Care Home Garden and Sensory Garden Surfacing

Last updated October 2026

Play and Sport Surfaces lays the paths, terraces and soft surfaces that care home and sensory gardens are built on, for care homes, nursing homes, extra care housing and day centres across the UK. Resin bound paths have been quoted at about £154 per m2, permeable bound surfaces at £60 to £100 per m2, and play-grade artificial grass at £40 to £60 per m2, all excluding VAT. The work is planned around residents’ routines, so the garden stays usable for as long as possible.

In a care home garden the surface decides who can use it, so level, even and glare-free paths come before any planting.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Care home garden surfaces, UK, excluding VAT, 2026

Surface	Use in the garden	Typical price	Source	Confidence
Resin bound (decorative, permeable)	Main paths and loops	about £154 per m2 (21 m2 path)	Cuckfield Parish Council quote, 2021	Medium
SUDS-compliant bound surface	Paths and terraces where water must drain through	from about £60 to £100 per m2	Abacus, May 2025	Low
Artificial grass (play grade)	Lawn areas that stay green and dry underfoot	from about £40 to £60 per m2, before ground preparation	Redlynch Leisure, 2026	Low
Rubber grass mats	Soft edges beside lawns	about £21.81 per m2 (102 m2)	Wickham Market Parish Council, 2022	Medium

What surfacing does a care home or sensory garden need?

Firm, level paths that link every part of the garden, a terrace or seating area wide enough for wheelchairs and walking frames, and softer surfaces only where residents will not need to walk unaided. Planting, raised beds and sensory features are the garden designer’s job; we lay the ground they sit on.

If you are starting from scratch, bring your designer’s plan to the survey so the surfacing quote follows it.

Which path surface suits residents living with dementia?

A matt, even surface in one consistent colour. The Sensory Trust’s guidance on dementia-friendly gardens says uneven or slippery surfaces can stop people visiting at all, that reduced depth perception makes changes in level harder to see, that eyes become more sensitive to glare from shiny surfaces, and that steps should have high-contrast nosings. It recommends non-reflective materials for hard surfaces.

Resin bound aggregate gives a matt, seamless finish without loose stones, which is why it is the usual choice for care home paths. Choose a blend that contrasts with the lawn and borders but stays even along the path itself.

Resin bound or resin bonded for care home paths?

Resin bound, for walking routes. Bound surfaces are smooth and permeable; bonded surfaces have loose stones scattered on resin, which suits driveways and anti-slip strips more than frail walkers. The resin bound vs resin bonded guide compares the two on price and drainage.

What does a care home garden path cost?

For a typical path of a few dozen square metres, budget around £150 per m2 for a resin bound finish on a sound base, as the Cuckfield quote shows, and less for a plain bound surface. Ground works, edging and drainage move the final figure, and the survey prices those lines separately. You can try colours and areas in our resin designer before you ask for a quote.

Can the work be done while the home is open?

Yes. The garden is worked on in sections, with the working area fenced off and a clear route kept to every door residents use. Your manager agrees the hours and the delivery route before the start, so mealtimes and visiting times are not disrupted.

Will the new paths drain, or will puddles form?

A permeable surface on a permeable base lets rain soak straight through, so puddles do not form on the path itself. Where the ground beneath cannot take the water, the quote includes drainage. Resin bound surfacing explains permeability and the base it needs.

Can you surface a lawn that residents can use all year?

Yes, with artificial grass laid on a prepared base. It stays dry underfoot after rain, which suits residents who struggle on wet or muddy grass. Artificial grass for schools and play areas covers shock pads and maintenance.

What’s included

• Survey of levels, existing paths, doors and drainage
• Written quote following your garden plan
• Removal of old paving or surfaces as quoted
• Base, edging and the new surface
• Drainage where listed
• A final walk of every route with your manager

What’s not included

• VAT, shown separately
• Planting, raised beds, furniture and sensory features
• Handrails, ramps and lighting, unless listed
• Garden design: we work to your designer’s or manager’s plan

Illustrative example

Built only from the table; not a real job. A care home wants a 40 m2 loop path in resin bound aggregate and 30 m2 of artificial grass beside it. At about £154 per m2 the path comes to roughly £6,200, and the grass at £40 to £60 per m2 adds £1,200 to £1,800 before ground preparation, so the budget starts at about £7,400 to £8,000 excluding VAT.

Who does the work

Play and Sport Surfaces is a WeDo Property Services service. Alex Winser runs your garden project from the first visit to the final walk-round, keeps your manager informed each day, and the installers lay the surfaces.

FAQs

Do you design sensory gardens?

No. We surface them, working to your designer’s plan or to a layout you agree with us on site.

Can paths be wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass?

Yes. Tell us the widths you need and the quote follows them.

Is resin bound slippery when wet?

Ask for a slip-resistant blend; your quote names the aggregate and finish.

Can you match an existing path?

Often. Bring photos and we compare blends at the survey.

Is VAT included in care home prices?

No. VAT appears as a separate line on the care home’s quote.

Sources

• Sensory Trust, How to design a dementia-friendly garden, read Oct 2026
• Cuckfield Parish Council, Horsefield Green footpath report, May 2021
• Abacus, Daily mile track costs, surfaces and installation guide, May 2025
• Redlynch Leisure, Artificial grass, May 2026
• Wickham Market Parish Council, Play area report, Aug 2022