Some unsolicited advice.....a few years back we replaced our concrete patio with pavers. Turned out beautifully and in general we have been very happy. But.......not sure what if anything you currently have in place but a paver patio drains VERY differently than a concrete slab. Slabs are built with a slope for run off. A paver patio is flat, with drainage through the seams. You will also get moss and other plant growth in those seams that will need to be physically removed annually (they make a nifty little tool for that). Moss X, etc is only a very temporary fix. And you can't pressure wash a paver patio because you'll blow the sand out of the seams. I had given thought to a stamped concrete design (to look like cobblestones/pavers) but lazily thought it would be too expensive so I didn't pursue it. In hindsight I think the price would have been in the same ballpark as the pavers. We had the stamped concrete at our last house and it was great stuff. Anyway.......just wanted you to be aware of what you will be experiencing. I'm always tickled with how my patio looks when I get it cleaned up, but it is a process. And it is much more involved than simply pressure washing concrete. But they sure do look nice when they are all spiffed up......
I've considered just poured concrete too, but I feel like I'll get a better resale on the house with pavers. Luckily my family is bringing a tractor over from central Oregon in May and I'll have some time with it to dig it to proper depth and make sure drainage is addressed. I am interested in that tool though, because cleanup is definitely a concern. They sell it at my local Ace, I imagine?
This is an example. You can also get them (or similar) through Home Depot, Amazon etc. But make damn sure you're ordering the long handled version. If you end up with the 16' handle you'll spend a great deal of painful time on your knees.......the wire brush wears out after a year or two but they're a handy little toy. I now have a routine where starting March(ish) I'll go out for a bowl, and then spend some time "picking seams" while I "air out" before going back in. By the time the warmer weather rolls around in late April or early May, the seams are all cleaned out and the patio is ready to be cleaned with 30 Seconds (great stuff. Makes the pavers look brand new). It's not a one day project, unless you're a serious glutton for punishment........ https://www.zoro.com/bon-tool-bon-2...h-1-12-wire-with-16-handle-21-168/i/G1840773/ Edit. Oops, thought I was sending the link to the longer handled one. Sorry. But Bon sells them both.
All in all, turned out pretty well. This past spring we were able to host a bridal shower for our daughter in our backyard with the gazebo as a central feature. (I also built a few large picnic tables that came in quite handy) Unfortunately it also doubles as a workshop as often as not (especially in winter), so right now my table saw, miter saw, and quite a bit a sawdust render it not photo worthy. But 3 1/2 years in it's still solid and functional, and most importantly it makes my wife happy.
Some unsolicited advice.... It's much easier to pull up a few pavers and hide the body than it is to pour a slab over one.
Pouring a slab is easy, it's breaking one apart that is hard. Also, whatever method you use,. remember to tell the kids the doggie is now getting to run free on a ranch in upstate New York
