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The answer to this comes down to personal choice. You can paint patio slabs although the counter question would be why would you want to? Using a premium acrylic base paint will priovide you with a hard wearing painted surface but do you want your outdoor area to look like a factory floor?

Whilst an old concrete patio may have its top surface chipped away revealing a difference colur beneath this should be the time to replace your patio rather than painting it.

When selecting a replacement clearly budget will be a consideration but we can discuss a staged approach to replacing your patio if that will enable you to get a brand new patio in place.

This is not a practice we are fans of. We do know many DIY approaches will simply lay paving slabs on the existing surface with little or no effort made to create a proper sub base. However, even for something like a base for a garden shed having pavers on a base which can move or wobble will place extra strain on the structure of a shed and if the movements are too much can cause damage to your shed.

We will alsways favour setting down an appropriate aggregate base follwed by a smooth sand layer to ensure each block or paving slab is flat and will not move when weight is applied on any part of it.

Whilst we will install decking as part of our landscaping services most people would prefer to have a patio where possible. 

A paved patio is much more durable and hard wearing and requires little maintenance other than a quick powerwash and sealing every few years. Whilst composite decking can compete in maintenance it does provide a different character and appeal to that of a patio.

Patios are much more subte and natural, which will depend to a large degree on the choice of paving stones. However, depending on budget and in particular for a garden which is on a steep slope decking can provide a much cheaper installation option as it can be errected on stilts to provide a flat entertaining area with moving much ground. As patios need to be fitted onto flat ground you make need to remove a lot of earth befor you have a suitable flat area to start building a patio and this will add a significant amount to yout total install costs.

Yes, if you select an appropriate paver. Generally speaking paving suppliers should label their products as to whether or not they are suitable for driveways. A determining factor will be the thickness and material of a paver as to whether or not is would be suitable for a driveway. Clearly block paving is ideal for both but when using slabs it is extremely important to have a solid flat base for a driveway. Once you have this you should always select a driveway grade slab and this can be used across the front and back of your property.

Any recommendation will depend on the level of dirt and the material of the patio. Whilst most people will turn to a pressure washer in the first instance this can cause damage to the joints if not used carefully.

The best approach is prevention rather than using a pressure cleaner as this normally a very messy cleaning process. 

By applying a patio cleaner on a regular basis following sweeping with a stiff brush you should be able to prevent the build up of moss and agae. Sealing evey few years will provide further protection and should negate the need to pressure wash cleaning.

Yes - in fact it is one of the best ways to set off a patio and will enable you to create a very peronal look. It is increasingly common for smaller pavers such as block paving to provide the edging to a patio but even within a patio you can use one type of material to create a feature area. For example surrounding a marble or porcelain area, which is where your seating and outdoor tables are positioned surrounded by slate will provide a striking patio and a practical one too. Having a slightly rougher 'non-slip' paver used for the main walking area whilst using a smoother paver where seated is a very practical option as well as aesthtically pleasing.