hi
any suggestions as to what I can do to make my gardens look more presentable (I don't want to keep grass, kids/dog will always make a mess of it) on a budget?
the front is the priority
pls see pics below
You got those cracking gates and you want to go cheap? For starters saving money by throwing down old pallets etc is never going to look anything but a mess. I guess have it all covered in gravel for a cheap finish but do it properly.
Thanks for the reply
Gates I put in before I split with my ex... and lost my business
However I go custody of my kids, which is rare for the dad to win the case and got a new improved girfriend but funds are very low
Pallets/flags are a temp fix to stop the damn dog traipsing mud into the house so badly, he patrols up and down across the length of those gates/railings.
Someone has suggested gravel before, but I'm reluctant as I've previously had loose wood chippings and the dog churned them up.
I don't have a set budget so to speak I just need to be very economical.
If I had to put a figure on it about £800
I know PIC and Artificial grass are expensive both £60 per sq m
So far...
- Gravel/small pebbles has been sugested as a cheap option - however I still don't know what sort of price per sq m it will cost
- Is there anything creative that could be done with tarmac??? So it's more asthetically pleasing than just a black slab
- Paving slabs or block... I've not really looked into that yet. Any guestimates on what the sub base type material would cost to cover about 30m2?
Other suggestions welcome
JohnOvManchester wrote:I don't have a set budget so to speak I just need to be very economical.
If I had to put a figure on it about £800
I know PIC and Artificial grass are expensive both £60 per sq m
So far...
- Gravel/small pebbles has been sugested as a cheap option - however I still don't know what sort of price per sq m it will cost
- Is there anything creative that could be done with tarmac??? So it's more asthetically pleasing than just a black slab
- Paving slabs or block... I've not really looked into that yet. Any guestimates on what the sub base type material would cost to cover about 30m2?
Other suggestions welcome
Could border the tarmac with monoblocks, think there is a photo of that somewhere on the main site.
30m2 at 150mm of type 1 would be 9T. Check whatever price you get locally but willl probably be between total of £180 - £270
Could go cheaper and put down 100mm which would be £120-£180.
That would be about all you could put down though after the cost of digging out and disposing of the waste.
You could try gumtree or freecycle, see if anyone is getting rid of any building materials, maybe make something out of them.
Not many options is better than no options and I must be able to do something.
I think I may end up doing it myself - which might allow me to use nicer paving.
I have put down, hardcore and sub-base for a hardstanding (concrete slab at the side of the house) so I get the basics, just not very confident and would have to hire the cutting tools and whacker plate etc.
Would slate chippings or tumbled padlestones need a sub-base?
£800 is a miniscule budget
maybe concrete a parking area and path ,rip out the rest and turf or gravel
kids will be kids and grass is kinder to them than gravel
dogs need walking,not let in the garden for a doggy doo
LLL
lol I'm aware that i don't have much money!!!
no... he's a big dog, he loves it outside not going to keep him out of the garden which is why I said I don't want to keep it grass (it's certainly not just for doggy doo!!!)
OK - concrete more, hmmm as a last option
Some sort of gravel and paving design seems to be the solution
if you were tarting the place up to sell ,slate chippings would be fine,but no good for kids and dog
you really need to measure the areas then sit down and draw it and work from that
concrete is by no mean cheap neither is tarmac
I dont feel your remit can be achieved by you ,me ,or superman for £800,no disrespect but if you are adamant on letting the dog and kids out it wont work
maybe someone else has a brainwave but i cannot see it
LLL
nothing personal but if I had an animal making that much mess of my garden I know what I would be doing ???
£800 would be no where near enough money if you bought the materials and paid for a skip and even did all the work yourself, that's if the work is done to the correct procedure that is
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With all due respect lads, I'm going to have to try something - can't stay muddy with random pallets n flags
I might have a mate who might sort me out with some MOT1 mates rates, skip not needed I'll jack hammer the existing concrete out and and use it as hardcore for the back garden, same with the mud.
Reasonable paving seems to be about £20 per sqM - so £20 x 30m2 = £600 that would cover the intire front.
I'm thinking either do that, pave the lot...
...Or Block edge, 1 slab paved border block edge again. Same to make a path from gate to front door. Then 20mm Slate chipping the x2 square areas left.
Kids are older now, 12 and 14 so won't mess up the front, the dog will be fine on a hard surface.
I think you are right though, pen and paper to plan it out.
Yes, I am just tarting it up... don't intend on staying here long term, but will be for the next 12 months or so.
and got a new improved girfriend but funds are very low