What to know before a block paved patio in Durham
Homes in Durham include plenty of semis and detached houses with gardens big enough for a patio and a path to the gate.
Former colliery ground and clay soils occur across the North East, so the survey checks for soft spots before the sub-base depth is set.
How much does a block paved patio cost in Durham?
Guide price in Durham: £70–£125 per m² including VAT, which puts a 20 m² patio at about £1,650–£2,900. These are North East guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Block paved patio (concrete block) | £70–£125 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9–£35 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £18–£45 per metre |
| Step with block or brick riser and paved tread | £160–£320 per step |
| Typical channel drain run | £320–£900 |
Guide figures for the North East, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our patios service
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.
- Layout marked out with you, including steps and doors
- Dig-out and compacted sub-base (around 100 mm for foot traffic)
- Jointing sand and compaction
- Blocks in your pattern, edges and cuts
- Falls away from the house and doors
What the survey covers
- Levels against the damp-proof course and door thresholds
- Access for a mini-digger and how waste leaves the garden
- Trees and roots near the paving
- Steps, walls and changes of level
- Ground conditions and how deep the dig must be
Do you need permission for a block paved patio in Durham?
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 England, a front drive over 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn or border within your boundary.
How it works
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.
How we work
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
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.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Patios in Durham: questions
How much does a block paved patio cost in Durham?
Our guide for Durham is £70–£125 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² patio is usually about £1,650–£2,900. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do you cover Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Bishop Auckland?
Yes. We cover Durham and the places around it, including Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Bishop Auckland, and the rest of County Durham.
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.
How long does a block paved patio take?
Most patios and paths take two to five working days, depending on the size, any steps and the dig. Your quote gives the expected duration.
Patios near Durham
Nearby towns we cover for patios, and patios across County Durham:
- Patios in Chester-le-Street
- Patios in Stanley
- Patios in Bishop Auckland
- Patios in Peterlee
- Patios in Seaham
- Patios in Newton Aycliffe
