What to know before a block paved patio in Dorchester
Dorchester is a smaller town, and many homes have more garden to work with, which leaves room for borders, steps and planting around the paving.
Sloping plots are common in the South West, which affects edging, steps and where the water runs.
How much does a block paved patio cost in Dorchester?
For Dorchester, 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 the South West, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our patios service
Block suits patios that join a block drive or path, small or awkward spaces where large slabs would need too many cuts, and gardens where you want a pattern such as basketweave or a circle feature. We lay patios to fall away from the house and below the damp-proof course, with edging that stops the blocks creeping into the lawn.
- Optional sealer
- Dig-out and compacted sub-base (around 100 mm for foot traffic)
- Layout marked out with you, including steps and doors
- Falls away from the house and doors
- Jointing sand and compaction
What the survey covers
- Block range, colour, pattern and border to suit the house
- Outside taps, lights and cables
- Manhole and inspection covers in the area
- Ground conditions and how deep the dig must be
- Steps, walls and changes of level
Do you need permission for a block paved patio in Dorchester?
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.
From enquiry to finished paving
Send the basics
Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.
Survey
We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.
Written quote
An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.
The work
Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.
How we work
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
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.
Patios in Dorchester: questions
Is the survey in Dorchester free?
Yes, for new paving here: the survey and written quote are free with no obligation. Repairs and cleaning are usually priced from photos, or from a short visit where needed.
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.
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.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved patio in Dorchester?
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 England, a front drive over 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn or border within your boundary.
Patios near Dorchester
Nearby towns we cover for patios, and patios across Dorset:
