Paved areas, patios and driveways are much sought after as they add value and style to homes. In today’s economic climate people are looking for more ways to cut back and save money, so attempting DIY paving not only offers you a great reduction in cost, but there are other things to take into consideration too. It’s not all plain sailing however, there are some downsides to doing it yourself, which I’ll try to make clear.
Here are the main reasons to consider DIY paving:
- Building your own driveway or patio will save you money paving contractors near me on labour costs, which make up for around 70% of a professional pavers costs.
- It is something you can learn, there are books available to teach you and the satisfaction of completing a job yourself is amazing.
- Materials are readily available throughout the world; you can order all you need for the job in one go.
- You get to learn something new and create something for yourself and your family.
- All the tools you need can be bought or hired.
Here are the main downsides to DIY paving:
- No guarantee on the work you have carried out, for example, if it doesn’t drain water correctly you could be in trouble.
- You have a steep learning curve and will have to carry out your own research into methods, techniques and materials.
- Cutting stone blocks is difficult and can be costly if you make mistakes.
- You need to apply for planning permission if your paved area is not permeable and is over 5 square meters.
- Reliability of workmanship; ie, if you’ve never done it before, it might not look to great when it’s finished.
- The job may take a long time to complete; companies usually have 2 or more pavers working on any one job.
Conclusion: If it’s coming down to finances, then you should consider DIY block paving, you can always pave a small area first to test your skills. If money is not an issue, then a professional block paving contractor would be the best choice, but make sure you pick a reputable, experienced company.