gravel instead of horrible paving - yes or no?

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I have the world's dullest, nastiest paving slabs in my v small town garden. Paved space is 4m x 5m, small planted borders around the edges, edged with lovely victorian edging tiles.

I don't want to do anything too expensive, so no major hard landscaping, but am considering putting gravel over the paving. Then lots and lots of pots.

Any thoughts on this? I know it might be a bit sharp underfoot but the bigger (20mm)style isn't too bad and it's such a small space we only sit out and ds potters, it's not a space for whizzing round on bikes or anything.

Can you not just add lots and lots of different sized and colured pots onto the paving?
If you put loads on you will hardly see what is underneath.

hmm I could, but will still see the paving as I will need to leave some space for table and chairs, gardening etc. and believe me it is horrid. dirty yellow-y grey-ish things. and that's even if they've been cleaned. Wickes special about 20 years ago I think.

If you have small children, gravel is like a magnet. They will distribute it everywhere you don't want it. And I'd think you'd need quite a lot of gravel to fill the space.

What about old brick? We have a courtyard that has paving that looks like cobble setts, but is actually blocks (ie not individual cobbles but larger squares made up of cobbles, iyswim). I'm not sure what they are called, as they were in situ when we moved here, but they look great and will presumably be much easier and cheaper to lay.

Is it possible to paint patio slabs?

If you get gravel only get the big stuff or you will have cats digging in it.

argh cats hadn't thought of that - was pretty much resolved to do the gravel thing - sett type slabs much more expensive and I did think paint but reckon that will end up looking terrible.

thansk for the input!

How about slabs but with some missing so you can grow shrubs in them?

Gravel is a weed haven unfortunately, its also a total pain to walk on and you will have it moving around if its on top of paving I think.

I don't think you can paint paving slabs as it will wear off.....

Are you going to stay there long ? It would really be better to change the slabs :o

look scroll down

ooh brilliant link, don't you love all the doubt about it !

You can get masonry paint with uv filters in it and i'm sure that would do