Once you've decided you want a new patio or carport, the next big question is who's going to build it? You can hire a patio builder to handle everything, or you can buy a DIY kit and build it yourself. Both are good options. The right one depends on your budget, your skills and how much time you have.
Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.
What you get with a patio builder
A builder usually handles the whole project: the design, the approvals, the materials, the build and the clean-up. It's the most hands-off option, and it suits people who:
- don't have the time, tools or confidence for a building project,
- have a complicated site, such as a steep block or a multi-level home, or
- want one company to take care of everything from start to finish.
The trade-off is cost. With a builder, you pay for the materials plus the labour, the builder's overheads (vehicles, insurance, showrooms and sales staff) and their margin. Labour alone can make up a large share of the price of an installed patio.
What you get with a DIY patio or carport kit
A DIY kit gives you every engineered component you need to build the structure yourself. Our kits include the roof panels or sheets, beams, posts, brackets, cappings, gutter, downpipe, fixings and concrete for the footings, plus a roof plan, engineering and an installation manual.
DIY suits people who:
- are comfortable with tools and have built things before,
- have a helper or two for the heavier parts of the job,
- want to keep their budget under control, and
- like the satisfaction of building it themselves.
Because you're only paying for the kit, the savings can be significant. Our patio and carport cost guide shows real kit prices by size and style. For example, a 6 x 4m insulated patio attached to the house starts from $5,750.
DIY kit vs builder: side by side
| DIY kit | Patio builder | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | You pay for the kit only | Materials plus labour, overheads and margin |
| Your time | Usually a few weekends, depending on size and experience | Very little |
| Skills and tools | Basic building skills, common tools and a helper | None needed |
| Approvals | You arrange them, using the engineering and plan we supply | Often handled for you |
| Design | Choose your exact size, style and colours online | Designed with the builder |
| Timing | Build when it suits you | Fits around the builder's schedule |
How hard is it to build a DIY patio kit?
If you can use a drill, read a plan and work safely on a ladder, a DIY kit is very achievable. Many of our customers have never built a patio before. Every kit comes engineered, with most components cut to size. Some cutting on site will still be required, and the installation manual walks you through each stage.
The main things to be ready for are:
- Working at height: fitting beams and roof panels means time on ladders or scaffolding.
- Lifting: beams and long panels need at least two people.
- Accuracy: posts need to be plumb and footings set correctly, so take your time with the setting out.
Before you start, read our guide to the 7 DIY patio and carport mistakes to avoid.
The middle ground: buy the kit, hire a tradesperson
You don't have to choose one or the other. Some customers buy a DIY kit and then pay a local builder, carpenter or handyman to install it. You still choose your exact kit, and you avoid paying a full builder's markup on the materials.
What about council approval?
Whichever way you build, your patio or carport may need approval. Requirements vary from state to state and between councils. With our kits, we supply the engineering, a Form 15 and a plan of the kit you've ordered, and you arrange the approval through your own private certifier. Our council approval guide explains how it works.
So, which should you choose?
- Choose a DIY kit if you're handy, have a helper and want the best value for your budget.
- Choose a builder if you'd rather not do the work yourself, or your site is complicated.
- Choose a kit plus a tradesperson if you want to pick your own kit but don't want to build it yourself.
Every one of our kits is bespoke, so you can choose the exact size you need, and it's backed by manufacturer's warranties of up to 15 years on selected products (warranty periods vary by product). If you have questions about building it yourself, call our team on 1300 156 381.