Rutland Driveways & Landscaping 01572 344119 Site visit
Large porcelain patio with planters looking out over fields
Rutland · Stamford · Oakham

Patios

Porcelain, sandstone and natural stone patios, laid on a full mortar bed with the falls and levels right.

Request a site visit See our projects
5 yearWritten guarantee
VubaApproved resin installer
NVQQualified
8 yearsTrading in Rutland

A porcelain patio typically costs £150–£200 per m² laid on a full mortar bed, so a 25–30m² patio is usually £4,000–£6,000. Indian sandstone is £130–£180 per m². A patio in a rear garden needs no planning permission.

Porcelain per m²
£150–£200
Sandstone per m²
£130–£180
Typical patio (25–30m²)
£4,000–£6,000
Time on site
Three to seven days

Our 2026 guide prices, all in. Your fixed price comes in writing after the site visit.

Patios

Patios built properly

A patio is the most-used room in the house for four months of the year. We design and build porcelain, sandstone and limestone terraces across Rutland, with the falls, steps, lighting and seating walls that turn paving into an outdoor room.

Porcelain has changed what a patio can be

Twenty-millimetre porcelain is the biggest shift in garden paving in a generation: it does not stain, fade or grow algae the way natural stone can, it cleans with water, and the large formats make even modest gardens feel architectural. It is also unforgiving to install, which is where most cheap porcelain patios go wrong.

  • Full mortar bed with priming slurry on every slab — spot-bedding causes the hollow, drummy slabs that crack later
  • Accurate falls away from the house, designed around door thresholds and damp courses
  • Brushed-in or flowable jointing compounds rated for porcelain
  • Steps, planters and seating walls built in brick, stone or sleepers to match the house

Natural stone still has its place. Against weathered limestone in a village garden, Indian sandstone or tumbled limestone often looks more at home than porcelain ever will, and we lay plenty of it. The right answer depends on the house, and we will say so at the design visit.

Our standard

What you get

  • Full mortar bed, never dot-and-dab
  • Bonding primer on every porcelain slab
  • Falls away from the house and levels below the damp proof course
  • Steps, walls, lighting and planting designed with it

The specification

  • Ground dug out and levels set
  • 100mm compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base
  • Full wet mortar bed
  • Slurry primer on the back of porcelain slabs
  • Jointing to suit the stone
  • Five year workmanship guarantee in writing
Porcelain steps with recessed lights
Prices by town

What a patio costs near you

Typical sizes we price in each town, at our 2026 guide rates.

TownTypical sizeTypical cost
Oakham25–40m²£3,750–£8,000
Uppingham20–35m²£3,000–£7,000
Stamford20–35m²£3,000–£7,000
Market Harborough20–35m²£3,000–£7,000
Corby20–35m²£3,000–£7,000
Kettering20–35m²£3,000–£7,000

More detail in our price guide.

Recent finishes

The kind of finish we build

The same terrace garden with a large-format porcelain patio, raised beds and low-level lighting
The same terrace garden with a large-format porcelain patio
Indian sandstone patio with outdoor sofas against a stone townhouse
Indian sandstone patio with outdoor sofas against a stone townhouse
Porcelain dining terrace in a stone-walled Stamford garden
Porcelain dining terrace in a stone-walled Stamford garden
Porcelain steps with recessed lights
Porcelain steps with recessed lights
Completed jobs

Recent jobs like this

Multi-tone Indian sandstone patio with a curved raised edge in the corner of a walled garden in Weldon

Indian sandstone patio, Weldon

Multi-tone sandstone in a walled garden, with a curved raised edge and a pebble margin.

Buff riven-effect patio with a curved edge and plum chipping border set into block paving in an Oakham garden

Riven-effect patio, Oakham

A buff riven patio with a curved edge, set into a block paved garden and framed in plum chippings.

Light large-format porcelain patio outside grey bifold doors with a lawn beyond in Stamford

Porcelain patio, Stamford

Large-format porcelain outside bifold doors, wrapping round the side of the house as a path.

★★★★★

Rated 5.0 from 37 Google reviews

“Had my garden done by the lads at Rutland driveways and landscaping I’m very pleased with the outcome also I booked to get my sisters driveway repaired by the guys would 100% recommend.”

Connor, Corby · Porcelain patio — Google review

“Lewis transformed my garden from a muddy bog and but in drainage and a Beautiful porcelain patio. All the tradesmen worked hard and were very conscientious. Couldn't recommend more!!!!”

Peter · Garden drainage and porcelain patio — Google review
Read the reviews
Questions

Things people ask us

Is a porcelain patio slippery when wet?
Exterior-grade porcelain is textured and rated for slip resistance (look for R11), so it is generally less slippery wet than smooth sandstone or old concrete slabs.
How much work does a new patio project involve?
More than paving. Most of our patio projects include excavation, drainage, steps or retaining, jointing and making good the lawn and beds around it — it is closer to a small landscaping project than a paving job, and we quote it as such.
Should I choose porcelain or natural stone for a patio?
Porcelain for low maintenance, crisp modern gardens and shaded plots where algae thrives. Stone where the house and garden call for something softer. We bring samples of both to the design visit.
How much does a patio cost?
A porcelain patio typically costs £150–£200 per m² laid on a full mortar bed, so a 25–30m² patio is usually £4,000–£6,000. Indian sandstone is £130–£180 per m². A patio in a rear garden needs no planning permission.
How long does a patio last?
A porcelain or natural stone patio laid on a compacted sub-base and a full mortar bed should last 25 years or more, and the slabs themselves far longer. What shortens a patio's life is what lies underneath: a thin base, spot-bedded slabs or weak jointing lead to rocking, cracking and failed pointing within a few winters. Re-pointing, and re-sealing sandstone now and then, is normal maintenance.
How deep should a patio base be?
A patio is typically dug out around 150mm or more below its finished level, to take 100mm of compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, a full mortar bed of roughly 25–40mm and the slab itself. That is the build-up we use. Soft clay or made-up ground can need a deeper dig or a geotextile membrane, which we assess when we measure up and check the levels.
How far below the damp proof course should a patio be?
A patio should finish at least 150mm below the damp proof course, the level Building Regulations guidance uses to keep splashback and ground moisture off the walls. Level thresholds at bifold doors are possible, but only with a drainage channel against the house and the falls designed around it. Patios that bridge the damp course are a common cause of damp inside, so we set the levels before any digging starts.
What fall does a patio need?
A patio needs a gentle fall away from the house, usually around 1 in 60 to 1 in 80, so rain runs off rather than sitting on the slabs or running towards the walls. Smooth porcelain sheds water at the shallower end of that range, while riven sandstone needs a little more. The water must go somewhere, a lawn, border, channel drain or soakaway, especially on heavy clay.
Can a new patio be laid over an old patio or concrete?
Sometimes, but it is rarely the best answer: laying over an old patio raises the level, often too close to the damp proof course, and the new slabs inherit any movement or hollow spots in the old ones. A sound, level concrete slab with room for the new levels can work as a base. In most cases, lifting the old patio and building a proper sub-base gives a longer-lasting result.
What is the best jointing for a porcelain patio?
A porcelain patio is best jointed with a brush-in or flowable jointing compound made for porcelain, or a cement-based porcelain grout, rather than a traditional sand and cement mix that cracks and stains the slab face. Porcelain is dense and non-porous, so the joint has to bond to the slab edges and clean off the face easily. Joint width, slab colour and how much upkeep you want decide which.
Do I need planning permission for a patio?
A patio in a rear garden does not normally need planning permission. A front garden patio over 5m² follows the driveway rule: it needs permission if it is impermeable and drains towards the road, unless the water runs to a lawn or border. Raised patios or platforms over 30cm high need permission, as can work on listed houses and road-facing paving in Article 4 areas such as Stamford's conservation area.
How long does it take to lay a patio?
A typical 25–30m² patio takes three to seven days on site, from digging out and building the sub-base to laying on a full mortar bed and jointing. Steps, walls, drainage and a lot of curved cutting add time, and so does rain. The mortar needs a day or two to harden before the patio takes furniture and normal use.
Near you

Porcelain patios near you

Request a site visit

We measure up, check levels and drainage, and send a written proposal with the build-up, the programme and one whole price. No pressure and no follow-up sales calls.

Request a site visit Call 01572 344119
☎Call 01572 344119 Site visit