I didn’t want to pay for a new patio so transformed my old one using a £23 Wickes bargain – people say it looks ‘unreal’
AFTER a very long wait, the warm summer weather seems to have finally arrived – hurrah!
But if you’re looking to transform your garden patio before hosting friends and loved ones for a BBQ this sunshine season, then you may just want to listen up!
Rather than forking out thousands on professionals, one savvy single mum has revealed how she managed to give her patio a complete new makeover all by herself – and all while on a budget.
And perhaps the best part of all? She simply used a £23 bargain buy from Wickes to do it.
Taking to TikTok (@mummybudgets), Charlene Woracker posted a snap of her worn-down patio, which was in desperate need of some TLC and a lick of paint.
It was easy to paint, I just used a fence paint brush – didn’t take long at all
Charlene Woracker
“Doing DIY jobs on a budget as a single mum,” she begins.
Charlene then goes onto explain how she didn’t want to buy expensive slabs so decided to paint over the ones she already had instead.
Sharing a snap of the £23 ‘Wickes Textured Masonry Paint’ she used in black, she continues: “Got this paint for £23 on offer from Wickes.
“It was easy to paint, I just used a fence paint brush – didn’t take long at all!”
The paint, which is suitable for exterior application on everything from brick to pebble-dash, is a super quick and easy way to give your outdoor haven an instant refresh.
And what’s more is it’s formulated to give long-lasting, 15 year all weather protection – making it the ideal choice for the unpredictable British weather.
Plus, the product description notes: “Our formulation protects against UV, dirt and mould growth, with excellent performance that resists flaking due to the flexible formulation.”
Clearly delighted with her handiwork, Charlene enthuses: “Looks so much better,” followed by a love heart eye emoji.
She adds: “Cleaned all the furniture and put everything back – getting more confident with these DIY jobs”
It wasn’t long before the post garnered quite the response online, with several quick to commend Charlene on her very impressive DIY achievements.
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.”
“Looks unreal!” one person praised.
A second enthused: “Love!” followed by a love heart emojoy.
Meanwhile, a third commented: “Smashed it – keep going girl!!! Worth looking into adult learning too.
“I just did a 6 week woodwork course helps with DIY.”