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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how long you would keep a patio before replacing?

27 replies

questiontimes · 12/07/2022 07:40

We have had our patio for over 10 years. The slabs are now dated in style, a bit discoloured, weeds often come through and although mostly level, has areas where they are dipping.

My view is that it is still fit for purpose and not worth the money and hassle of replacement.

My DH view is that we have had our moneys worth and it is time to improve the garden with a nicer style replacement.

AIBU to ask your view on how long a patio lasts before replacement?

OP posts:
katcatkat · 12/07/2022 07:43

My patio is 30+ years old I think that they should last a good way longer than 10 years especially if they were installed well.
Waste of resources and time to replace.

ohlookout · 12/07/2022 07:45

If the slabs aren't broken then I would just relay the uneven slabs and fill the gaps with cement, it's easy to do and doesn't cost much.

ShirleyPhallus · 12/07/2022 07:45

10 years doesn’t sound very long to replace it, have you tried pressure washing it to clean the tiles and get rid of the weeds?

JuneOsborne · 12/07/2022 07:46

Is there a halfway house here? Renovate your existing patio?

The cost of materials is insane ATM.

Post a pic of your existing and see if anyone has any advice.

Fwiw, I've just cleaned a sandstone patio up with pink stuff and a pressure washer. It's come up like new. You could treat the gaps with weedkiller or just burn them off and use a sharp tool to dig out between the slabs and then re-joint it. Which is easier than you think!

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 12/07/2022 07:48

I didnt know there were style trends in patios! You learn something every day on here.

It wouldnt be a high priority for us. You can level the uneven / dipping slabs and treat for weeds pretty easily but if you want to replace it and can afford to I'm sure a local buisiness will be grateful for the work.

dudsville · 12/07/2022 07:51

Waste not, want not, etc. If it's functional then it doesn't need replacing. Things grow up in the cracks, that's nature fighting its corner, not the fault of the patio.

Wilkolampshade · 12/07/2022 07:53

I'll bet you could renovate it and it would look great OP. A couple of new troughs and some fresh planting would be great...
We had this problem lately BUT the sheer waste of resources and CO2 emissions involved in concrete production and transportation is horrific. Re-use if you can with a good clean and some great planting.

Strugglingtodomybest · 12/07/2022 07:57

AIBU to ask your view on how long a patio lasts before replacement?

YANBU.

I don't know though. I suppose it depends on how long you want it to last. As pp have said, you can fix it up with new grouting etc, or, if you really don't like it, like your DH, you can replace it. It all depends on your priorities as to where you want to spend your money.

Riverlee · 12/07/2022 07:57

Can you improve what you have? Pull up the weeds, give it a good clean etc. Maybe get some nice pots with pretty flowers to brighten it up?

Londonrach1 · 12/07/2022 08:02

Until they slabs break as slabs don't break so around 30-40 years maybe 50. Depends. My sister just had building work Which meant due to the extension the slabs where the extension was had to be moved...they were 30 years old and still good so all were relaid, cleaned up and look as good as new. 10 years is very young but your house, you do what works for you

Original poster
questiontimes · 12/07/2022 08:06

I'm probably wrong about the style trends but I guess we just went with the cheapest slab at the time so looks like something the local council may use. Not fancy or anything. This is likely to be the main reason DH wants to replace. Due to the way that it looks.

Im glad the consensus is on my side so I'll push back to DH that we can improve elsewhere but not the patio.

Agree that sprucing up what we have is the best bet.

OP posts:
Zonder · 12/07/2022 08:08

I'd consider a patio of 10 years to still be pretty new!

HeddaGarbled · 12/07/2022 08:09

AIBU to ask your view on how long a patio lasts before replacement

Forever?

I’ve never had a new one, though I have repaired and cleaned where necessary.

It’s personal choice whether you and your H want a new one or not. You’ll have to keep arguing until one of you gives in 🙂

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 12/07/2022 08:11

Not something we've ever tried and I've only seen pictures of the result but look up 'painted patio' you may be able to transform what you already have.

drpet49 · 12/07/2022 08:19

”I guess we just went with the cheapest slab at the time so looks like something the local council may use. Not fancy or anything. This is likely to be the main reason DH wants to replace. Due to the way that it looks.”

^I would certainly replace it then.

bigbluebus · 12/07/2022 08:22

We've just had our 30 year old concrete slab patio and path replaced with Indian stone slabs. We have a 2nd patio which was built 10 years ago of Indian stone which was looking grubby, some of the slabs were loose and the grouting had come away. We had that one refurbished at the same time as the old patio replacement. I pressure washed patio 2 (not in the habit of doing this usually but the builder said it needed to be done to blast out loose grout) and was amazed at how new the patio looked after being pressure washed.

5foot5 · 12/07/2022 08:23

Get yourself a Karcher and give it a clean. I love my Karcher

DisplayPurposesOnly · 12/07/2022 08:28

If you replace your patio, put the old slabs on Freecycle (or similar). Someone will have them.

saleorbouy · 12/07/2022 08:35

I would view a patio as long term 30yr+. Sounds like you just need to do some maintenance.
Jet wash the slabs, lift the uneven ones and re-lay them on a mix of sand and cement.
Weeds can be kept at bay with some weed killer during the summer or just blow torch them.
Changing a patio after 10years is a bit extravagant.

FourChimneys · 12/07/2022 08:43

Ours is about 55 years old. No plans to change it in the foreseeable future. Weeds happen, a few minutes a week keeps them under control.

LunaTheCat · 12/07/2022 08:43

It depends a lot on how many bodies there are under it....

Superdoopas · 12/07/2022 08:46

Our patio is really ugly .. id love a modern one ! But it seems wastefu l to replace a functional one ( unfortuantely!)

WinterMusings · 12/07/2022 08:53

It's no different to replacing a coloured bathroom suite. It may still be functional, but that's not really the point is it. if you want something more modern, nicer & can afford it, then why can't your DH do it? Unless you also have an avocado bathroom suite...then priorities dear boy!!

70kid · 12/07/2022 08:57

Mines been in 20 years and it’s been repaired a big
but in a few weeks I’m having quite a bit of it repaired as it doesn’t need it all doing so slabs over the steps and at the edge where it meets the decking

LunchPoems · 12/07/2022 08:57

Is it concrete slabs? If so I think I’d replace them if you can afford it.

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