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Need some inspiration/ideas please.
Back of house, ugly concrete about 4 x 7m with cracks, it's about 7 or 8 cm thick. It's very old concrete and not cracked or moved further in the many years we have been there. Just walking on, no vehicles. Finally planning to do something about it this spring. Would like to extend out a couple of metres for seating.
Options? Thought about prepping for re-surface with that concrete skim stuff over the top and joining new laid extension bit, or dressed gravel finished, or wooden decking (a bit 90's and slippery when wet), rip it up and start again with maybe proper stone paving patio. Slight concern is how anything is finished next to house as it's very old with no damp course so wary of raising level and need to make sure water runs away from it. Expect usual comments about patios, state of garden, Orange Juice etc
Any thoughts appreciated.Cheers
it’s about 7 or 8 cm thick
are you certain on that? Removed one similar at the inlaws - it was 600 mm in places! Luckily my mate had all the tools but it was still a lot of concrete to move to a skip!
Best option would be to rip it up and lay some stone paving. That's a fair bit of work and cost but it will look good once done. For water management just make sure it has a slight fall away from the house. Pretty simple. When I did mine I hired a crusher and all the bits of old path became the sub-base for the new patio. Saved getting a skip and carrying the old stuff out and the new stuff in. That was part of a larger project and I crushed a load building waste as part of a kitchen extension and workshop build. Probably not cost effective for a little job. Very satisfying though.
If you put some 'concrete skim stuff' over the top the cracks will come through and crack the 'skim stuff'
Have a look at http://www.pavingexpert.com/home.htm or get a copy of his book
Thanks for advice, taking it all up looks like a lot of work but probably best in the long term. It is about 7-8cm when you dig down around the edges but I guess could be a lot thicker further in. I'm getting too old/lazy and never seem to have enough time which is a factor now so maybe I'll get some quotes to get it done, proper stone paving is my prefered option. Pics to follow when starting to finish
patio over the top of it
Although I bet that didn't work with no toolbar and no preview...
Third time lucky?
Break it up and use the crushed concrete for your sub base as suggested above.
Hire the right kit and it'll be very rewarding for you.