"Get three quotes and pick the middle one."
Common advice. Also incomplete.
Three quotes are only comparable if they're quoting the same specification — the same materials, the same preparation, the same finish. In practice, the cheapest quote often achieves its price by cutting what you can't see:
— Thinner sub-base (the standard is 150mm compacted MOT Type 1 — anything less risks sinking within two years)
— Lower-grade materials that look similar on installation day but degrade faster
— Fewer preparation stages
— No contingency for unexpected ground conditions
A more useful approach: ask each contractor to quote against the same specification. Ask what sub-base depth they're proposing. Ask whether the price includes waste removal and site clearance. Ask what happens if they hit unexpected conditions.
From our family business working across Surrey for over 50 years, we've seen the results of quotes won on price. Patios that sink because the sub-base was 50mm instead of 150mm. Fencing that fails in the first storm because posts weren't set deep enough.
These aren't theoretical risks. They're the projects we're often called in to fix.
A responsible quote includes 10–15% contingency. Gardens involve digging, and digging involves surprises. An irresponsibly low quote doesn't account for reality.
📍 Surrey
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