All the old decking out
Decking covered the garden from the house to the garden room. All of it was taken up so the new garden could be built on the ground, not over old timber.
Case study · Sutton SM1 · June 2026
Garden transformation in Sutton: grey porcelain and artificial grass
John's back garden in Sutton was covered in old timber decking. In five days we took it all out and transformed the garden with a grey porcelain patio from Universal Paving outside the house and realistic 40mm artificial grass running down to the existing garden room, so it looks like a natural lawn all year round. £8,000 including VAT.
- Location
- Sutton, SM1
- Client
- John
- Price
- £8,000 inc. VAT
- Time on site
- 5 days
- Patio
- Universal Paving grey porcelain
- Lawn
- Artificial grass, 40mm pile
Where we started
The brief
John's garden in Sutton SM1 is a long, straight plot behind a terraced house, with an existing garden room at the far end. The whole space was covered in old timber decking that had weathered and become tired, and it left no green space at all.
John wanted a full transformation: a clean, modern patio outside the house and a lawn that looks green all year without mowing. Grey porcelain and good-quality artificial grass were the answer. It is a typical project for our artificial grass in Sutton and patios in Sutton.
Before & after
The same garden, five days apart
The tricky parts
What went into it
Step by step
How we built it
Taking up the decking
The old timber decking was taken up across the whole garden.
Old decking being taken up in the Sutton garden 
Weathered timber decking before removal Preparing the ground
With the decking gone, the ground was prepared and levelled ready for the new patio and lawn.
Garden levelled after the decking was removed 
Prepared ground across the Sutton garden Weed membrane for the lawn
A weed membrane was laid across the lawn area before the artificial grass went down.
Weed membrane laid across the lawn area 
Membrane in place down to the garden room Laying the grey porcelain
The grey Universal Paving porcelain was laid outside the back of the house.
Grey porcelain being laid outside the house 
Porcelain patio taking shape by the back doors Artificial grass and finishing
The realistic 40mm artificial grass was laid from the patio to the garden room, and the garden was cleaned down for handover on day five.
Artificial grass laid down the length of the garden 
Finished artificial lawn next to the porcelain patio
The finished work
The finished garden
Budget
What it cost
This garden transformation came to £8,000 including VAT over five days: taking up the old decking, preparing the ground, the grey Universal Paving porcelain patio, the weed membrane and the 40mm artificial grass, with materials and labour. See our artificial grass in Sutton and patios in Sutton pages for other options.
Get a free quote- Price
- £8,000 inc. VAT
- Time on site
- 5 days
- Patio
- Universal Paving grey porcelain
Questions
About artificial grass and porcelain patios
Thinking about something similar? These are the questions we hear most.
How much does artificial grass and a new patio cost in Sutton?
John's garden in Sutton SM1 came to £8,000 including VAT and took five days, covering taking out the old decking, a grey porcelain patio from Universal Paving and 40mm artificial grass down to the garden room. The size of the garden and the products you choose make the biggest difference.
Does artificial grass look like real grass?
Good-quality artificial grass does. Mixed blade colours and a fuller pile, like the 40mm grass in John's garden, make it look like a natural lawn, and it stays green and even all year with no mowing.
What pile height of artificial grass should I choose?
Around 30–40mm suits most gardens. John's lawn uses a 40mm pile, which looks lush and natural while still being easy to brush and keep clean.
Can you replace old decking with a lawn and patio?
Yes. We take the decking up, prepare the ground and lay the new surfaces directly on a proper base, as we did in John's garden.
Why lay a weed membrane under artificial grass?
The membrane stops weeds growing up through the lawn from below, so the artificial grass stays clean and needs very little maintenance.
Is grey porcelain a good choice for a patio?
Yes. Porcelain is hard-wearing, resists stains and fading, and only needs a quick wash. Grey suits most modern homes and works well next to artificial grass.
How long does a garden transformation like this take?
John's garden took five days, from taking up the decking and preparing the ground to laying the porcelain and the artificial grass.
Do you work near Sutton?
Yes, including Cheam, Carshalton and Wallington. See all our landscaping in Sutton.
Free survey
Ready to transform your garden?
Tell us about your garden and we will arrange a visit and a written quote.
020 3633 5529 info@finelandscape.co.ukFine Landscape Ltd
31 Tylecroft Road, Norbury, London SW16 4BL
A little about your project
Free enquiry. No obligation.