The patio surface is only part of the price
The proposed area and selected material matter, but a patio estimate also needs to account for what is already there. Removal, access, preparation, drainage, edges, steps and restoration can change the work substantially. Two patios with the same dimensions may need different construction.
Compare a simple footprint with a connected renovation
A patio on a straightforward site is a different proposal from a patio tied to a deck, multiple levels or an outdoor kitchen. Keep the main surface, adjoining features and optional work separate in the estimate. That makes it easier to see where a larger scope is changing the total.
Use dimensions without mistaking them for a price
A 20-by-20-foot rectangle has 400 square feet of area. That measurement helps describe a footprint; it does not establish a Minnesota market price. Curves, borders, material layout and the surrounding work still need to be defined.
If a contractor provides an allowance, ask what it includes and what information is still needed before it becomes a quote. This article does not report verified Landscape Charlie project prices.
Read two estimates against the same list
Check removal, preparation, product selection, borders, drainage, transitions and restoration. Identify design and approval responsibilities, allowances and exclusions. Compare the proposed schedule and payment terms as written rather than assuming they are the same.
Choose priorities before cutting the scope
Start with the way you want to use the patio. Furniture space and a useful route from the house should inform the footprint. Discuss optional features or phases with Landscape Charlie while keeping necessary construction and drainage in the defined project.