WITH warmer weather on its way, many of us will be busy preparing our gardens for the summer months.
But anyone who’s ever tried to transform their plot will know just how expensive it can be, especially if you get professional help.
Ben Rogers’ garden was in desperate need of some TLC, but he was on a limited budgetCredit: Mylocaltoolbox.co.uk
Rather than get professional help, the DIY gardener transformed his patio himselfCredit: Mylocaltoolbox.co.uk
He even added a strip of blue lighting to the back gardenCredit: Mylocaltoolbox.co.uk
Ben Rogers discovered exactly this when he attempted to give his decaying garden patio a new lease of life.
Peterborough-based Ben, 33, was tired of his overgrown space cracking but didn’t have the money to pay for a patio installer.
But after some research on YouTube decided to give it a go himself and save thousands in the process.
Ben decided on the design, the materials he would need and worked out the time required for the project. He bought all the materials and equipment for around £3,000.
The project, which took around six weeks to complete, included excavating the ground, laying slate paving slabs, and building a decorative wall bordering the patio and garden.
Talking to My Local Toolbox, Ben said he got the inspiration for the outdoor wall lighting from Philips Hue.
He bought two 5-metre light strips and attached them to the underside of the slate coping
stones creating a modern and stylish look.
Advising those who want to follow in his footsteps Ben added, “Make sure you can acquire all the materials before starting and order them immediately, so no unexpected changes need to be made mid-project with materials not being available due to high demand or shipping issues.”
If Ben had employed a tradesperson to transform this 38 square metre space, it would have set him back around £8 -10,000.
However, as Ben did all the labour himself, the impressive outdoor patio cost him approximately £3,000, resulting in a massive saving of £7,000