We couldn’t afford a new patio so transformed our ugly slabs using B&Q buys – people are stunned at the results
TRANSFORMING your garden can be really expensive, not to mention stressful, but a woman has done it on a budget and made it look easy as pie.
Maxine Daniel shared her garden patio’s transformation on Facebook recently.
Posting the video to her profile, she said she and her husband John didn’t have the cash to completely rip up the slabs which were already down.
This is why they decided to paint them instead.
“This is our makeover of our patio and garden,” she said.
“We didn’t have the budget to replace the stained old paving slabs, so we did a bit of research into masonry and patio paints, and this one came out top.”
The clip, shared on Facebook, shows her and John weeding the patio and giving it a jet wash.
They put down an acid etch to clear up any ingrained dirt and help the paint go on smoothly.
Maxine then used a smaller paintbrush to get the edges and a roller to get the bigger areas of the patio.
The couple also painted the gates and garage walls, getting rid of the purple one already there, which she said was “old.”
“After power washing the paving, we then applied an acid etch to get the best result from the patio paint.
“It then took a few coats of black to get rid of the old purple on the gates and a couple of coats of masonry paint on the garage walls.
“We also painted and planted up an old window box. We are so pleased with the outcome.”
People took to the comments to praise the transformation, which she also shared on the Gardening on a Budget Official Facebook group.
“Looks great, job well done,” wrote one person.
Another said: “Beautiful, it all looks so amazing what you have achieved.”
“Wow. Such a difference. Looks great,” commented someone else.
A fourth penned: “Now this is a proper DIY…….Fabulous!”
“Absolutely stunning,” a fifth said.
How to repair broken patio slabs
THE paving specialists at Simply Paving told Fabulous how you can repair broken patio slabs, without the faff.
The experts advised: “If you have a loose paving slab, then it’s unlikely it can be lifted straight by hand. Instead, you will probably need a hammer and chisel to prise the paver free of your patio.
“To remove loose paving slabs without damaging your flagstones, carefully chip away at the mortar around the paving slab with the plugging chisel and rubber mallet until the slab comes completely loose.
“Then, slide the spade into the gap left by the mortar and prise the paver free of the patio.
“As you lift it up, place a short piece of timber underneath the spade to act as a lever, making it easier for you while protecting the slab underneath.
“When the paver starts to give, place the cylindrical wood underneath it and roll the slab out of the patio.”
The paint they used was Polar Patio Floor Paint in the colour Light Grey.
You can grab it for £50 for five litres online from B&Q.
Replying to someone who asked about the paint, Maxine penned: “The reviews from people who’d had it down more than a year were brilliant, that’s why we went for it.”