Dilemma........HELP!

[Susie Snowdrop]

I've just been down to the builder's merchants to order terracotta tiles so that we can start to get the garden finished for the summer!

Imagine my horror...................they've doubled in price since last November . There is no way on earth now that we can afford to match these up with the others.

If you look at the pics, you'll see the tiles that are already laid. What would you put on the remaining level instead of these tiles?

Please help





Susie x

[Spruance]

How about riven paving of the type you can get from Wickes Susie?

Alternatively, and for a temporary solution, what about using masonry paint to create a 'tile' pattern on the unfinished area? You could easily make templates based on the existing tile patterns, then it would just be a case of matching the paint colour. This would still leave you the option of adding 'real' tiles at a later date.

[Susie Snowdrop]

Crikey Spru............you've gone all artistic on me I love your ideas ..........and there's a but..........but..........rather than trying to match it up, and getting it horribly wrong, I was thinking more of a contrast of materials and/or colour. Do you know what I mean

S x

[Deleted]

What about decking? I think it would look lovely with your tiles and raised beds

[Susie Snowdrop]

Yeah, I thought about decking but wasn't sure whether or not it would work

S x

[beejay]

Is it possible for you to part tile, then it links in with your lower area, & then gravel (or some type of matching/blending aggregate) on the rest of the area?

[Deleted]

What about buying a few bags of those small coloured stones you get from Garden Centres, can't remember what their proper name is ( few minutes later)I've just gone and checked and found it on one of the bags - Green Slate Scree. Hubby bought a few bags of these green ones but there are all different colours. He mixed them with some ridiculously cheap large bags of grey lime chippings @ £1.99 for a 25kg bag from our local GC, and the effect is rather nice.

[Chuckles]

Decking is OK Susie but can get very slippery if you have a lot of i in one area...IMO. Like the sound of beejays idea though

[Susie Snowdrop]

You lot are just brill

The only problem I have with loose stones is that the base is solid concrete so, unlike soil-phormisol-gravel, they won't bed in and so make it pretty awkward to walk on and they'll move around easily, especially when I'm all glammed up on a weekend

I think I'm leaning towards the decking but feel that it's a cop out

S x

[roxann57]

Susie, I have to agree with Beejay as i think you need to carry on with what you started with. Maybe if you could buy enough of the matching tiles to make a stepping stone path meandering around your beds and fill the rest with gravel or you could cement in pebbles.

Have you tried elsewhere for the same kind of tiles?

[4pygmies]

My OH is a tiler and he has made a little patio area for us with all sorts of oddments and different tiles - with similar colours except for little odd bits he's put in for fun - I really like it and it soon becomes nicely grubbyed in! (Can't think of the technical term - PATINISED!). And it was very very cheap too ;D.

[Susie Snowdrop]

I realise what you are all saying about tying in what has already been done. I've tried getting the tiles elsewhere but it's the same story...........around £2,000 to finish the area and, believe me, it's not a big area .

I really don't want to use gravel if I can help it, the area is used all of the time, giving access to parking at the back. All of our friends and family use the back entrance and, with various types of footwear, gravel just isn't really an option. We also do alot of outdoor entertaining during the summer months so really need something flat and sturdy to sit a table and chairs on and various other seating

S x

[Susie Snowdrop]

If I did use decking but tiled around the edges of the walls like I've already done on the pic, do you think that would work?



S x

[Chuckles]

Could you do a mix of some of the original tiles and intermingle with something cheaper like full sized slabs in a contrasting colour and then maybe pull in some of blocks of colour with the wall tiles. It must be very frustrating

[Susie Snowdrop]

OH, I just don't know Chuckles . Another sleepless night on the way

I'm just worried that if I try and put too many different tiles, slabs, gravel etc into a small area it will just look crip and far too busy

S x

[isabella]

Susie , We have the same paving from the front of the house to the back - it is made up of several different sizes and looks really good. The paving looks weathered - can't remember the name at the minute but it was from Bradstone and comes in several colours - I think one of them would tone with your beautiful tiles.
If you had some pots the same colour as your tiles it would tie it all in

This is probably a load of nonsense - your garden has such a lovely feel to it

I think ours is called Old Town -Google Bradstone

Best Wishes Pam

[isabella]

Another thought - you could pick out the colours of your tiles on your raised beds in pots

[Jonah]

Hi Susie
I'm quite a fan of the random paving idea too. As Spruance said Wickes are pretty good, I've struggled to find somewhere cheaper. looking at your design, which to me looks quite modern with a hint of continental, I think a light coloured slab would work well. They have a range called buxton, [myself I am going for the grey hamilton, real budget one that one, but we've used it before and I actually quite like it.] You could go for the random paving look or, even choose all rectangular slabs and place them in a running bond style [is that right, like a brick wall? ] You could fill all the awkward gaps around the outside with a gravel to match in.
actually I think that range comes in a grey now, not seen it close up, but that could work too.
I'm waffling a bit aren't I? ;D

[Susie Snowdrop]

Thanks again, will get OH up early in the morning to discuss further

All of your ideas are fab...............wish I had a bigger garden

S x

[Chuckles]

Those slabs isabella has are rather nice with being all different sizes, looking at her first photo I could just imagine that mix of sizes and maybe those two smaller oblong ones being replaced with your teracotta tiles from your other area, it would all tie in lovely. And with a few coloured and teracotta pots dotted about too it would look fab.

Good luck with whatever you decide

[Susie Snowdrop]

Oh gawd....................can you draw it

S x

[Chuckles]

I think it would need to be drawn Susie ;D to get the correct slab sizes to fit the area you have......sorry

I can picture it done though ;D ;D

[Susie Snowdrop]

I've just had an email from Mrs Boss and she's said she can get me decking at cost price .................now what do I do apart from blow the whole garden up and start again

S x

[Chuckles]

Bear in mind decking can get very slippery Susie in wet weather. As you say most of your visitors come through the garden I'd get some other opinions from people with decking before you decide

[isabella]

Sorry,Susie but I am not a big fan of decking

[lottielady]

Snowy darling I fear you will not be happy with any alternative other than terracota. Would it be as expensive if you had mostly square ones and had the lozenge(?) shape either as a border along the edges or as a pathway to the gate? At least it will be the same colour. If it was me I think I'd let it take a little longer to save up the dosh and keep to the original design. You have worked so hard on it and it would be a shame not to have as you planned. In the meantime keep buying the lottery tickets!



LLx

[isabella]

Well said LL The terracotta tiles look great in Susie's garden and go so well with her raised beds

[Barbara]

cant you make a template by drawing round your other tiles, then you could rub it (the pattern) with that red polish stuff. and still buy your tiles a few at a time, as you can afford them,
is this making any sense