---
title: "New Build Garden Patios in Cambridge | Proper Installation"
description: "New build garden patios in Cambridge. The survey specifies materials, checks levels and quotes the sub-base and paving separately."
canonical: "https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/new-build-garden-patios"
lastmod: "2026-10-05T11:28:40.315Z"
---

# New Build Garden Patios in Cambridge

![New Build Garden Patios carried out by a professional patios](https://utmost-ibex-736.convex.cloud/api/storage/912f8a65-e56e-4200-bbc6-a64f195aef68)

A properly excavated, drained patio that stays level, from bare ground to finished surface.

- **Survey & Quote**: The site is surveyed, and excavation, sub-base and paving are quoted as separate lines.
- **Material Choice**: Porcelain, sandstone, limestone or block paving specified at survey stage.
- **No Hidden Groundwork Costs**: Excavation and sub-base are quoted as separate line items, not bundled.

## Why some new patios sink, crack or flood within a season

- **Shallow Excavation**: Cutting corners on dig depth leaves builder waste and soft fill beneath the slabs, which compress unevenly under load.
  **Full-Depth Dig-Out**: The installer excavates to a depth that accounts for sub-base, bedding layer and slab thickness before any material is laid.
- **No Compacted Sub-Base**: Sand or soil used directly under slabs shifts with Cambridge clay’s seasonal movement, causing slabs to rock and joints to open.
  **Type 1 Sub-Base**: Type 1 crushed stone is laid and compacted in stages, giving a stable platform that resists clay heave and settlement.
- **Wrong Bedding Method**: Porcelain laid on a semi-dry mix without primer slurry will lift within months, the bond between slab and bed fails.
  **Material-Matched Bedding**: Porcelain gets a full mortar bed and primer slurry; natural stone and concrete slabs are laid on a semi-dry mix.
- **Falls Towards the House**: Water draining back to the house can breach the damp-proof course, causing damp internally and voiding building warranties.
  **Correct Drainage Falls**: The surface is screeded to fall away from the house, clearing the damp-proof course by at least 150 mm throughout.

## What a new patio installation covers

From the first spade in the ground to the last joint filled, the full scope of a new patio laid from scratch.

- **Excavation & Ground Preparation**: Dig-out to the correct depth, removal of builder waste, and levelling of the formation layer before any base material is laid.
- **Sub-Base & Bedding Layer**: Type 1 crushed stone compacted in stages, then a screeded bedding layer set to the correct drainage fall.
- **Paving Slab Installation**: Concrete, natural stone, porcelain or brick paving laid to the agreed pattern, with edging restraints haunched in place.
- **Jointing & Finishing**: Jointing compound applied once the surface is checked for level and fall, with any ACO channel drain connected at the low edge.

- **Porcelain Slabs**: Full mortar bed and primer slurry required for a lasting bond.
- **Natural Stone Paving**: Sandstone or limestone on a semi-dry mix bedding layer.
- **Concrete Slabs**: Cost-effective option laid on a semi-dry mix bed.
- **Brick & Block Paving**: Sand-bedded and compacted with kiln-dried jointing sand.
- **ACO Channel Drainage**: Set at the low edge and connected to a suitable outlet.

## Installing a new garden patio from excavation to finished surface

A new patio starts below ground, the excavation, sub-base and drainage fall determine whether the surface stays level for years or starts sinking within one.

New build gardens around Cambridge often have uneven, compacted or builder-waste-filled ground that needs thorough preparation before paving begins. The installer surveys the site, agrees the patio area and level, then excavates to a depth that allows for sub-base, bedding layer and slab thickness. Cambridge clay-heavy ground typically needs a deeper sub-base than sandy or free-draining soils to prevent seasonal movement.

Sub-base material, usually Type 1 crushed stone, is laid and compacted in stages before the bedding layer is screeded to the correct fall. The fall runs away from the house and must clear the damp-proof course by at least 150 mm. Material choice is confirmed at the survey stage: porcelain needs a full mortar bed and primer slurry; natural stone and concrete slabs can be laid on a semi-dry mix; brick paving uses a sand bedding layer.

Edging restraints are set and haunched before the main slab area is laid, holding the perimeter in position during compaction. Jointing compound is applied once the surface is checked for level and fall. Where surface drainage is insufficient, an ACO channel drain is set at the low edge and connected to a suitable outlet. The quote covers excavation, sub-base, bedding and jointing as separate line items.

[Start Your Enquiry](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/contact)

## Why use Cambridge Patios for a new garden patio in Cambridge?

Local knowledge of Cambridge ground conditions, clear quoting and the right material matched to your site.

- **Local Ground Knowledge**: Every survey accounts for Cambridge clay conditions and specifies sub-base depth accordingly from the start.
- **Itemised Quotes**: Excavation, sub-base, bedding and paving are quoted as separate lines, no groundwork costs buried in a single figure.
- **Material Advice at Survey Stage**: Porcelain, sandstone, limestone or block paving is specified on site, matched to the ground conditions and your budget.
- **New Build Site Experience**: Surveys regularly cover new build estates where construction waste beneath topsoil changes the excavation spec.
- **Drainage Checked Before Work Starts**: Falls and damp-proof course clearance are confirmed at survey, not adjusted after the slabs are already down.

## From first enquiry to finished patio

1. **Tell Us About the Site**: Describe the garden size, what is down there now and how it currently drains so we can schedule the right survey.
2. **Survey & Itemised Quote**: The site visit checks ground conditions and damp-proof course clearance, then excavation and paving are quoted separately.
3. **Installation & Handover**: Excavation, sub-base, bedding, slab laying, jointing and drainage are completed and the finished surface is checked for falls.

[Start Your Enquiry](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/contact)

## Typical New Build Garden Patios Prices

| Job | Typical cost | Typical size |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small new-build patio | £1,400-£2,500 | 10m² |
| Standard new-build patio | £2,500-£5,500 | 20m² |
| Larger new-build patio | £4,500-£9,000 | 40m² |

These prices are estimates and often vary with the condition, size and scope of each job. Message or call us for a free, no-obligation quote.

[See all prices](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/pricing)

## Questions about new garden patio installation in Cambridge

### Why is my patio area staying wet after rain?

The most common cause is inadequate fall, the surface is not sloped enough to shed water, or a compacted sub-base that blocks drainage. Clay-heavy ground, common in Cambridge, makes this worse because water cannot percolate away. A proper survey will identify whether the issue is gradient, sub-base depth, or the absence of a drainage channel.

### Will a new patio help with drainage in my garden?

Yes, if it is laid with the correct fall and drainage provision built in. A new installation can include a channel drain or soakaway to direct water away from the house and lawn. Simply relaying slabs without addressing the sub-base or gradient will not solve a persistent drainage problem. [Patio drainage & levelling](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services/patio-drainage-levelling) covers this in more detail.

### How do I know if I need a new patio or just a repair?

If slabs are cracked, sunken, or rocking in isolated spots, repointing or relay of individual slabs is usually enough. If the surface is uneven across a wide area, water is pooling, or the sub-base has failed, a full replacement is more cost-effective than repeated patch repairs. A survey will confirm which applies to your garden.

### What is included in a new patio installation?

A full installation covers excavation, sub-base preparation, laying the chosen material, porcelain, sandstone, limestone, or block paving, jointing, and a finished fall to drain water away. Drainage channels and edging can be included where needed. We schedule a site survey and quote all elements before work begins.

### Do I need planning permission for a new garden patio?

Most ground-level [patios](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/) in a rear garden fall under permitted development and need no planning permission. Exceptions apply if the patio is raised, covers a large proportion of the front garden, or the property is in a conservation area or is listed. Any constraints are flagged during the survey.

### How much ground preparation will my patio need?

Most patios require excavation to around 150-200 mm, followed by a compacted hardcore sub-base and a sand or mortar bed before slabs are laid. Clay ground or poor drainage may need additional depth or a geotextile membrane. The exact requirement depends on what is already there, which the survey will establish.

### Will you sort out drainage as part of the patio work?

Yes, drainage is assessed and addressed as part of the installation. The finished surface is laid with a fall, typically 1:80, to move water away from the house. Where that is not enough, a channel drain or soakaway can be added. Tell us how your garden currently drains and we will schedule a survey to advise on the right solution.

### How do I know which patio material is best for my garden?

The right material depends on use, budget, and the look you want. Porcelain is low-maintenance and frost-resistant; Indian sandstone gives a natural, warm tone; limestone suits formal gardens; block paving works well where vehicles may cross. We schedule a survey of your space and walk through the options before you commit. [View all patio materials](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/services).

[More questions about New Build Garden Patios?](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/faq/new-build-garden-patios)

## Tell Us About Your Patio Project

Describe the garden, what is down there now and how it drains. We will schedule a survey and quote the work properly.

[Start Your Enquiry](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/contact)

## Business details

### Contact

- **Phone**: [07787 475312](tel:07787475312)
- **Email**: [contact@cambridgepatios.co.uk](mailto:contact@cambridgepatios.co.uk)
- **Based in**: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1
- **Enquiries**: [Send an enquiry](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/contact) — We ask for your name, phone number, email and a message.

### Opening hours

- **Monday**: 08:00 – 18:00
- **Tuesday**: 08:00 – 18:00
- **Wednesday**: 08:00 – 18:00
- **Thursday**: 08:00 – 18:00
- **Friday**: 08:00 – 18:00
- **Saturday**: 10:00 – 16:00
- **Sunday**: 10:00 – 16:00

[Business details](https://www.cambridgepatios.co.uk/about/business.md)