Removing the deck and frame
The old deck boards, railings and the frame underneath were all taken out before the dig-out started.
Case study · Bexleyheath DA7 · March 2025
Buff porcelain patio replacing an old deck in Bexleyheath
Joanna's back garden in Bexleyheath had an old raised timber deck right outside the back doors. We removed the deck and its frame, dug the whole area out, built a Type 1 base compacted in layers and laid buff 60x90 porcelain on a full sand and cement bed, with every tile primed on the back. Eco drains connected to the manhole, a new recessed manhole cover and concrete edging finished it off, with the patio kept 150mm below the damp-proof course. Four days, £6,320 all in, including VAT.
- Location
- Bexleyheath, DA7
- Client
- Joanna
- Price
- £6,320 inc. VAT
- Time on site
- 4 days
- Paving
- Buff porcelain, 60 × 90cm
- Drainage
- Eco drains to the manhole, recessed cover
Where we started
The brief
Joanna's garden in Bexleyheath had an old raised timber deck with railings outside the back doors. It had come to the end of its life, and Joanna wanted a clean, level patio that would be easy to look after.
Laying straight over the old ground was not an option, so the whole area was dug out and rebuilt from the base up, with drainage planned in. It is a good example of the patios in Bexley and Bexleyheath we build.
Before & after
The same garden, before and after
The tricky parts
What went into it
Step by step
How we built it
Taking out the old deck
The raised deck, railings and frame were removed from outside the back doors.
Old raised timber deck with railings before removal in Bexleyheath Full dig-out
The whole area was dug out and the rubble removed, ready for the new base.
Garden dug out after the deck was removed 
Clearing rubble during the dig-out in Bexleyheath Priming and laying the porcelain
On the compacted Type 1 base, each tile was primed on the back and laid on a full sand and cement bed, kept 150mm below the damp-proof course.
Priming the back of a porcelain tile before laying 
First buff porcelain tiles laid on a full mortar bed by the back doors Drainage, manhole and edging
Eco drains were connected to the manhole, a recessed manhole cover was fitted and concrete edging installed.
Recessed manhole cover being set into the porcelain patio 
Porcelain tiles going down across the patio
The finished work
The finished patio
Budget
What it cost
This project came to £6,320 including VAT, all in: removing the old deck and frame, a full dig-out, a Type 1 base compacted in layers, buff 60x90 porcelain primed and laid on a full sand and cement bed, eco drains connected to the manhole, a new recessed manhole cover and concrete edging, over four days. See our patios in Bexley page for more options.
Get a free quote- Price
- £6,320 inc. VAT
- Time on site
- 4 days
- Paving
- Buff porcelain, 60 × 90cm
Questions
About replacing a deck with a porcelain patio
Thinking about something similar? These are the questions we hear most.
How much does it cost to replace a deck with a porcelain patio in Bexleyheath?
Joanna's job in Bexleyheath DA7 cost £6,320 including VAT, covering removal of the old deck and frame, a full dig-out, Type 1 base, buff 60x90 porcelain on a full mortar bed, eco drains, a recessed manhole cover and concrete edging, done in four days.
Why must a patio be 150mm below the damp-proof course?
If paving is too close to the damp-proof course, rain splashing off it can wet the wall above the DPC and cause damp inside. Keeping the patio 150mm below it is the standard guidance.
Why prime the back of porcelain tiles?
Porcelain absorbs almost no water, so ordinary mortar does not grip it well. A primer slurry on the back of each tile creates the bond that stops tiles working loose.
What are eco drains?
They are linear drainage channels set into the paving. They collect surface water along their length and carry it to the drainage, here the existing manhole.
Can a manhole cover be hidden in a patio?
Yes. A recessed manhole cover is a tray filled with the same paving, so it blends into the patio but can still be lifted for access.
Do you build patios near Bexleyheath?
Yes, including Bexley, Sidcup, Orpington and Chislehurst. See all our landscaping in Bexley.
Free survey
Ready to swap an old deck for a patio?
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
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