What counts as a patio or porch on this page?
We use patio for an outdoor floor that is enclosed or partly enclosed: a courtyard between wings of a house, a yard behind a townhouse, the strip beside a garage or a sunken area below street level. A porch is a paved area under a roof, open at the sides, usually at the front or back door.
Both differ from an open terrace because water has fewer places to go. In a courtyard every drop of rain has to leave through a gully, a channel or a gap in the wall. Under a porch the floor stays dry in the middle but takes concentrated runoff where the roof edge drips. Planning the patio starts with following that water, then deciding levels, and only after that choosing a paver.
Access is the other defining factor. Many patios can only be reached through the house or a narrow side gate, so excavation, rubble and new material are moved by hand or in small machines. We look at the route on the first visit, because it influences both the method and the quote.
Can you remove an existing patio, deck or concrete slab first?
Yes. Removing an existing patio is the first stage of most of our patio jobs, and it is where the condition of the ground underneath finally becomes visible. Breaking out concrete, lifting tiles or dismantling a deck all produce different kinds of waste, and each is handled separately.
- Demolishing a concrete patio: the slab is broken into manageable pieces and removed, then the ground below is checked for soft spots
- Deck removal and patio installation: boards and joists come up first, then the supports or pads are taken out before the base is built
- Lifting old tiles or crazy paving: the bonded layer usually comes up with them, leaving an uneven base that needs rebuilding
- Old block paving: sound blocks can sometimes be cleaned and reused elsewhere in the garden
Rubble from lifting paving typically falls under European List of Waste codes such as 17 01 01 for concrete, 17 01 07 for mixed concrete, brick and ceramic waste without hazardous substances, and 17 05 04 for soil and stones. Spanish law treats rubble from minor domestic repair work as household waste under municipal responsibility, which is why we explain in the quote where it goes. For full replacement of large paved areas, see also paving replacement on our materials site.
Which patio surfaces do we install?
For most patios we lay concrete block pavers or large concrete slabs; stone flags and crazy paving suit older or rustic houses. A stamped concrete patio is a different system altogether, and we pour new ones as well; if you already have one in good structural shape, restoring it is usually more sensible than breaking it out.
| Surface | Typical patio use | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Block paved patio | Yards, side passages, courtyards | Simple to lift for drains and services; pattern sets the character |
| Patio flagstones or slabs | Courtyards and porches | Few joints, calmer look; bed must be very even |
| Crazy-paving stone | Rustic courtyards, porches of older houses | Slower to lay; each joint is individual |
| Stamped concrete | New or existing patios | One continuous slab; cracks rather than settles; can be recoated |
If a stamped concrete or plain concrete patio has only faded or developed fine cracks, the sister site covers patio and terrace restoration with cleaning, crack filling and a tinted resin coat. Comparing tiles with pavers? Read pavers or porcelain first.
How do porches and enclosed patios get rid of water?
Enclosed patios need a planned exit for water: a fall towards a gully, a channel at the lowest edge, or a connection through the wall to the garden. Porches need a surface that sheds the drip line from the roof without water running back under the door.
In a courtyard, we first find where the existing drain is and whether it works. Old gullies are often blocked with sand or roots, and an apparently flat patio may have been built to fall towards a drain that no longer flows. Before laying anything, we test the outlet. Under a porch, the fall can be gentle, but the outer edge has to cope with rainwater from the roof, so it may need a firmer edge or a drainage strip.
Our guide to a patio without puddles explains how falls are worked out, and looking after outdoor paving covers keeping gullies and joints clear once the work is done. A gully grating that is lifted and rinsed a couple of times a year and after any heavy storm, prevents most of the standing water owners complain about in courtyards.
Is a patio surface slippery when wet?
Any outdoor surface can become slippery when wet, dusty or covered with algae, and a smooth finish more so. For patios and porches near water or in shade, we suggest textured or tumbled pavers and slab finishes intended for exterior use.
Spain's Building Code classifies floors by slip resistance from class 0 to 3, with class 3 (Rd above 45) required for exterior areas and pools within its scope. Whether that requirement applies to a particular private house is for an architect or the town hall to confirm case by case, but the classification is a useful reference when comparing products. Anti-slip surface treatments applied to an existing patio are a restoration topic; we do not make claims for coatings. Where a pool is close by, read our page on pool surrounds, where grip is the main concern.
What affects the cost of patio installation?
Removing the old surface and getting materials in and out tend to dominate the cost of a patio, more than the paver itself. Labour rates for patio installation reflect how much has to be carried by hand, how many cuts there are and whether drainage has to be rebuilt.
To see how these factors translate into published figures, the price site lists block paving cost per m² and explains what a quote includes. The article what nobody tells you before paving the garden covers the surprises that often appear once the old patio is lifted.
Those surprises are worth budgeting for in your own planning. Under old concrete we regularly find buried rubble, abandoned pipes or a layer of clay where a sub-base should be. None of this can be seen from photos, which is why a first quote based on pictures is followed by a firm one once the condition below the surface is known, and why we tell you as soon as anything unexpected appears.
Frequently asked questions
Can you lay a new patio over the old concrete one?
Only if the old slab is sound, drains in the right direction and leaves enough height at the doors and thresholds. In enclosed patios height is often the limiting factor. When the slab is cracked or sits at the wrong level, breaking it out and building a proper base gives a more reliable result.
Do you take away the timber from an old deck?
Yes. When we replace a deck with a paved patio, removal of boards, joists and supports is included in the quote. Timber is separated from rubble and soil so each type of waste can be handled correctly rather than mixed together in one skip.
My patio is reached only through the house. Is that a problem?
It is common and manageable. We protect floors and doorways along the route, use smaller equipment and move material in bags or barrows. It does take more labour than an open site, so access is always discussed at the first visit and reflected in the quote.
Can the existing drain in my courtyard be reused?
Often, yes, if it is working. We test it before laying anything. A drain that is blocked, broken or set too high is cleared, replaced or repositioned. Laying a new patio towards a drain that does not flow would bring the puddles straight back.
What is the difference between patio flagstones and pavers?
Flagstones or slabs are large, relatively thin units that give a smooth floor with few joints. Pavers are smaller, thicker blocks that lock together through their joints. Slabs suit sheltered courtyards and porches; pavers are more forgiving on ground that may move slightly.
Can a covered porch be paved in the same material as the garden?
Yes, and it usually looks better that way. The porch floor can continue into the garden or terrace with the same paver or slab, adjusted only in level and fall. Under the roof the surface stays drier, so the choice of finish there is more flexible.
Is stamped concrete a good choice for a new patio?
It can be, and we pour new stamped concrete patios as well as laying pavers. It looks attractive, but as a poured slab it reacts to ground movement by cracking. Pavers and slabs can be lifted and relaid locally. If you already have a stamped concrete patio in decent condition, restoration is often a better use of the budget than replacement.
Do you build steps from the patio up to the house?
Yes. Steps clad in pavers or stone are often part of a patio job, especially where a house sits higher than the yard. We have a separate page on outdoor steps that explains how treads, risers and edges are put together and matched to the patio surface.
Will I need a permit to replace my patio?
In Andalusia many minor works fall under a responsible declaration, but each town hall decides the procedure through its own ordinance. For replacing a private patio, your council can confirm the procedure. If the patio is a common element in a community, the owners' meeting may also need to agree.
Can old block paving from my patio be reused?
Sometimes. Sound blocks of a common format can be cleaned and relaid in a less visible area, such as a side passage or a utility yard. Broken, stained or discontinued blocks are usually not worth the labour of reuse in the main patio.