Shocked - paving prices. Ideas?

aliasojo

I've just been severely shocked to discover how much it will cost to pave an area of 8 mtrs x 6.7 mtrs in riven type slabs.

Anything from £920 - £1600 for the slabs alone depending on make.

Can't afford that, but want to get rid of the 'utility' 3' x 2' slabs we have just now as the garden looks a bit too much like a builders yard and not enough like a nice back garden.

Any ideas? Must be practical, cant go back to grass as the garden is heavy clay soil which never got much sun so the grass was more a boggy weedy mess. Dont really want those cheaper textured (jabby) slabs as youngest would without doubt rip her knees to shreds on them.

None of us are keen gardeners so upkeep has to be minimal, hence the slabs.

dander

What about just taking up some of the current slabs to break up the effect a bit, you could take a couple up here and there and use as planting pockets, stick something like thyme or lavender in the holes, which are smallish, evergreen and pretty low maintenance. You could also take a couple up and put some different hard landscaping in there, that would just brighten up the effect - maybe a bunch of pebbles or decorative chippings.

Bungarm2001

Would imprinted concrete be any cheaper?

I was going to suggest gravel, but thats a definite no-no with small kids.

Doozergirl

Bog standard block paving? I think you can pull that in for £10 a metre.

Laying it is something else!

novelli

you could maybe buy some moulds for paving slabs and make them yourself, its very easy and much cheaper.
this is what i have done, now in the middle of doing another area. you can get really nice molds and also colour the concrete.

rdpro

I got some good tips from http://www.pavingexpert.com/home.htm

...but in the end I opted for decking because of the ground levels abutting my house

aliasojo

Thanks everyone.

Useful link rdpro, thanks.

I did think about printed concrete but it seems that's almost as costly and I dont think we'd have any good contractors around here to lay it anyway.

Not sure about the blocks idea, 2 friends have this and in one garden, the blocks have started to move and she has allsorts growing in between now so obviously badly laid in the first place I would have thought. The other garden is fine but she says she would replace with slabs if she had the choice.

For various reasons, I'll not be thinking of making them myself but that's a good idea for others who maybe have less stressful circumstances than mine right now, lol.

I've got a recommendation for a man who laid my neighbour's slabs and he's done an excellent job at a very reasonable cost so I really just want to buy something and phone him to lay them.

I may have to end up lifting the existing slabs, relaying them properly and hiding them with pot plants. They're not exactly a plus on a buyer's check list though, should we sell up. :rolleyes:

rdpro

Mine's split-level patio - I'm currently breaking my back digging out the lower tier for decking (it's too high against my back house wall - damp-proof course - because the previous owner just laid new patio over old whenever he got bored with the view!)
The upper level is old and wonky but I'm just going to re-lay it and give it a good scrub/pressure wash to brighten it up again, and maybe lay a single 'posh' edging of slate around the border to smarten it up.

jellymid

Have you tried freecycle to see if anyone is getting rid of any - it's amazing what you can find! Our neighbour has just had a new conservatory and all their slabs went in the skip ... such a waste.

System

whatever you do do it quickly because ive heard from autumn you will have to but down paving that is pourous[and probably more expensive !] and may need planning permission.

aliasojo

Planning permission for paving!!!! OMG the world's gone mad!


Edit: Just found this....

http://www.paving.org.uk/pdf/572-732-DEFRA-garden-press-release.doc


Planning may be required for paving that is NOT porous, apparently.

Should also add this is for England.

I'm in Scotland. Nah nah nah nah nah...........:rotfl: