Can we redo our patio ourselves? level it and add decking/tiles etc

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We have a massive patio, and have just decided it really really does need doing. How hard is it to do ourselves?
a load of self levelling compound and then stick a load of decking etc on the top? (the click clack type)

Is this a mad idea. We dont want to pay £5 for it, and want it to be done quite soon, which is why I am wondering about just tripping off down to b&q...

G'wan, tell me I can

Well, you can, but do you know how to make sure you level it for good drainage and no puddles?

(I don't, which is why I had professionals in!)

Well no.... :) but how hard can these things be? Bit of string to check it is level, and then hope for the best?

Plastic decking will cover it all over anyway, and not rot will it?...

You can but it's tricky. You need to have a gentle slope to sort drainage and make sure it doesn't go into the house. If you are adding a compound and tiles to the top you have to make sure you don't go over the damp proof course.
We did ours and crumbled up the old patio as hardcore then sharp sand and concrete then patio slabs. It took five months of weekends in lockdown. So hard to measure get the slope right and it was back breaking work. Never again!
This time I'm paying someone £2.5k. it will take a team of strong people four days. I can't wait. I get that seems expensive but the raw materials retail price were nearly £2k so £500 extra for us seems worth it for five months of our lives!

Oh, also if you're using the clock clack type of plastic decking be ware as some discolours easy and the base needs to be very flat otherwise it will uncouple and don't forget it will expand on the heat and contract in the cold.

I don’t know but watching with interest as me and dd have decided to do our own patio rather than pay thousands for someone to do it for us. The bloke in B&q looked rather alarmed when Dd told him we were building a patio as we ambled in for a tape measure and a spade. He repeatedly asked us “and you’re doing it yourself”, “you’re not getting someone to do it for you”. 😂😂🙈

It depends how big of a job it is.

My lovely and very well meaning DH started doing ours in April 20 although it sounds like it was a much bigger job than yours. It's 72 square metres and was in 3 levels with grass and decking. Changing to 2 levels with paving.

I've got the professionals coming tomorrow to finish it within a week for me! It's not cheap though.

I did this in the garden of my first flat as had run out of money to pay anyone to do it. Never again! If you work full time I suggest taking annual leave to do it because a weekend won't be enough. The levelling is much more difficult than it looks, and that's what took the time.

You don't put decking straight on the ground though? It goes on a framework of joists which rest on plastic risers (so you have drainage)

before you start, wak round the house and identify the DPC.

Mark it on the wall with chalk.

your finished patio level should be at least nine inches below.

A very common mistake by numbskulls beginners is to add paving, concrete etc which raises the ground level and leads to damp.

Plenty of you tube videos and the like out there. Just don't skimp on the preparation and be ready for some hard work and for it to take much longer than you think it will.