Uneven surface - no knowledge whatsoever! - Expert advice needed pretty please

[jeanniebeannie]

Hi there

I am at a complete lost as I know absolutely nothing about landscape gardening. I have a small london garden about thirty foot square with side access, with a large elm tree (i think it's elm) at the back of the garden. The old crazy paving is very uneven. It's ugly and unsafe. I would like to have a level safe surface. Initially I wanted indian lime stone and/or Indian LS with a small patch of grass. I've had a few landscapers visit but they have all given me different advice. Money is really tight at the moment so I've got to get it right. The most recent builder has told me that i can't have paving as it will become uneven again in a few years and suggested decking but I don't like decking. I just need to know how I can overcome the problem. HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!
PS. I live in a conservation area so lopping down the tree is not an option (by the way, I didn't plant the thing!)
Big thanks to anyone who takes the time to respond. It will be very much appreciated.

[Carberry]

Post some pictures and a budget so we have an idea of what we're working with.

Decking usually looks terrible in this country, need to go to America or Australia to see good examples of decking.

Paving done right won't become uneven in a few years, the builder probably doesn't know how to pave or has some left over decking to shift or something.

[Pablo]

yup a picture and a budget would be a good start for us. The tree is an issue and if it's an elm then it's very rare. The beetle that kills them doesn't like sea air so the remnants of the species are usually in coastal areas. If it's still a youngish tree and growing quickly then it may disturb paving thats to near to the trunk.

[London Stone Paving]

Paving done right won't become uneven in a few years, the builder probably doesn't know how to pave or has some left over decking to shift or something.

Sounds about right. Its amazing some of the yarns we hear on a daily basis. I recently spoke to a client who had been told that she needed to lay her Indian sandstone patio on sand to allow for future movement.

Get some photos up and we can give you the right advice hopefully

[lutonlagerlout]

well in a way they were right steve because there"will " be future movement
when the granite blokes fitted the granite on a job for me the other week i asked why they hadn't put the customary bead of silicon on top of the carcasses
the boss replied " we do it afterwards from inside in case you ever need to move the worktops"
what a bu*&&%£%%er!
the biggest slab weighed over 200kg,no one is ever going to want to move that
LLL

[London Stone Paving]

well in a way they were right steve because there"will " be future movement

Hell of a lot more if theyre laid on sand though Tony