Labour-only laying versus a turnkey paving job: how to decide

What is the difference between labour-only and turnkey paving?

The difference is who supplies the materials and who builds the layers under the pavers. With labour only, we lay blocks that you provide, or lay onto a base that is already built. With turnkey, we supply everything and build the full structure from compacted aggregate up to the sanded joints, so one contractor answers for the whole result.

Both rates are published before IVA, which is added at 21 %. The full details of each, including what they deliberately leave out, are on block paving cost per m². Neither rate includes removing an existing surface or disposing of rubble, which are quoted separately according to what is on site.

What does the labour-only rate actually cover?

The labour-only rate covers the work of placing the pavers and finishing the surface. That means setting out the pattern, laying each block, keeping levels and falls consistent, filling the joints and compacting the surface so the blocks lock together. It assumes the material is on site and the ground beneath is ready to receive it.

• Included: laying, levelling, jointing and compaction of the pavers.
• Not included: the pavers, aggregate, soil-cement, gravel bed material and kerbs.
• Typical use: material bought by the owner, or a base already executed by another trade.
• Kerbs: always priced as a separate line on labour-only jobs.

This is the rate most people mean when they ask about labour rates for patio installation or the labour cost to block pave a driveway. It is a genuine labour figure, not a teaser: if the base or the material turns out to be missing, those items are quoted separately rather than hidden inside the labour line.

When does labour only make sense?

Labour only makes sense when the expensive and risky parts of the job are already solved. If a builder has just finished a new villa and left a correct, compacted base, or if you have bought pavers to match an existing drive, paying only for skilled laying is the logical choice.

• You already own the pavers, for example leftovers from the original build or a specific stone you chose.
• The base exists and is sound, typically on new construction where another trade prepared it.
• You are extending an existing paved area and want an exact match with blocks you sourced.
• A community has bought material in bulk and needs only the installation.

The risk with labour only is that the result depends on what we are given. If supplied pavers are inconsistent or the existing base is weak, the surface will reflect it. We say so before starting, and if the base needs correction, that becomes an additional, clearly separate line in the quote.

When is turnkey the better choice?

Turnkey is usually the better choice for a new driveway, patio or pool surround built on existing ground. One contractor orders the materials, builds the layers, sets the kerbs and lays the blocks, so there is no argument about who is responsible if something is wrong. For owners abroad it also removes the need to coordinate deliveries.

• New paving where only soil, gravel or an old surface to be removed exists today.
• Owners who are not in Spain and cannot receive or check material deliveries.
• Jobs where the edges, kerbs and drainage falls must be designed together.
• Anyone who prefers a single price per m² that includes the full build-up.

The turnkey rate applies up to 150 m². For larger surfaces, such as community car parks or big villa entrances, an individual discount is studied for each case; there is no fixed figure for it. Driveway-specific design questions are covered on our sister site under block paved driveways.

How do the two options compare on a real area?

On the same area, the turnkey figure is always much higher because it includes everything under and around the pavers. The examples below simply apply the published rates; they are illustrations, not quotes, and do not include kerbs on the labour-only side or any extra items such as waste removal.

To compare fairly, add to the labour-only column everything you would have to buy yourself: pavers, aggregate, soil-cement, gravel, kerbs, transport and disposal of any old surface. Only then is the comparison like for like. For a rounded band on your own area, try the paving price calculator.

What hidden costs come with supplying my own material?

Supplying your own pavers shifts several tasks and risks to you. Someone must order the correct quantity, allow for cuts and breakage, receive the delivery, check it and store it safely. If the quantity is short, work may stop while more is ordered, and a new batch can differ slightly in shade.

There is also the question of the paver standard. Concrete paving blocks are covered by UNE-EN 1338 and the Spanish complement UNE 127338, and kerbs by UNE-EN 1340 with UNE 127340. When you buy material yourself, ask the supplier which standard the product meets and keep the delivery note; it helps if a question about the blocks ever comes up.

Finally, the base. Labour only assumes it is ready. If it is not, a separate base line is added, and at that point the job is moving towards turnkey anyway. The page what moves the price of paving shows how the base condition changes the overall cost.

How is each option organised on site?

The sequence of work is similar, but the starting point differs. On a turnkey job we begin with the ground; on a labour-only job we begin with checking what has been prepared and delivered. In both cases the area is measured before work starts, so the invoice follows the real surface.

1. Labour only: check the existing base for level, compaction and falls, and note anything that needs correcting.
2. Labour only: count and inspect the supplied pavers and kerbs, and flag shortages or visible defects before laying.
3. Turnkey: remove any agreed old surface, then build and compact the aggregate and soil-cement layers.
4. Turnkey: set the kerbs so the pavers have a firm edge restraint.
5. Both: spread and screed the gravel bed, then lay the pavers in the agreed pattern.
6. Both: fill the joints, compact the surface and refill joints where the sand settles.
7. Both: send photo updates at the key stages, so an owner abroad can follow the progress.

On labour-only jobs, the inspection at the start is the step that protects you most. It is far cheaper to discover a short delivery or a soft corner of the base before the first block is laid than after the whole surface is finished and the problem shows.

Which option fits repairs and renovations?

Neither. Sunken pavers and worn surfaces have their own rates. Lifting and relaying a sunken area with base correction starts from 30 € per m² plus IVA, and renovating an existing surface without replacing it is 15 € per m² plus IVA. Choosing the right category matters more than choosing between labour only and turnkey.

If your drive is sinking, the work is a base repair, explained in detail on lifting and relaying sunken pavers. If it is structurally fine but faded or cracked on the surface, a renovation may be enough. Send us a photo and the approximate m² – free, no-obligation quote, and we will tell you which category your job falls into.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Published paving rates (adoquines.eu)
• Technical conditions for concrete paving blocks – Madrid City Council
• Technical conditions for concrete kerbs – Madrid City Council