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blocks or slabs and various types or reconstituted stone, are usually the least expensive and easiest to lay.

Brick pavers have an appealing domestic quality and come in warm, mellow colors as well as subtle blues and greys. You can lay bricks in a variety of patterns, including herringbone and basket-weave, and add an edging in a contrasting colour. Make sure you choose special quality types that are frost-proof ordinary house-bricks are not suitable. Brick-effect blocks are quicker and easier to lay and less expensive than individual pavers.

Loose materials, such as gravel, are less expensive than solid paving and easy to lay. Gravel is ideal for irregular shaped areas.

Natural stone slabs are costly, but attractive and durable. Investigate alternative sources, such as salvage yards, for cheaper reclaimed paving stones, granite setts or cobblestones.

Seasoned wood decking or large slices of tree trunk create an unusual and natural-looking garden surface.

For a natural look, grow soft cushioning plants between the gaps in the slabs or pavers. For an instantly weathered effect, douse the pavers or slabs with unpasturized milk this encourages lichen growth.

First ensure the ground of the patio site is firm. Lay hard materials such as concrete slabs over a bed of hardcore (crushed rubble) and mortar a layer of about 4 inches (10cm) of hardcore is sufficient. Settle bricks and paving blocks into mortar or sand bed about 2 inches (6cm) deep. Bricks or blocks laid in sand must be held in position by mortared edging.

Make sure the patio slopes slightly away from the house to allow water to run off. A gradient of about 1:60 is recommended. Check the patio surface is at least 6 inches (15cm) below any damp-proof course and ensure it does not cover any airbricks. If there is a manhole with the patio area, raise the cover height so that it is level with the new surface.

Learn more about this author, Janette Peel.
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