Decking, patios and pergolas: 5 things to know before you book
Key Takeaways
Outdoor projects aren't complicated. What goes wrong is almost always the decisions made before the project.
Get these right upfront and you'll end up with an outdoor space you actually use.
Gardens are being treated like rooms now. Outdoor dining areas, built-in seating, proper lighting. It's a genuine upgrade in how people use their homes.
UK homeowners are expected to spend an average of £865 on outdoor projects in 2026, and demand for decking, patio, and pergola installation is rising with it.
The projects themselves aren't complicated. What goes wrong is almost always traceable to decisions made (or skipped) before the project started
Here's what you need to think about before you book:
- Material choice matters
- Why homeowners wish they'd gone bigger
- Planning drainage
- Design how you'll use it
- When to book the job
- Bonus tips: Planning permission required & costs to install
- Frequently asked questions
1] Materials: Composite or timber decking? Porcelain or natural stone? What actually lasts in the UK.
Material choice matters more in the UK than almost anywhere else.
Wet winters, freeze-thaw cycles, and shaded gardens mean some materials that look great in a showroom struggle in a real British garden.
For decking and pergolas:
- Composite decking: Higher upfront cost (typically £100–£200/sqm installed), but minimal maintenance and a realistic lifespan of 20+ years. Doesn't warp, rot, or need annual oiling. The right choice if you want to install it and forget it.
- Hardwood timber: Looks excellent and ages well if maintained. Needs oiling once or twice a year. Species like Accoya and Ipe perform better in wet conditions but cost more.
- Softwood timber: The cheapest option upfront. Can last 10+ years with proper treatment, but requires more maintenance and is more susceptible to warping if the wood isn't dried and treated correctly.
For patios:
- Porcelain: Frost-proof, stain-resistant, and consistently coloured throughout. Handles UK winters well. Harder to cut around irregular shapes and requires a skilled installer to lay correctly.
- Natural stone (Indian sandstone, slate, limestone): More character and variation. Needs sealing annually to prevent staining. Make sure you specify a sawn or brushed finish. Polished stone can be dangerously slippery when wet.
The short version: composite and porcelain cost more upfront but are the lower-maintenance choices over 10 years. Timber and natural stone are beautiful but require ongoing care.
Be honest about how much maintenance you'll realistically do.
2] Size matters: Why "we wish we'd gone bigger" is the most common regret
This is the single most consistent piece of feedback from homeowners once a project is complete, and it's almost always about size.
A 3m x 4m patio looks generous on a plan. Add a 6-seater table and four chairs and you've got roughly 60cm clearance on each side. Not enough to pull a chair out comfortably, let alone walk past.
The furniture takes the space it takes. That needs to be accounted for before you sign off on a design.
A practical rule of thumb: measure your intended furniture first, then add at least 1 metre in every direction as usable space. If the budget allows, go bigger.
You won't regret it.
One more thing worth knowing: a raised deck tends to feel more generous than a flat patio of the same footprint. The change in level creates a sense of defined space, even at smaller sizes.
3] Planning drainage: Where does the water go? The question most people forget to ask.
This is the question that separates a patio that ages well from one that pools, stains, and starts to lift within a couple of years.
For any patio that abuts the house, building regulations require a fall (gradient) of at least 1:60 away from the property. This protects the damp-proof course and is non-negotiable.
A good tradesperson will know this. A cheap one might not grade it correctly, and you'll pay for that later.
Pooling water does different damage depending on the material:
- It stains natural stone and makes it slippery.
- It can lift loosely-laid porcelain over time.
- On timber, standing water accelerates rot and discolouration even in treated boards.
Before signing off on a design, ask: what's the drainage plan? Where does excess water go in heavy rain?
If your garden is on a slope or has clay soil, this matters even more. Permeable options like certain gravel or open-jointed porcelain can help, but they need to be designed in from the start, not retrofitted.
4] Design for how you'll actually use it. Not just generic "outdoor space"
The most avoidable regret in outdoor living projects is building something generic. A patio is a patio, but what it should look like depends entirely on how you're going to use it.
Outdoor dining for 6+
You need a generous hard surface, clear sightlines to the kitchen or back door, and a shade option. Either a pergola, a sail, or a parasol anchor point. Design the shade in from the start. Retrofitting it is awkward and expensive.
Lounging and shade
Pergola and sail positioning matters more than you'd think. Track where the sun is between 2pm and 6pm in summer before you decide where to put the structure. Many people build facing the wrong direction.
Kids and dogs
Avoid pale porcelain (shows everything), recessed drainage channels (trip hazard for small feet), and sharp corners on raised decking. Think about surface texture too. Some finishes are easier on bare feet than others.
Ask your tradesperson to design around a brief, not just a footprint. A good one will ask what you're planning to use it for before suggesting a layout. You can browse trusted tradespeople for outdoor work on Hey Alfie or ask Alfie to find the right person for your project.
5] When to book if you want it ready for summer
Outdoor living projects are seasonal, which means so is tradesperson availability.
Here's the typical time required for outdoor projects:
Good tradespeople book out 6–8 weeks in advance from April onwards. If you want a project completed by July, May is when you need to lock in a booking. Not June.
Factor in materials lead time too. Standard porcelain and composite boards are usually available within a week or two. Less common products (bespoke porcelain sizes, certain hardwoods, made-to-measure pergola kits) can take 2–4 weeks. Your tradesperson should advise, but it's worth asking upfront.
And if your outdoor project is part of a wider spring push on the home, the Hey Alfie spring home maintenance checklist covers everything else worth doing before summer.
Bonus Tip 1: How much does decking, a patio, or a pergola cost in the UK?
Cost is the question most people want answered first. Here are realistic UK figures for 2026, based on typical residential projects:
What drives the price up: size, material spec, the amount of groundwork needed (particularly if the ground is uneven or drainage is poor), and access.
A garden that requires materials to be carried through a narrow side gate takes longer and costs more. Prices also vary by region. Expect to pay more in London and the South East.
These are UK averages. The only way to get an accurate number for your specific garden is a quote from a trusted tradesperson.
Bonus Tip 2: Do you need planning permission for decking or a patio in the UK?
Most outdoor living projects don't require planning permission, but there are rules worth knowing before you start.
For decking:
- Permitted development if no more than 30cm above ground level.
- Together with any other extensions or outbuildings, must not cover more than 50% of your total garden area.
- Cannot be positioned forward of the principal elevation of the house (i.e. not in the front garden facing a road).
- Listed buildings: no decking permitted within the curtilage without specific consent.
- Conservation areas, National Parks, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have stricter rules. Always check with your local planning authority before starting work.
For patios:
- Ground-level patios generally don't require planning permission.
- If your property is in a conservation area or is listed, check with your local authority before committing to a design.
For pergolas:
- A freestanding pergola is usually permitted development.
- If it's attached to the house and significant in size, it may be treated as an extension and require permission.
Your tradesperson should flag any potential planning issues, but don't rely on this alone. Check with your local planning authority before you commit to a design, especially if your property has any designations.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a patio cost in the UK?
A typical patio installation costs between £2,500 and £8,000 depending on size, material, and groundwork required. Porcelain patios tend to cost more than natural stone. Larger patios with complex drainage or levelling requirements cost more than straightforward flat installs.
Do I need planning permission for decking in the UK?
Most residential decking projects don't require planning permission, provided the decking is no more than 30cm above ground level and doesn't cover more than 50% of the garden. Exceptions include listed buildings, conservation areas, and National Parks. Always check with your local planning authority if you're unsure.
How long does patio installation take?
A standard patio installation (30–40sqm) typically takes 5–7 days on site. Decking of a similar size takes 3–5 days. A pergola takes 1–2 days once foundations are in. These timelines assume good access and no unexpected groundwork.
Is composite or timber decking better for the UK?
Composite is the lower-maintenance choice for the UK climate. It doesn't warp, rot, or require annual oiling, and handles wet winters well. Timber looks excellent and can last 10+ years with proper maintenance, but requires more ongoing care. Hardwood species like Accoya perform better than softwood in British conditions.
