Sooooo, I am back. What a learning process this has been. But progress is being made and we are thrilled. Some updates to the plan........and of course up up updates to the budget. We have spent/committed $148,000 so far. I can give a breakdown of expenses if anyone is interested...we have had to delay the outdoor renovation for the time being. Here is the work we have accomplished (or are going to accomplish). All of this is included in the $148K except where noted. BATHS Rip out 3 and a half baths down to studs, remodel using Home Depot marble tiles in full baths (12 x 12 on floor, combination of 2x2, 6x6, and subway tile on walls. (to ceiling), Glass tile accents and borders. Slate floor in half bath. Kohler Archer tubs & toilets, etc. Restoration Gramercy Marble top vanity in two bathrooms, Restoration mirrors, Restoration Hardware lighting. Custom glass shower enclosure/door in master bath. Salvaged vintage sink and toilet in Full bath-YAY!, savings!. Kohler sink and toilet in half bath. KITCHEN Rip out entire kitchen (14 x 17) to studs. Install BR-11 Wenge floor 5 inch width.. Move plumbing and electric to accommodate new kitchen design. All Viking appliances: 36 inch stand alone freezer (floor model), 36 inch stand alone Fridge (floor model), 30 inch wall oven, 24 inch wall microwave with trim kit, Dishwasher, 36 inch cooktop. Shiloh inset shaker cabinets and center island painted polar white. Cabinets will consist of base cabinets, wall cabinets and additional set of glass cabinets above wall cabinets, to extend to ceiling. Minimal pull outs and special features (we couldn't afford any special features!!) Honed marble tops on counters and island, in either Imperial Danby or Carrara (budget reflects Carrara, but I love the milkyness of Danby). Elkay extra deep sink and moen faucet. Drawer pulls TBD (not budgeted yet). Rip out laundry room to create mud room (create cubbies. shelves, etc). install slate floors in mudroom. Take out all "stucco" walls and ceiling in den (down to studs). Replace with drywall and shaker molding. Remove carpet in 4 rooms over garage (1000 sq ft) and replace with Koka Oak ($5 sq foot). There is only a subfloor under carpet. Install base molding. Replace 8 windows with Anderson wood and vinyl windows. Removal of 11 hollow core doors (30 x 80) and replace with Jeldwen 5 panel shaker doors. Hardware TBD (not budgeted). Reconfigure of master Bedroom to Build walk in closet. Build walk in closet. Installation of Central Air to entire House. (time consuming and frustrating!!) Demolition of Basement walls/panelling to expose source of water coming in. Dig one side of foundation to reveal source of water getting in basement.....repair and replace dirt. Removal of wall paper from first and second floor. Sanding, Skim coat (2 coats) plaster, sanding again. I think that's all for right now. I am not doing any of the actual work, but I am exhausted nonetheless!!

While they will all work for your purpose, none of them will do so "ideally", which is what you are asking for :-) They are unstable as far as a patio surface is concerned, meaning they will shift and not support table and chair legs evenly. Even gravel or rock, while offering a suitable surface and water permeability, are difficult to maintain level and stable for outdoor furniture. Something more 'solid' is required - decomposed granite (if available in your area) can be compacted into a very firm surface yet still affords plenty of permeability for rainfall. Or you could consider something like turfstone, which, while not completely solid, would provide a far more stable setting for a table and chairs than any mulch product. Turfstone does not need to be planted with a lawn in the voids - moss or any low mat-forming groundcover would work.

We live in Florida where it rains heavily nine months out of the year... we are going to be building a lanai which is a fancy word for screened in back yard porch outside. The screen cage is made of aluminum and is attached to the house on one side and has footers in foundation on the corners and center. We are adding this after-the-fact on a new construction to save over paying for the builder to do it at a much higher cost. The standard building is brick pavers put on top of sand.... however it has been suggested that they might settle too much because of the rains and generally sandy ground that is all of Florida. And alternative suggestion says to pour concrete and out the pavers on top of the concrete or perhaps just concrete and do color and stamping to give it some style and texture. So we're deciding which is the most economical and also the one which will not be inclined to collect water moisture and mold like everything does in Florida. Any suggestions for the preferred base under pavers or materials for such a build would be appreciated. It's going to be about 18 feet deep and 35 feet wide we are not going to put in a pool however we will have an above ground spa tub.

Not sure if those are pavers. Looks like patterned Blues Stone.