Porcelain
The premium option. Almost zero maintenance, no fading, no staining, very narrow joints. Costs more upfront but tends to win on a ten year view.
Service · Patios
Patio installation in Teddington and SW London
Porcelain, sandstone, granite and concrete patios laid on a proper sub base so they last.
- 10+ years in the trade, started solo in 2026
- 19 areas covered across SW London
- 4 services design, patios, decking, fencing
- Insured public liability cover, certificate on request
A good patio is mostly invisible. It's the bit underneath you don't see, and the bit above you barely notice because it just works. Bad patios sink, crack along the joints, pool water in the wrong places, and stain in the first year. The thing that separates the two isn't the slabs, it's the prep. I dig the right depth, lay the right sub base, slope it correctly, and bed every slab on a proper mortar mix.
What you get with every job
- Lifting and disposal of any existing patio or surface
- Excavation to the correct depth for the chosen material
- Type 1 sub base, compacted in layers
- Slabs bedded individually on a wet mortar mix
- Joints brushed with the appropriate compound
- Falls set so water runs away from the house
- Site cleared and the patio washed down at the end
Materials and approaches I work with
How the job runs
- 01
Site visit
Free. I measure up, check what's already there, and talk through materials. I bring samples of the most popular ranges so you can see and feel them in your own light.
- 02
Quote
Itemised, so you can see materials, labour, and disposal separately. No fixed price tricks.
- 03
Build
Most patios take three to seven working days depending on size and access. I cover surrounding lawn and beds with sheets so they're not damaged.
- 04
Finish
I jet wash the new patio at the end and brush in jointing compound. You get a clean, finished surface, not a building site.
What affects the price
Quotes are itemised, but here's what moves the number up or down.
- Material choice (concrete is cheapest, porcelain most expensive)
- Patio size and shape (curves and cuts add labour)
- Access (everything carried through the house adds time)
- Whether an existing patio needs lifting and disposing
- Whether the sub base needs additional excavation due to soft ground
- Drainage solutions if the patio is next to the house
For honest indicative ranges, see the pricing guide.
How long it takes
A 20 to 30 square metre patio usually takes four to six working days, weather depending. Larger patios scale from there.
Looking after the finished job
Sweep regularly. Once a year, brush in fresh jointing compound where it's worn. A light jet wash on a low setting in spring will keep most patios looking close to new. Don't use harsh acid cleaners, they pit natural stone.
What clients say
Alfie laid a porcelain patio for us in March. Turned up when he said he would, kept the place tidy, and finished a day early. The patio looks great and we've had no issues with drainage even after a heavy weekend of rain.
We needed about 25 metres of fencing replacing after a storm took the old one out. Alfie quoted on the day, came back the following week and finished in two days. Concrete posts and gravel boards as standard, no shortcuts.
Brilliant from start to finish. Alfie listened to what we wanted, came back with a plan that was way better than anything we'd thought of, and built it over four weeks. The aftercare guide he left was really useful too.
Composite deck installed on a sloping garden. Alfie sorted out the levels properly and built a frame that feels rock solid. Communication was clear throughout and the price was fair.
Sandstone patio and a low retaining wall. Alfie was the only person who quoted who actually noticed the slope of our garden meant the patio would need a step in the middle. The detail in his work shows.
Ten metres of closeboard fencing along a tricky boundary with a tree. Alfie worked around the roots without damaging the tree and left the run dead straight. Tidy job.
Patios across SW London
I cover 19 towns. Browse all locations or pick the closest below.
Patios FAQs
How long does a patio last?
Properly laid, the sub base is good for thirty years plus. The slabs themselves vary by material: concrete twenty years, sandstone twenty-five, porcelain and granite forty plus.
What's the best patio material for a SW London garden?
Porcelain if budget allows, because the climate here is wet and the lack of staining matters. Otherwise Indian sandstone is the best value and looks right with most houses in this area.
Do I need planning permission for a patio?
Usually no, as long as the patio is at the same level as the surrounding ground and you keep more than half of your garden as soft landscaping. There are exceptions for listed buildings and conservation areas, so I'll flag anything that might need a check.
Can you lay a patio over an existing one?
Almost never a good idea. The old patio's foundation isn't designed to take another load on top, and you usually end up with drainage problems. I'll always recommend lifting and starting again.
How do you stop weeds growing through the joints?
Polymeric jointing compound brushed in at the end. Sets hard, flexes slightly with temperature, and stops weed seeds taking hold in the joints.
What about drainage?
Patios next to a house should be set 150mm below the damp proof course and slope away from the wall at a 1:80 fall. If there's nowhere for the water to go I'll fit a linear drain into the design.
Want a quote for patios?
Site visits are free, no pressure. Tell me what you have in mind and I'll come round at a time that suits.