What would you put down if replacing a really old patio?

[nowwearefour]

Our patio is very old and very minging! We would like to replace it! We have no money at the moment so either looking for something cheap or something perfect we can save up for. Ideas on either welcome! it is very large (around 8 metres by 15 metres) which isnt helpful (but is very nice!). Any ideas welconme ! My dh is thinking of brick a bit like this www.pavingexpert.com/blocks.htm but i'm not sure!

this type of effect

Put bricks around the outside and then gravel inside - place black sheeting down under the gravel and plant lavender

is it concrete, or old paving slabs?

is the surface cracked, uneven, or dirty?

How thick is the base? (you will have to dig a small hole next to it to find out)

Look for the damp-course in your house walls. It should be at least two courses higher than the patio or ground. Is it? You must not lay a new surface any higher than that, so may have to dig out the old.

it is old paving slabs making up the patio. the ground is totally uneven so it will all need removing and there is a step which we will want levelled out. it is a bit higher than the garden below it so we want steps all the way around so wherever you are in the garden you can always access it. the damp course appears to be quite a bit higher at the back of the bhouse= but soemone had put the driveway on top of it when we arrived at the side/ front so we had to dig a channel around the house to make sure it was all ok again!

we use the patio a lot for kids scooting/ riding bikes so it needs to be a firm surface really

it sounds like you probably have slabs on sand or earth. That will be fairly easy to dig out. I like concrete but many people prefer the look of slabs or paving bricks. I have pavers and they do suffer from moss and weeds in the joints, and when ants dig out the sand, they sink.

If you are having steps all round I am sure you will need a retaining wall

ooooh piglet. interesting re retainnig wall. what does that mean? something to hold the surface in? at the moment we have a wall all round with just one set of steps but it is in teh wrong place. and this is going to cost somethign significant i reckon so dont reallty want ants digging it up an making it look rubbish again!

if you have a piece of ground which is higher than the adjacent ground, it will tend to slump towards the lower. A wall holds it in place. You mention steps so there is a height difference. The retaining wall can almost certainly be integrated into the steps design.

If I was having paving bricks again, I would have them set on concrete or at least a drylean mix to prevent ants tunnelling it up.

You might like to look at bonded gravel, which is like gravel mixed with glue, so the stones do not get kicked about but IMO it looks very attractive.

that makes sense. soudns expensive though! i will look up bonded gravel.

I don't know much about cost but I am interested in tiles on my new patio.

My exes body as a foundation!
Sorry I have no actual help but I couldn't resist!