Purchasing Patio slabs or Decking

psbrett

Hi, I'm looking to purchase around 40sq meters of patio slabs as I feel decking is a bit pricey. How much would I expect to pay for both slabs and decking as a rough comparison guide and also the best place to purchase them.
Will probably go with slabs but it's good to get an idea.

Hintza

Search gumtree for slabs. You will be amazed at what crops up.

Canucklehead

psbrett wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking to purchase around 40sq meters of patio slabs as I feel decking is a bit pricey. How much would I expect to pay for both slabs and decking as a rough comparison guide and also the best place to purchase them.
Will probably go with slabs but it's good to get an idea.

For slabs, see here....best paving site on the web.;)

Meadows

psbrett wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking to purchase around 40sq meters of patio slabs as I feel decking is a bit pricey. How much would I expect to pay for both slabs and decking as a rough comparison guide and also the best place to purchase them.
Will probably go with slabs but it's good to get an idea.

Really depends on what finish you want, if you want a basic slab or a quality one that looks good.
Do watch dome of the cheaper slabs as they hold the moisture and can be very slippy underfoot especially when they get weathered and a bit slimy. Same with the right type of decking.

Google and you will find many options and offers and then look for what suits your budget and they desired effect you want.

cyclonebri1

There are some good options for natural stone paving for about £13/sq mtr.
Ok at that price it will be imported from India but if you can live with not being too green then it's an option and does look far better than paving.

Talking about "green", no mater what material you choose it's going to need some maintenance because it will go green, at least with slabs or stone it's only a bucket of bleach that needs chucking at it.

psbrett

Hintza wrote: »

Search gumtree for slabs. You will be amazed at what crops up.

Not 40 sq meters


Thanks cyclonebri1, that's exactly what Im look for at the moment. Is the Indian stuff good then?

Bradden

Indian Sandstone varies greatly in quality. For DIY users I recommend calibrated as it is evenly thick and therefore much easier to lay than the cheaper slabs you often see advertised.

cyclonebri1

Calibrated will cost much extra I'm afraid, nowhere near the price I stated.
Plus if laying a patio the thickness doesn't really matter, it is taken up in the bedding, only the top face has to be true.

This stuff is usually quoted as being from say 25 to 40mm thick, easily accomodated.

No one really knows how long it will last, it only having been around us for 15 years or so, since India got going, but I've had some as wall copings for 10 years now and is totally unaffected by frost so far.
It's stone, simple as.

I have contact details for a guy I've used in the east midlands, pm if you need them.;)

Regarding quality, I understand it is all mined from 1 region in India, the differing colouration varying with the depth rather than location of the quarry

yangptangkipperbang

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Talking about "green", no mater what material you choose it's going to need some maintenance because it will go green, at least with slabs or stone it's only a bucket of bleach that needs chucking at it.

Stone is easily cleaned with fresh water from a pressure washer. Don't use a pressure washer on manufactured slabs, it removes the top surface and they get much dirtier - much quicker !

cyclonebri1

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

Stone is easily cleaned with fresh water from a pressure washer. Don't use a pressure washer on manufactured slabs, it removes the top surface and they get much dirtier - much quicker !

So use bleach????

Pressure washers remove the top surface from anything, including your skin.

The idea of cleaning IS to remove the top layer?????????

Innys

Bleach will kill living things like algae/moss but it won't clean the dirt away.

A pressure washer with the patio cleaner attachment is a better compromise