Patios in Selly Oak

What should you know before starting in Selly Oak?

There's normally nothing to apply for. Birmingham City Council only needs to be involved if your home is listed, or if it's in a conservation area with extra controls on changes to the outside.

Porcelain needs a bonding primer and a full mortar bed to stay fixed.
A patio next to the house should finish at least 150 mm below the damp-proof course.
Spot-bedded slabs on dabs of mortar are more likely to rock and crack.

Postcode district: B29
Planning and building control: Birmingham City Council
From our West Bromwich base: 6 miles

Choices to weigh up in Selly Oak

Steps, edging and low walls

Most gardens aren't flat, so patios often need a step down to the lawn, a low retaining wall or a raised planter. Steps should have even risers and a firm edge, and retaining walls need proper foundations. These details are priced separately in your quote so you can see what the paving alone costs.

Indian sandstone

A natural stone in buff, grey, brown and mixed tones, with either a riven, textured surface or a smooth sawn finish. Every slab is slightly different, giving a traditional look. Sandstone is more porous than porcelain, so it can weather and pick up algae, and many people seal it after laying to make cleaning easier.

What does your patio cost in Selly Oak?

Prices in Selly Oak match the rest of our area: £90–£230 per m². Indian sandstone on a full sub-base and mortar bed, including dig-out and waste: usually £120–£170 per m².

Guide prices for patios
Option	Guide price	Good to know
Concrete flags	£90 – £130 per m²	Lowest cost, wide range of colours
Indian sandstone	£120 – £175 per m²	Natural riven or sawn finish
Porcelain paving	£140 – £230 per m²	Low maintenance, primed and fully bedded

Guide ranges include VAT where it applies. A free survey turns this guide into a fixed, itemised price.

Questions about patios in Selly Oak

How much does a new patio cost?

In the West Midlands, patios usually cost around £90–£130 per m² in concrete flags, £120–£175 per m² in Indian sandstone and £140–£230 per m² in porcelain, laid on a full sub-base with waste removal. A 20 m² sandstone patio therefore typically costs about £2,400–£3,500. Steps, walls and drainage are priced as extra lines.

Which postcodes in Selly Oak do you work in?

We cover B29 and the streets around them. If you're on the edge of Selly Oak, neighbouring Harborne and Edgbaston are covered too.

Porcelain or natural stone: which should I choose?

Porcelain is the easiest to keep clean, resists stains and moss, and gives a consistent colour. Natural stone has more variation and character, feels softer underfoot and costs a little less, but it's more porous and benefits from sealing. Many people choose porcelain for a contemporary look and sandstone for a traditional garden.

Does Birmingham City Council need to approve my patio?

Not normally. The exception is a listed building, where Birmingham City Council would need to give listed building consent first.

Nearby places we cover

Other work we do in Selly Oak

See paving samples in your own garden light by booking a free patio survey in Selly Oak.