Guides
How Hard Is It to Build a DIY Patio Kit?
An honest read on the weekend ahead of you, including the parts people underestimate.
The short answer
For most people it is a weekend with a hand from somebody, not a trade skill. The work is measuring, digging, bolting and lifting rather than cutting or welding. The two parts people underestimate are getting the footings square and level, and lifting the roof sheets safely — neither is difficult, both are awkward alone.
- Typical build
- A weekend, two people
- Hardest part
- Getting footings square
- Needs a second person
- The roof sheets
- Skills needed
- Measuring and bolting
01
What the job actually involves
The steel arrives cut to length with the holes already in it. You are assembling, not fabricating.
01
It arrives flat-packed
02
Footings and posts
03
The frame goes up
04
Then the roof sheets
05
Flashing, gutter and downpipe
- Set out and dig the footings, then concrete the posts in and let them cure
- Bolt the beams to the posts, and the back channel to the house if it is attached
- Fix the rafters or battens across the beams
- Lay and fix the roof sheets, then the gutter and downpipe
- Check everything is square as you go, not at the end
02
The two parts people underestimate
Footings decide whether everything after them lines up. Ten minutes more with a string line and a level here saves an afternoon later.
Roof sheets are light but large, and a breeze turns one into a sail. This is the step where a second person stops being helpful and starts being necessary.
If you do one thing carefully, make it the footings. Everything else is bolted to them.
03
Tools you will need
Nothing exotic. Most of this is either in a home shed or a cheap day hire.
Tick as you go
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04
When to get somebody in
There is no prize for doing every part yourself. A few situations are genuinely worth paying for.
- A two-storey wall, or an eave you cannot safely reach from a ladder
- Ground you cannot dig — limestone, rock, or services in the way
- A boundary structure where the setback is tight and the council is watching
- Any point where you are not confident it is square and you have run out of patience
| What it takes | How many people | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting out | Patience with a tape and a string line | One is fine |
| Footings | Digging, and concrete you cannot rush | Easier with two |
| Frame | A drill, a socket set and bolts | Two, for the lifting |
| Roof sheets | Care in any breeze, and a head for ladders | Two, not negotiable |
| Gutter and flashing | Neatness more than strength | One, with a stable ladder |
DIY build questions
How long does it take?
A straightforward flat roof over a standard span is usually a weekend for two people, plus curing time for the footings before you load them. A gable takes longer because there is more to set out.
Do I need a builder?
For the assembly, usually not — the steel is cut and drilled and the plans show where everything goes. For anything at height, on difficult ground, or close to a boundary, getting someone in is a reasonable call rather than a defeat.
Can I build it on my own?
Parts of it, yes. The roof sheets are the exception: they are large, they catch wind, and doing that step alone is how people get hurt. Line up a second person for at least that day.
What if I get it wrong?
Most mistakes at the footing stage can be fixed before the concrete goes off, which is why it is worth checking square twice. Call us before you improvise — it is usually a smaller problem than it feels like.
Next step
Not sure a DIY kit is your kind of job?
Send your measurements and a photo of the spot. We will tell you honestly what the build involves for your site before you commit to anything.