Landscaping and Garden Renovation Costs

What you are really paying for is underneath

A durable patio or driveway is a layered system: excavation to a proper depth, a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, a full mortar bed rather than spot dabs, correct falls away from the building, and jointing suited to the material.

Skip any layer and the surface moves. Cheap quotes are almost always cheap because the excavation is shallower and the sub-base thinner, and neither is visible on completion day.

Excavate to at least 150mm for a patio, 250mm or more for a driveway · Compacted Type 1 sub-base in layers, not one dumped load · Full mortar bed under every slab, particularly porcelain · Falls of about 1:80 away from the house · Finished level at least 150mm below the damp proof course

What shapes each landscaping quote

The table shows the work that changes each quote. Excavation, sub-base, access and waste removal need measuring before material choices can be priced reliably.

Hard landscaping cost factors. Element | Main quote factors | Notes. Concrete slab patio — Slab size, pattern, excavation and base — Practical option with varied finishes; Natural sandstone patio — Sorting, cutting, sealing and joints — Traditional appearance; Porcelain patio — Precise base, cuts, primer and detailing — Low maintenance, demands a flat base; Block paved driveway — Excavation, edge restraints and drainage — Must be permeable or drained; Resin bound driveway — Condition and preparation of the base — Requires a sound existing base; Timber sleeper retaining wall — Height, drainage and ground pressure — Suits modest level changes; Masonry retaining wall — Foundation, engineering, height and finish — Taller walls may need engineer design; Fencing — Length, ground, posts, access and waste — Post choice affects maintenance; Turfing — Ground preparation, access and area — Preparation determines the finish; Artificial grass — Excavation, base, drainage and edging — Base preparation is most of the work; Garden drainage or soakaway — Ground, capacity, route and outfall — Needs site-specific design

Levels, retaining and the cost people do not expect

Sloping gardens are common across Kent and the Weald, and levelling one is a structural exercise rather than a cosmetic one. Retained soil exerts real pressure, so anything above about a metre needs designed foundations, drainage behind the wall and weep holes through it.

Muck-away is the other hidden number. Excavated soil is heavy, it is classed as waste, and on a restricted site it may need barrowing to the road by hand. On a terraced property this alone can rival the cost of the surface being laid.

Drainage and permeability rules

In England, a new or replacement front driveway over five square metres must either use permeable materials or direct surface water to a permeable area within the property. Draining a driveway straight onto the public highway is not permitted and can require planning permission.

Rear patios need thought too. A large impermeable area against the house without a channel drain moves water towards the wall, and the cheapest fix is always the one designed in at the start.

Sequencing landscaping with building work

Do the landscaping last, but design it first. Machinery, deliveries and scaffolding will destroy a new lawn, and drainage runs, outdoor sockets, lighting conduit and garden room foundations are far cheaper to install while the ground is already open.

The most common regret we hear is not a materials choice, it is an empty conduit that was never laid, meaning a finished patio has to be lifted to run a cable to the garden room.

Where to spend and where to save

Spend on the base, the drainage and the retaining structure, because they are permanent and expensive to correct. Save on plant sizes, decorative features and the timing of soft landscaping, all of which can be added later at a fraction of the disruption.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need planning permission for a patio?

Generally not for a ground-level patio. Raised decking or terraces above 300mm, and front driveways using impermeable materials without drainage, can require permission.

How long does a typical patio take?

A straightforward 30m² patio is usually four to seven working days including excavation, base, laying and jointing. Wet weather extends it because mortar and jointing compounds need dry conditions.

Is porcelain worth the extra over sandstone?

For maintenance, usually yes: it does not need sealing and it resists algae far better. It is less forgiving of a poor base and needs a slurry primer on every slab, so the quality of the installer matters more.

Can landscaping be done in winter?

Hard landscaping can, with allowances for frost and mortar. Turf and planting are better in spring or autumn, so many projects lay the hard surfaces in winter and finish the soft landscaping later.