Victorian tiles for my footpath

[MissPollysTrolleyed]

We live in a Victorian terrace with a 2.5 metre long footpath leading to our front door. We're selling up next year. One of our neighbours has laid tiles along their footpath and it makes a huge improvement to the appearance of the house from the street so we'd quite like to do the same but don't want to spend a fortune.

Is it possible to do this on the cheap? We will try reclamation yards but Topps Tiles and others don't seem to do outdoor tiles. Is anyone aware of any other cheap options?

[PigletJohn]

Have seen it done but they are slippery in rain, frost and ice. I wouldn't.

[PigletJohn]

p.s.

You could use Paving bricks but you need a really good furm base or they will become uneven and move. Have you got gravel now, or concrete, or slabs?

[MissPollysTrolleyed]

We have concrete now but would like something like this

[CurlsLDN]

I don't know anything useful, but a lot of the houses round here have this and dh and I think it's a really beautiful feature. We often discuss the dream house and a path like this always features! I agree that if you can do it for a reasonable price it will really improve kerb appeal

[wowfudge]

If you are going to sell and providing the current path is in good nick, I just wouldn't bother. There are probably other things the money would be better spent on if you are trying to sell.

[VestaCurry]

I think there are cheaper ways to create 'kerb appeal' if you are looking to sell. Is there anything surrounding the concrete? A front garden?
Tell us a little more.

We did a lot of work over a number of years to a listed Edwardian house, always keeping in mind the thought that if something unexpected happened and we needed to sell quickly, we could.

[MissPollysTrolleyed]

Sorry, I disappeared there!

We have a small concrete front "garden" that we've covered with slate. Our house is in a terrace of small-ish Victorian houses. Ours has lovely sash windows and a nice front door but some on the street are fully UPVC'd up so it's a fairly average looking street.

We'll be repainting and buying more plants (in pots) before putting on the market but think that the tiled path would really enhance the kerb appeal. I guess we should probably get quotes for the work and then see if we can get some cheap or reclaimed tiles.

Our house is in really good nick internally and we'll give it a lick of paint inside too before marketing it but we have a few Calpol and other permanent stains on the cream carpet outside the kids' rooms. Would the money be better spent on a new carpet than a tiled path (or put aside for a new carpet in the new house?).

[HortenMarket]

We used reclaimed Victorian tiles to do this to our last house and they were great. Not at all slippery and the guy that installed them did a fab job. That said we got the tiles free from a friend who had his path relaid. To buy reclaimed tiles are more expensive than modern copies if you try to buy cheap ones. Our neighbours did it with cheap copies and theirs looked too bright and were definitely slippery. Or you have to spend a truck load buying the ones made in the same way they did 100 years back, so its not a cheap project. I would leave the paving and sort the carpet inside.

[nobutreally]

We have just bought a house with a lovely original path & I do love it - but I don't think it's something I'd feel would get you a return on investment if you are looking at selling soon. As others have said, lots of other ways to improve your curb appeal. I'd replace the carpet (or do a really good steam clean?) & put the front garden money into pots and nice plants. We have a pair of standard olives and they definitely fit the Victorian house front look. Not cheap, but you can take them with you!

[burnishedsilver]

If you are planning to sell perhaps ask a local estate agent if they think it would add value.

Tbh it sounds like your house doesn't need anything other than carpet cleaning before going on the market.

Personally I love the tiles but the next owner might choose to rip them up.

[MissPollysTrolleyed]

Thank you, this is helpful. I think you're probably all right though in saying that we might not make the return on our investment.

For a good steam clean of carpets, do you Rugdoctor or go professional?

[traviata]

we replaced a similar path, and it cost a blooming fortune - over £4k.

[burnishedsilver]

I've used the rug Dr a few times and thought it was very good. However I recently had chemdry do the carpets and there's no comparison. The professional clean was a much better job and it dried way quicker.