Patio & Decking Ideas for New Build Gardens

Porcelain: The 2026 favourite. Non-porous (won't stain or grow algae), incredibly hard-wearing, available in stunning stone-effect finishes, and consistent in colour. More expensive than concrete but virtually maintenance-free. £30-£60 per m² for materials. Looks premium without the premium maintenance.

Natural stone (sandstone, limestone, slate): Beautiful and timeless, with natural variation in each slab. Softer underfoot than porcelain. Needs sealing and occasional cleaning to prevent algae. £25-£50 per m² for materials. The classic choice for a more traditional garden.

Concrete paving: The budget option. Modern concrete slabs have come a long way — textured, coloured, and available in large formats that look genuinely good. Not as hard-wearing as porcelain and can stain more easily, but at £15-£30 per m² it's significantly cheaper. Perfectly good for most new build gardens.

Composite decking: Made from recycled wood fibres and plastic. Won't rot, won't splinter, won't need annual treatment. Available in realistic wood-effect finishes. Slightly hollow underfoot (less solid than real wood). £40-£80 per m² for materials. The low-maintenance choice — lay it and forget it for 15-20 years.

Timber decking: Real wood (softwood or hardwood). Warmer, more natural feel. Softwood (treated pine) is budget-friendly (£20-£40 per m²) but needs annual oiling and will last 10-15 years. Hardwood (oak, iroko) is premium (£60-£120 per m²) and lasts 25+ years with minimal treatment. The natural choice for garden purists.

Porcelain patio + composite decking is the most popular combination for new builds in 2026. It's contemporary, low maintenance, and complements the modern architecture. A porcelain patio directly outside the back door (3m x 4m) with a composite decked area further into the garden creates two distinct outdoor living zones.

If budget is a concern, concrete paving is absolutely fine for the patio area. At £15-£30 per m² vs £30-£60 for porcelain, the savings on a typical new build patio (12-16m²) are £200-£500.

• Concrete paving (materials): £15-£30 per m²
• Natural stone (materials): £25-£50 per m²
• Porcelain paving (materials): £30-£60 per m²
• Softwood decking (materials): £20-£40 per m²
• Composite decking (materials): £40-£80 per m²
• Hardwood decking (materials): £60-£120 per m²
• Professional laying (labour): £40-£80 per m² on top of materials

For a typical new build patio of 12m²: budget £400-£700 DIY (concrete), £600-£1,200 DIY (porcelain), or £1,000-£2,000 professionally laid (porcelain).

Honestly? It depends on the material. Concrete slabs on a sand and cement bed is a classic DIY project — there are thousands of tutorials, the materials are forgiving, and the worst that happens is a slightly uneven finish. Porcelain is harder — it requires a full mortar bed, priming, and precise cutting with a diamond blade. A wonky porcelain patio looks worse than a wonky concrete one because the material is so precise.

Decking is more DIY-friendly than paving. Composite decking systems come with clip-together boards and aluminium joists — it's essentially a flat-pack project. Timber decking is traditional carpentry — straightforward if you can handle a drill and a saw.

This is important and often overlooked. New build gardens have specific drainage requirements — surface water must not run onto neighbouring properties or public pathways. If you're laying a patio larger than 5m², you may need to consider permeable paving or drainage channels to comply with planning regulations.

A professional landscaper will handle drainage as part of the design. If you're DIY-ing, make sure the patio slopes slightly away from the house (a fall of 1:60 is standard — roughly 15mm per metre) and water can drain onto your lawn or a gravel border rather than pooling against the house.