, but to increase like that without speaking to you first......

[DanL]

To replace and extend a ~5m x 12m patio I was quoted around 10k + VAT all in, in Berkshire. This is with them supplying all materials, but I get the impression that the materials cost is a small part of the quote...

[Rampant Golf]

I just had my patio done, the overall space is about 55sq/m with 10 of those being an area I prepared and the rest needing leveled and whacked.

The builder provided the materials for the patio area, the front door entrance and a retaining wall to the side of the house plus 3 sets of stairs. The materials are a mix of small concrete log slabs and a cladding for the walls with everything being sealed.

Total cost was £5,500

Edited by Rampant Golf on Wednesday 16th September 14:51

[UTH]

DanL said:

To replace and extend a ~5m x 12m patio I was quoted around 10k + VAT all in, in Berkshire. This is with them supplying all materials, but I get the impression that the materials cost is a small part of the quote...

I know this sounds so naive/ignorant.....but what actually costs so much? Isn't it basically like a giant bathroom floor tiling project? Fair enough maybe slightly harder to keep level, but especially if it's replacing an old patio I can't see why the labour would be SO expensive?

Of course I know nothing about this yet, so I'm sure it's easily justified.

[p1stonhead]

UTH said:

DanL said:

To replace and extend a ~5m x 12m patio I was quoted around 10k + VAT all in, in Berkshire. This is with them supplying all materials, but I get the impression that the materials cost is a small part of the quote...

I know this sounds so naive/ignorant.....but what actually costs so much? Isn't it basically like a giant bathroom floor tiling project? Fair enough maybe slightly harder to keep level, but especially if it's replacing an old patio I can't see why the labour would be SO expensive?

Of course I know nothing about this yet, so I'm sure it's easily justified.

Labour should be about £50/70m2 including a sand bed, mortar and pointing. An internal (good) tiler is about the same actually

The materials themselves is whatever you choose but you can easily buy stuff that costs £100/m2 for example.

[Trophy Husband]

Bejaysus what!!!!

Your trousers are so far down they must be buried under the slabs!!

I've got a team putting 600x600's down for me at the moment, on a price, they are charging me £31.70/m2 including prep. They would lay 55m2 of porcelain in 3 days.

Have you got any jobs you need doing?

Seriously though, how long did it take them? How big was the team? Was it a complex lay with lots of cuts?

[SEDon]

I had 4 quotes for 11sqm patio (needed to be raised up 30cm to make it flush with the house and no side access) that ranged between 2.5k-3.5k if it makes you feel better OP. London prices

[p1stonhead]

SEDon said:

I had 4 quotes for 11sqm patio (needed to be raised up 30cm to make it flush with the house and no side access) that ranged between 2.5k-3.5k if it makes you feel better OP. London prices

Holy cow.

[UTH]

p1stonhead said:

UTH said:

DanL said:

To replace and extend a ~5m x 12m patio I was quoted around 10k + VAT all in, in Berkshire. This is with them supplying all materials, but I get the impression that the materials cost is a small part of the quote...

I know this sounds so naive/ignorant.....but what actually costs so much? Isn't it basically like a giant bathroom floor tiling project? Fair enough maybe slightly harder to keep level, but especially if it's replacing an old patio I can't see why the labour would be SO expensive?

Of course I know nothing about this yet, so I'm sure it's easily justified.

Labour should be about £50/70m2 including a sand bed, mortar and pointing. An internal (good) tiler is about the same actually

The materials themselves is whatever you choose but you can easily buy stuff that costs £100/m2 for example.

Ok good to know, thanks. Guess I should get on with working out how many m2 I'll need to get done. Any simple way of doing that when it's not straight lines? Or just measure with a tape measure at best guess?

[Uncle John]

I’m in Surrey, 75 square meters Indian sandstone, get rid of old patio & removing an old pebbled path, some turfing/topsoil & installing a side gate was 10.5 k all inclusive.

[UTH]

Uncle John said:

I’m in Surrey, 75 square meters Indian sandstone, get rid of old patio & removing an old pebbled path, some turfing/topsoil & installing a side gate was 10.5 k all inclusive.

Trying to picture how big 75m sq is......do you have any photos?

[XJ75]

Trophy Husband said:

Bejaysus what!!!!



Seriously though, how long did it take them? How big was the team? Was it a complex lay with lots of cuts?

It took two guys about a week and a half. Hardly any cuts as it was just a rectangular patio, going out from the house they just laid complete slabs, so it was only the side that needed any cuts.

[PrinceRupert]

UTH said:

Uncle John said:

I’m in Surrey, 75 square meters Indian sandstone, get rid of old patio & removing an old pebbled path, some turfing/topsoil & installing a side gate was 10.5 k all inclusive.

Trying to picture how big 75m sq is......do you have any photos?

Why don't you measure your own patio ... ?