What do we look at first when your photos arrive?
We start by deciding which kind of job it is, before looking at any detail. Is the surface sinking, is it worn but stable, or is it broken or missing altogether? That single decision chooses the rate: repair from 30 € per m², renovation at 15 € per m², or new paving at 84 € per m² turnkey or 16 € per m² labour only, all plus IVA.
Sometimes the answer is not what the owner expected. A message asking for a driveway to be painted may show photos of clear dips along the wheel tracks. In that case we say so plainly: a coating would not fix the problem, and the quote is prepared as a repair, with an explanation of why. Getting the category right matters more than anything else in the quote.
How do we read each photo?
Each photo answers a specific question, and we go through them in a fixed order so that nothing is skipped. The wide shots give the shape and the borders; the access shots tell us how materials and rubble will move; the close-ups tell us about the surface and the base.
- Wide shots: the outline of the area, the borders and whether the square metres you gave look right.
- Access: gate width, steps, slopes and distance from the street, which affect handling.
- Edges: existing kerbs, walls, planters and thresholds, and whether they can stay.
- Damaged zones: the size of dips, cracks and loose blocks, judged against the object you placed for scale.
- Water: stains, moss lines or puddles that show where water collects or runs.
- Fixed objects: manholes, gullies, tree trunks and downpipes inside or next to the surface.
If one of these questions cannot be answered from the pictures, we write back asking for that specific shot, for example 'a photo of the gate from the street side'. Taking one more picture is usually easy for an owner or a property manager, and it avoids a visit that would only confirm one detail.
How do we decide which extra lines to add?
An extra line is added only when a photo shows a reason for it. If there is an old concrete slab to remove, the quote gets a demolition and rubble line. If the gate is too narrow for small machines, the handling is reflected. If the drive slopes towards the garage, a drainage line may appear. Each one is explained in a short sentence.
Where something cannot be known until the old surface is open, typically the condition of the base, the line is marked conditional. It has its own agreed price and is charged only if the condition is actually found. We would rather show you that possibility in advance than surprise you with it later. The article items often left out of paving quotes explains why this matters.
We do not add lines for things outside our work. Town hall procedures, community approvals and technical projects are not ours to price, because we execute the paving rather than designing or authorising it. If one of them looks likely to apply, we mention it so you can check.
How is the quote written and sent?
The quote is written in English for English-speaking owners, with the Spanish term in brackets where it helps, for example bordillo for kerb or zahorra for the compacted aggregate. Each line shows its unit, quantity, unit price and amount. The total is shown as net, IVA at 21 % and gross.
- Category of work and the matching published rate.
- Area, labelled as measured or estimated from photos.
- Main line: area multiplied by the rate.
- Separate lines for demolition, rubble, kerbs, access or drainage where the photos show they apply.
- Conditional lines, clearly marked, with their agreed prices.
- Net total, IVA at 21 % and total including IVA.
The quote goes back by email or WhatsApp, whichever you used. If you want to see the structure in advance, the published rates are on block paving cost per m² and what a paving quote includes. You can reply with questions on any line.
What do owners usually ask at this stage?
The questions that come back after a quote are remarkably consistent. Most are about certainty: which parts of the figure could change, and why. A few are practical, about being away during the work. These are the ones we hear most often, with the answers we give.
- 'Will the price change after you measure?' Only the quantities can change; the rates stay as quoted.
- 'What if the base is worse than expected?' Then the conditional line applies, at the price already shown.
- 'Do I need to be there?' No, as long as someone can open the gate; photo updates follow the work.
- 'Is IVA included?' The quote shows net, IVA and total separately, so you can see both.
- 'Can you take the old surface away?' Yes, it is priced as its own line where it applies.
- 'Do you deal with the town hall?' No; we can describe the works so you or your gestor can check the procedure.
We also get asked, quite often, whether the six websites in this network are separate companies. They are not. All of them are run by the same self-employed contractor in Marbella, and the prices published on this site are the ones used in every quote.
What happens if you accept the quote?
Before work starts, the area is measured on site and any conditional items are confirmed or ruled out as soon as the old surface is opened. If the measured area differs noticeably from the one in the quote, you are told the corrected total before we continue. Nothing is added without being shown to you first. If you want to try the process now, the guide quote from photos and m² lists the shots to take. Send us a photo and the approximate m² – free, no-obligation quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first thing you check in my photos?
The type of job: sinking, wear or a broken or missing surface. That decides whether the quote uses the repair, renovation or new paving rate. Getting this right matters more than any detail, because each type of job has a different price per m².
What if my photos do not show everything?
We ask for the specific missing shot, such as the gate from the street or a close-up of a dip with a shoe for scale. One extra photo usually answers the question and avoids arranging a site visit just to confirm a detail.
Why does my quote have a conditional line?
Because something, usually the base, cannot be judged until the old surface is opened. The conditional line has an agreed price and is charged only if the condition is found. It shows the risk in advance instead of adding it later.
Is the quote written in English?
Yes, for English-speaking owners. Spanish terms such as bordillo or zahorra are added in brackets where they help you compare with Spanish quotes. Each line shows unit, quantity, unit price and amount, and the totals show net, IVA and gross.
Do you add lines for the town hall paperwork?
No. We execute paving works and do not handle licences, responsible declarations or technical projects. If a procedure looks likely to apply, we mention it so that you or your gestor can check the town hall ordinance.
Can the price change after you measure on site?
Only the quantities can change. The rates stay as quoted. If the measured area differs noticeably from the area in the quote, you receive the corrected total before work continues, so you can confirm it.
Do I have to be on the property during the work?
No. Someone needs to open the gate and give access on the agreed day. During the job we send photo updates, so owners who are abroad can follow the progress and ask questions as it goes.
Why did you quote a repair when I asked for painting?
Because the photos showed sinking, and a coating cannot fix a surface that moves. Quoting a renovation in that case would waste your money. The quote explains the reason, and renovation can follow once the base is stable.
Are your six websites different companies?
No. All six are run by the same self-employed contractor based in Marbella. Each site covers a different part of the work, and the prices published here on the price site are the ones used in every quote.
How do I send the photos?
By email or WhatsApp, together with the approximate area and the municipality. Mention what you want done and whether the property is a villa, townhouse or part of a community. The quote returns by the same channel.