Patio done professionally or DIY?

Enchantica

Hello all, new to this board but not new to MSE

Me and OH are on the ground floor of a block of flats and have a small front garden and smaller side garden (very much weeds at the side) and a privet hedge around the garden. We want it to be more low maintenance so would like it paved. Part of the reason is that we get harassed by local kids sometimes and we don't want to be out there a lot cutting grass because it attracts them to come over and bother us. Had the police involved etc.

Anyways, I am getting 3 quotes over the next two weeks and looking for a couple more. I believe paving is quite expensive as they will have to dig up the grass etc. I think it could be around £3000 That's just a guess though. Would it be at all possible for me and OH to do it ourselves or is it very much a specialist area? We have no experience of it. He isn't keen so think it would be me doing it! I just wondered if anyone had any advice? We live in Edinburgh if that helps. Maybe you can recommend a company.

Ebe_Scrooge

Quite possible to do it yourself. It's not difficult, just time-consuming. Top Tips :

1. Visit several suppliers ( Travis Perkins, Jewson, Wickes, B&Q, etc etc etc ) and haggle hard for the materials.
2. Spend plenty of time on getting the ground prepared / levelled correctly - if you get this right, the actual laying is relatively easy.
3. Consider which tools are worth hiring to make the job easier - for example, a cement mixer is an added expense, but mixing a large amount by hand is back breaking work. You'll probably need to hire a plate vibrator as well.
4. Plenty of tips on this site : http://www.pavingexpert.com/
5. Above all, allow yourself plenty of time, take it steady and there's no reason you can't make a great job of it.

Good Luck !

ormus

3k is very expensive. unless its a large area?
budget cost would be 50/70 quid per sq m.

DIY is a lot cheaper. an easy enough job.

dander

If the kids come over when you're mowing the lawn, they'll have a field day watching you lay a patio!

Enchantica

Thanks for the replies everyone and thank you for the link. I am going to see what the quotes are like and then have a think.

bobhawke

I laid my own garden path using information from paving expert.
Whether you can lay it yourself or not will mainly depend on the materials you are using and how fit you are. If you want a patio of 900mm x 600mm concrete slabs then you will need to be very strong and fit as they weigh about 65kg each.

wallbash

Reading this thread , I started to worry about the sheer physical strength
required.