Patio installation in Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield and Birmingham

A patio takes more daily abuse than almost any other surface in a garden. It is hot in summer, freezes in winter, and supports furniture, foot traffic, hot pans, dropped wine and the occasional barbecue spill. The patios that look right ten years after installation are the ones laid on a proper mortar bed with the right falls, the right jointing and the right material for the orientation of the garden.

We have installed patios across Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield and Birmingham for more than three decades. The page below covers the materials we work with, the build-up we use, and the practical decisions to make before you sign anything.

Get a free on-site patio quote or call Gary on 0121 250 4438.

Materials we install

Porcelain

Modern outdoor porcelain is dense, low-porosity, frost-proof and dimensionally accurate (20 mm thick slabs cut to consistent sizes). It does not absorb water, does not stain, does not grow moss the way sandstone does, and the surface is rated for outdoor slip resistance. The downsides are price (typically the most expensive material per m²) and that cuts need a diamond blade.

Best for: contemporary properties, owners who do not want to maintain or seal a patio, shaded gardens where natural stone would green up.

Indian sandstone

Riven sandstone is a workhorse patio material in the UK. The textured surface is non-slip when wet, the colour ranges include warm sand, grey, raj green and silver-grey, and the cost per m² is roughly half of porcelain. The downsides are that it is porous (so it can stain, and benefits from sealing every few years), and slabs can vary by a few millimetres in thickness, which the layer has to handle.

Best for: traditional and period homes, larger patios where the budget benefits, gardens where the slightly weathered look is desirable.

Limestone

Limestone slabs are smoother and a more uniform colour than sandstone. Black limestone is popular for contemporary gardens, but darker stone gets hot in summer and shows lime bloom in some batches.

Concrete riven and reconstituted stone

Lower entry cost than porcelain or natural stone. Good for low-traffic patios and rear paths. The texture is good now compared to 20 years ago.

Reclaimed stone

For period and rural properties. We can source reclaimed York stone and similar through trusted suppliers. Costs vary widely depending on the source and condition.

How we build a patio

1. Survey and design. Gary measures, looks at falls, drainage and the doorway threshold heights. A scale drawing showing the patio outline and slab layout is included in the quote.
2. Excavation to depth - typically 200 mm below finished level to accommodate sub-base, mortar bed and slab.
3. Compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base in compacted layers.
4. Full mortar bed under every slab. Spot-bedded (five blobs of mortar and a slab on top) is the most common shortcut in cheap patio installation and the cause of the vast majority of failed patios. We do not spot-bed.
5. Falls of at least 1:80 away from the house, designed so water runs to a permeable area or linear drain, never back to the building.
6. Joints filled with a brush-in jointing compound rated for the slab. We do not point patios in pure cement; it cracks.
7. Edge restraint where the patio meets soft landscaping or gravel.
8. Sign-off and written 10-year guarantee on the hard landscaping.

Common patio mistakes we fix or avoid

• Spot-bedded slabs. Rock when stepped on, crack at the corners, allow water under the slab which freezes and lifts in winter.
• Insufficient falls. Water pools in the middle of the patio.
• No falls or wrong falls. Water runs back to the house and saturates the wall base.
• Pointing with sand-cement mortar. Cracks in the first winter.
• Slabs laid against the damp-proof course. Bridges the DPC and causes damp internally. The finished patio level should be at least 150 mm below the DPC.

What it costs

Patio pricing depends on size, material, and the amount of excavation and drainage involved. As a guide:

• A 25 m² porcelain patio starts at around £3,500.
• A 25 m² Indian sandstone patio starts at around £3,000.
• Larger and more complex patios with retaining, steps and drainage sit above this.

Smaller patios under 15 m² are usually quoted as part of a garden project rather than a standalone job.

Recent patio projects

See recent garden and patio projects across Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield and Birmingham with photos, materials and the brief.

Frequently asked questions

Porcelain or sandstone - which should I choose? Porcelain if you do not want to maintain or seal the patio and the budget allows; sandstone if the budget is tight, you have a larger area, or the slightly weathered look suits the property.

Will the patio stain? Porcelain does not stain. Sandstone and limestone can stain from oils and wine; sealing every few years and prompt cleaning prevent most issues.

How long does a patio installation take? A typical 25 m² patio is 5-8 working days including excavation, sub-base, laying and pointing.

Do you offer a guarantee? Yes - a 10-year written guarantee on hard landscaping. The slab material itself carries the manufacturer’s warranty.

Do you need planning permission for a patio? Normally no for residential garden patios at ground level. Raised platforms and decking over 300 mm have specific rules. Properties in conservation areas have additional considerations.

Get a free patio quote

Call Gary on 0121 250 4438 or request a free on-site quote.

We also cover

We build patios across Erdington, Four Oaks, Mere Green, Wylde Green, Boldmere, Streetly, Little Aston, Minworth, Walmley, New Oscott, Kingstanding, Great Barr, Aldridge, Castle Bromwich, Coleshill, Solihull, Knowle, Tamworth, Lichfield, Burntwood, Shenstone and the surrounding West Midlands villages.