Local Survey & Quote
A level, well-drained patio that stays put through the seasons, quoted in full before any work starts.
What We Arrange
Tell us what you need and we’ll schedule a survey of the ground and a quote for every stage.
A level, well-drained patio on a compacted Type 1 sub-base, sized to your garden.
20mm porcelain slabs on a primed full mortar bed, low maintenance, frost-resistant surface.
Raj Green or Kandla Grey sandstone on a full mortar bed with a 100mm compacted sub-base.
Limestone, sandstone, or granite on a compacted sub-base with screeded bedding and jointing sand.
Herringbone, basketweave, or stretcher bond blocks on a 100mm compacted sub-base with edging.
Extend an existing patio or resurface worn slabs, sub-base condition assessed before any work.
Mortared steps with a 150mm rise and 300mm tread minimum on a concrete sub-base.
Paved, block, or natural stone paths on a compacted sub-base with edging and drainage.
Fall correction and sub-base rebuild to stop standing water, minimum 1:80 fall away from the house.
Brick, stone, or concrete edging on a hardcore base to hold soil and define the patio border.
LED low-level border lights, step lights, and stone or concrete edge finishing for a complete patio.
Pressure washing, jointing mortar replacement, and slab resetting in a single visit.
Ground levelling, sub-base compaction, and drainage falls for bare new build plots.
Dig and compact a Type 1 hardcore base to the correct depth for the ground.
Falls set away from the house at a minimum 1:80 gradient.
Linear channel drains specified where surface run-off needs directing.
Full mortar bed with primer slurry for porcelain; sharp sand bed for natural stone.
Pattern layout planned and slabs cut to fit the measured area.
Jointing sand or mortar chosen to suit the slab type and exposure.
Finished level checked against the damp-proof course before bedding starts.
Each stage, dig, base, bedding, paving, costed as a separate line.
Done Right First Time
The most common failures come from skipped groundwork, not poor surface materials.
Cambridgeshire clay shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters, so a patio on a thin mortar bed rocks and cracks within a couple of seasons.
Excavation goes to the correct depth and a Type 1 hardcore sub-base is compacted before any bedding is laid, giving the slab a stable platform through seasonal ground movement.
A patio laid flat, or falling towards the house, sends rainwater against the wall and can breach the damp-proof course over time.
The installer sets a minimum 1:80 fall away from the house during bedding, and specifies ACO channel drains where the garden layout makes direct run-off difficult.
A single price that bundles groundwork with paving hides what the excavation and sub-base actually cost, and leaves room for the figure to rise once digging starts.
The quote lists excavation, sub-base, bedding and paving as separate lines so you can see exactly what each stage costs before agreeing to any work.
Choosing a slab from a photograph without checking porosity, slip rating or conservation-area rules can mean a surface that weathers badly or has to be removed.
The installer advises on porcelain, Indian sandstone, limestone or block after surveying the ground and checking any conservation-area requirements, so the choice is made with full information.
Why Choose Us
We schedule a survey before any quote, and quote every stage as a separate line.
A visit to the garden checks levels, falls and drainage before a figure is given.
Excavation, sub-base, bedding and paving are each costed separately, nothing is bundled into a lump sum.
Installers are familiar with Huntingdon’s heavy clay conditions and adjust sub-base depth accordingly.
Period properties and conservation-area rules are factored into the material specification from the start.
Service covers Huntingdon, Godmanchester, St Ives and Brampton, no long-distance contractors.
How It Works
01
Describe the size, what is currently down there, and how the ground drains after rain.
02
A visit checks levels, falls, drainage and any conservation-area requirements on site.
03
You get a quote with excavation, sub-base, bedding and paving costed as separate line items.
The Full Process
A finished patio is only as good as the groundwork beneath it, here is what each stage involves.
Every patio job starts with a site assessment: the area is measured, the existing ground level is checked, and how water currently moves across the garden is noted. On Cambridgeshire clay, this step matters more than it does on free-draining soil. The clay shrinks and swells with the seasons, so the sub-base depth is set to suit the specific ground conditions rather than a standard figure. Once the assessment is done, excavation removes the existing surface and topsoil down to a stable layer. A compacted Type 1 hardcore sub-base is then built up in layers, each one compacted before the next goes down. The finished level is checked against the damp-proof course to make sure the new patio surface sits below it.
With the sub-base in place, the bedding layer is prepared to suit the chosen slab. Porcelain on a full mortar bed needs a priming slurry applied to the back of each slab before it is set; Indian sandstone and limestone sit on a sharp sand and cement mix, with the bedding depth adjusted for the slab thickness. Drainage falls are set during this stage, a minimum 1:80 gradient away from the house, and ACO channel drains are positioned where the garden layout means surface water cannot run clear of the paved area. Slabs are then laid to the planned pattern, cut to fit at the edges, and checked for level and alignment before the mortar sets.
The final stage is jointing and finishing. The jointing compound is chosen to match the slab type: a brush-in polymeric jointing sand for block and some natural stones, a mortar-based compound for porcelain and denser natural stone. Once the joints are filled and cured, the installer carries out a drainage check, running water across the surface to confirm falls are working as specified. Edge restraints, step nosings or retaining edging are mortared in as the last structural element. The result is a surface that is ready to use, drains correctly, and does not need the joints or bedding revisited within the first couple of seasons.
Pricing Estimates
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small patio | From £900 |
| Medium patio | £1,800-£2,400 |
| Large patio | £2,400-£4,600 |
| Premium porcelain or natural stone patio | £2,500-£3,800 |
About Us
Huntingdon’s heavy clay moves with the seasons, and the period houses along the Great Ouse sit in conservation areas where material choice matters. We take enquiries from property owners, then schedule a ground survey. It covers advice on porcelain, sandstone, limestone or block, and a proper quote for the full job.
About usWe exist to get patios specified and laid correctly for property owners around Huntingdon. Every job starts with a ground survey, advice on materials and a quote for every stage of the work.
Ground is surveyed and levels, falls and drainage checked before any price is given.
Every quote breaks excavation, sub-base, bedding and paving into separate lines.
Installers work in Huntingdon, Godmanchester, St Ives and Brampton and know the clay.
Material advice is matched to the garden, the house and any conservation-area rules.
Areas We Cover
We schedule visits across our service area, never long-distance.
Tell us your postcode and the job you need done, and we’ll confirm whether we can schedule a visit.
Start Your EnquiryDescribe the size, what is down there now and how it drains. We’ll schedule a ground survey and a quote for the dig, sub-base, drainage and paving as separate lines.