What to know before a block paved patio in Oban
Oban is a smaller town, and many homes have more garden to work with, which leaves room for borders, steps and planting around the paving.
In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within the property whatever its size, so drainage is part of every design.
In Scotland block paving is often called monoblock; it is the same thing, and the same rules for the base, edging and drainage apply.
Work in Argyll and Bute is by arrangement: we confirm availability and any travel charge before a visit, and many jobs can be priced from photos first.
How much does a block paved patio cost in Oban?
For Oban, our guide is £80–£140 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² patio is likely to be £1,850–£3,200. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Block paved patio (concrete block) | £80–£140 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £10–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Step with block or brick riser and paved tread | £180–£350 per step |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
Guide figures for Scotland, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What is included?
A block paved patio is a garden seating or dining area paved with concrete or clay blocks on a compacted base. Because a patio carries people and furniture rather than cars, the sub-base is thinner than for a drive, but the falls, edging and drainage matter just as much.
- Optional sealer
- Blocks in your pattern, edges and cuts
- Dig-out and compacted sub-base (around 100 mm for foot traffic)
- Layout marked out with you, including steps and doors
- Jointing sand and compaction
What we check on an Oban survey
- Manhole and inspection covers in the area
- Trees and roots near the paving
- Steps, walls and changes of level
- Edges against lawns, beds, fences and walls
- Levels against the damp-proof course and door thresholds
Do you need permission for a block paved patio in Oban?
A patio or path behind the house does not usually need planning permission. Raised patios, listed buildings and flats can be different, so we check on the survey.
Paving in front of the house follows the front-garden rules: in Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within your boundary at any size, and permitted development does not apply in conservation areas.
What happens next
Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.
What you can expect from us
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
One point of contact
You deal with one team from survey to sign-off, with work carried out by paving teams working under S&K.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Patios in Oban: questions
Can the paving be level with the back door?
Paving normally sits at least 150 mm below the damp-proof course. A level step-out needs a drainage channel against the house and careful detailing, which we agree on the survey.
What happens to my old patio or lawn?
Old slabs, concrete or turf are dug out and taken away, listed as its own line on your quote.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved patio in Oban?
Not usually for a patio or path behind the house. Raised patios, listed buildings and flats can be different, and paving in front of the house follows the front-garden rules. In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within your boundary at any size, and permitted development does not apply in conservation areas.
Is the survey in Oban free?
In Argyll and Bute we cover jobs by arrangement. We will confirm before any visit whether a charge applies, and many jobs can be priced from photos first.
Patios near Oban
Nearby towns we cover for patios, and patios across Argyll and Bute:
