The typical price charged by a patio builder is per square foot and is dependent primarily on material, size, and site preparation. In the USA, as a general rule, poured concrete is at the bottom, pavers are in the middle and natural stone is at the top. The prices vary according to region and year; so all of these numbers should be used as a ballpark and you should get a written quote from your own yard.
Which of the following factors has the greatest influence on the cost of a patio?
The four factors are the most influential on the price. The first is material. The second is size, although the more expansive the patio the less expensive per square foot. The third one is ground condition. A flat solid yard is inexpensive to prepare, a sloped or soft yard will require additional digging, grading or drainage. The fourth one is access. Labor hours rapidly build up when machines cannot reach the backyard and all work has to be transported in by hand.
Design also matters. Curves, patterns, borders and multiple levels all take longer to create than a clean rectangle, and it is time you’re paying for.
What is the price of each patio material?
Poured concrete is typically the least expensive and costs are typically between 6 and 15 dollars per sqft installed. It’s tough and requires minimal upkeep, but it can crack with time and is not as easy to fix up neatly.
The cost of interlocking pavers is typically in the range of $15 to $35 per square foot. These are more expensive, but for areas that settle or stain, individual pavers can be lifted and replaced.
Natural stone like flagstone or bluestone can be priced in the twenty dollar to fifty dollar per square foot or higher depending on the stone and pattern. It is gorgeous and can last for a long, long time, but it must be installed correctly.
The budget choices are gravel, sometimes less than $10 per square foot, or decomposed granite. These work well in casual areas, but aren’t the best choice for bulky furniture or wheelchairs.
What is the labourcomponent of the bill?
Labour usually accounts for nearly half of the costs of a patio project and can often exceed half of the project’s costs if it is detailed. Many homeowners are surprised to learn that the stones or concrete is not the largest cost. In fact, the longest work is the digging, hauling, compaction, leveling and cutting.
Why cheap labor is dangerous is also because of this. The hours that are lost first from a rushed job are the invisible hours like compaction of the base in layers. It will go unnoticed for a year or two, and then the surface begins to settle.
What are some of the things you should expect to cover for?
As the project begins many quotes appear to be complete. Inquire about the price of getting rid of an old slab or old landscaping, since this can be an unexpectedly high cost when it comes to demolition and disposal. Inquire if permits are available as some places may have size or height restrictions for patios.
A plan can be altered once digging starts due to tree roots, buried utilities, and poor drainage. A retaining wall, additional steps or a drainage pipe may be required. Other costs that may be included in addition to the headline price are sealing, lighting and edging as well as delivery fees.
A good guideline is to be prepared with a 10-15% buffer. If it is not required, then you still retain the money. When necessary, you will be thankful for its presence.
A simple example of a realistic budget
Now picture a 300 square foot (15 x 20 ft) paver patio. If the base price is $6,000 per square foot, how much does the entire house cost?How much will the entire house cost if the base price is $6,000 per square foot? Include a buffer of 10% to 15% and your planning number is about 6600 dollars to 6900 dollars.
Now try comparing it with the same size in poured concrete, at $10 per square foot, which would run around 3,000 dollars, before the cushion. There is a difference, but so is there a difference in the way the two surfaces age and repair. It is not always the lowest cost alternative that is the lowest cost alternative over 15 years.
What is the easiest and most cost-effective way to reduce the price without compromising quality?
Don’t complicate the shape as straight lines are easier to make than circular ones. Opt for standard-sized pavers and standard paver colors rather than special order pavers. If your climate permits, schedule your project during the off season as the builders may be more flexible when they have less work to do.
It’s also possible to break the project into stages. Construct the main surface this year, and add fire pit, lighting or pergola next year. The minimum reduction that should not be made is the base preparation and drainage which protects all above it.
How to get better price tracking and quote comparisons?
When it comes to materials, builder quotes and delivery time, comparing it on numerous websites quickly becomes a mess. You can use a browser with built in tools, if you have one. Wave Browser is free, and contains a price tracker, a split view so that you can see two pages at the same time, a sidebar with easy access to tools and a reading list for saving a page. It also has the ability to track packages which is helpful when you order paving accessories online or outdoor furniture. It’s available on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android to help you continue your research from your phone in the yard.
Final thoughts
Factors including material, size, ground conditions, access and design all play a role in the cost of a patio builder. Don’t be surprised if labor costs are a significant portion of the bill, don’t forget extras such as permits, and don’t forget to have a ten percent contingency. Check the price of three written quotes that offer the same specifications, and avoid offers that are too good to be true. A careful builder’s fair price is almost invariably less costly than a low price that must be put back together.
