What to know before a block paved patio in Tonbridge
Tonbridge has a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many older patios here are ready to be replaced or re-laid.
Chalk, clay and sandy ground all occur across the South East, so the dig and sub-base depth are set on the survey rather than assumed.
How much does a block paved patio cost in Tonbridge?
Guide price in Tonbridge: £85–£150 per m² including VAT, which puts a 20 m² patio at about £2,000–£3,500. These are South East guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Block paved patio (concrete block) | £85–£150 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£45 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Step with block or brick riser and paved tread | £195–£380 per step |
| Typical channel drain run | £380–£1,100 |
Guide figures for the South East, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a block paved patio involve?
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.
- Layout marked out with you, including steps and doors
- Optional sealer
- Blocks in your pattern, edges and cuts
- Falls away from the house and doors
- Dig-out and compacted sub-base (around 100 mm for foot traffic)
What we check on a Tonbridge survey
- Steps, walls and changes of level
- Where rain will go: falls away from the house, onto lawn or borders, or into a channel
- Edges against lawns, beds, fences and walls
- Block range, colour, pattern and border to suit the house
- Manhole and inspection covers in the area
Do you need permission for a block paved patio in Tonbridge?
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
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
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Patios in Tonbridge: questions
Do you cover Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Maidstone?
Yes. We cover Tonbridge and the places around it, including Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Maidstone, and the rest of Kent.
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 Tonbridge?
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.
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.
Patios near Tonbridge
Nearby towns we cover for patios, and patios across Kent:
- Patios in Tunbridge Wells
- Patios in Sevenoaks
- Patios in Maidstone
- Patios in Swanley
- Patios in Strood
- Patios in Rochester
