New Patio: paving vrs pattern concerete vrs artieva

VjIjGjIj

Hello, I was looking for some advice. I will be Latin a new patio and path in the near future and I am researching for the best product to use. The area to be covered is 126m2.

The 3 optios of interest to me are : Rippon paving slabs, patterned printed concerete and exposed artevia.

As I know a limited amount of information about these options ( all from sellers ) id like to know if any body has patterned conceret or artevia and what, if any problems , they have had with it. As vie had paving slab before I know the pros and cons but with the other 2 I'm only aware of the benefits (as you can imagine) that the sales men have been telling me of.

Any info, advice would be greatly received.

Many thanks

SailorSam

With paving flags you always seem to get weeds growing between them, and that's where ants always seem to make their home.
When i've seen that patterned concrete often there seems to have a spray or painted shiney surface. Is that slippy when it's wet ?

VjIjGjIj

Yes I believe it can be slippery when wet but in order to reduce this it requires a coating of anti slip , as well as a sealer every 2 years. I believe the patterned concerete will be less maintainence then the paving slab ( but it is about twice as expensive ).

Apparently with the artevia there is little or no maintenance required and it is the cheaper of the 3 options ...it can be seen here :

http://www.artevia.co.uk/wps/portal/uk/5_1-Visualize_your_project

Although I do not think the finish will look as nice.

The artevia also seems to be the most resistant option , which to me , as it's the cheapest option , sounds a bit too good to be true. And as the sayin goes when something sounds too good to be true it usually is!

Sgt_Pepper_2

SailorSam wrote: »

With paving flags you always seem to get weeds growing between them, and that's where ants always seem to make their home.
When i've seen that patterned concrete often there seems to have a spray or painted shiney surface. Is that slippy when it's wet ?

Not when you point it.

rxbren

go for slabs or tegular block paving

concrete with patterns will look !!!! and will also have expansion joints ruining the effect at differnt sections

ali-t

I looked into patterned concrete at my last house and was put off by the reports of it cracking when frozen. There has been a couple of hard winters and from memory it was something to do with water getting in, expanding when frozen and it cracking like roads do.

It is also hard to touch up bits so any remedial work doesn't look great. I have never seen it anywhere or known of anyone first hand who has had it but the reviews online were enough to put me off

thebaldwindowfitter

i have had artevia from a company from these http://www.completedriveways.com/ the benefit of this is the colour is right through the concrete .I had it due to its low maintenance chose grey colour so doesnt show dirt either mine isnt shiny or slippy .I didnt want weeds growing through which you get with flags and block paying i just dont have the time

VjIjGjIj

Thanks a6windows. I was thinking of going for the grey concrete with the yellow gravell through it. However I am waiting on a sample from the suppliers of the finished mix when set. I very much like the dyed concrete , as these are the only laid examples I have seen...if stall possible I'd be really grateful if you has a pic you could post. Thank You