Quick fix for crazy-paved patio?

[Aworryingtrend]

We inherited a large (6m by approx 12m) patio which is badly crazy paved, with cracks, splitting grout and mildew covered concrete. lovely. it's also not level, it slopes down towards the house.

Long-term (ie in 5+ years!) we plan to extend over part of this patio, so we don't want to spend a lot now only to build over it. However i can't live with the current paving for that long.

What would be the cheapest solution- would it be decking? Or would it be just as cheap to re-pave it if we get cheap patio slabs?

TIA

Snap. We intend to deck over it to raise the level .5m eventually. Am seriously considering gravelling over it to disguise it for now. Also intend to put a shed in one corner and break up another for a herb garden sooner rather than later and have recently done a few pots. We have a (rather sad looking) table and chairs on it too which will get pressure washed as soon as I've replaced our hose. Looks like a huge - and ugly - expanse at the moment.

Gravel is an idea, thanks Yomella. Not sure how I would stop the gravel going everyhwere though- at the moment the patio goes right up to the house with jsut a drainage channel separating it from the house, then right up to flower beds on 2 sides and then the fence at the end. Would you literaly just tip a load of gravel on or secure in some way?

I intend to put sleepers along the garden edge (one long edge for us) and then just tip it on (fence on the two short edges; house on other long edge). Am thinking water can drain down the cracks / missing grout as it currently does. (We haven't any drainage. Guess you could cover yours with chicken wire to be sure nothing blocks it.)