When we moved into our house 10 years ago, the garden was last on the priority list of to dos due to the massive renovation of the house. We have a beautiful yet simple garden but we’ve always had an issue with the dated garden slabs!
We decided to get a few quotes in the autumn of 2019 and wow, it seems paving your garden can be as expensive as buying a car!!! However, one benefit of lockdown (yes there is one) is getting creative and make do and mend with what you have!
The idea of painting garden slabs came in a form moi, I had a lightbulb moment. My husband had just finished painting the garden wall black and it looked incredible, I suggested painting our grim slabs grey after all this was the chosen slab we were aiming for and knew it would freshen and modernise the area.
Thankfully, b&q was operational, so we ordered via the click and collect service. We ordered 3 x 5l of masonary paint, a roller on a pole (this is good for painting decking too, next project) and 1 x 3l concrete floor sealant. The whole process was quite straightforward, after jet washing the area first, we then swept clean the slabs and then we were in a position to start rolling the paint on.
It’s important to note that you choose and plan with the weather in mind. Key factors are a couple of days that aren’t a) very windy, b) too hot c) and rain! This will ensure you get a nice even coat over the patio slabs.
We also decided to protect our freshly painted garden slabs with one coat of water seal. It protects the slabs and paint from the elements and it will extend the life of your new patio!
Now I’m not going to lie, it’s a daunting tasking, that does involve some back breaking work however the reward is worth the effort. We are so impressed and couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out, and all for less than £100!
Patio1: 2.5 m x 4 m – Patio 2: 2.5 m x 6m
Here’s what you will need:
3 x Masonry paint dulux weather shield concrete grey £22 ltr CLICK HERE
1 x kiln sand CLICK HERE
1x ready made cement CLICK HERE
1 x concrete sealant 3 ltr
1 x paint roller CLICK HERE
Roller pole CLICK HERE
1 x paint brush (for corners and edges) CLICK HERE
Sealant CLICK HERE
When your slabs are dry, it’s time to style and dress this area with your garden furniture, an outdoor rug, a couple of plant pots and a few lanterns and you’ve got yourself a new outdoor space that won’t break the bank and will bring you constant happiness throughout 2020….and don’t we need more of that!!!
The life of your Patio..
After leaving the sealant to dry overnight, we then swept a fine layer of kiln sand over the patio area and then added the ready mixed cement and pointed around each slab. This took a couple of days to complete but that’s only because my husband is a perfectionist and it wanted it done properly…we then sprinkled some water over the entire area and left it to dry over night. The next day we cleaned the slabs with a bucket of warm soapy water and a broom and viola, mission accomplished.
Hope you enjoyed my garden slab makeover. Do you want to try that idea or have you tried it already? Let me know. I would love to know your thoughts….
Love TGCO x
