I agree with Bathroom Eleven... A living wall there would really set off the lovely new patio area! Herbs wood be great to enjoy both to cook with and to look at. Lavender will give a lovely purple colour during the flowering stage :) You could even DIY the living wall by simply attaching window box style planters to the fencing yourself. If you would like maintenance free, you could also consider artificial plants to create the look without the fuss. The market now has plenty to choose from and although not cheap initially, they will last for years to come without even watering :)

Hello, I have several clients who have really large bifold doors. They do look really great and can really make a house look the part, however there are drawbacks. A wheelchair bound client in Greater Manchester loves nature and was quite upset at the fact that the bees came in and weren't clever enough to get out again and then died. She wasn't able to usher them out herself. You are correct that if you open a large area then animals will come in. This same client also has a persistent neighbours cat that likes to come in and hide! In winter when it is really, really stormy and windy the wind can be felt through the doors. There have been a few problems over the years with the weight of the doors - they have had to be adjusted on occasion. They are made of aluminium and are 7 meters long. She rarely opens the doors fully - only one section. Another client also has a massive section of these doors. Her life is quite different and she lives in London where the climate is quite different. Her doors are often open but again not often fully open and it is in a new build house. It suggests that the doors act more as a massive window rather than doors! I am surprised that your builder has suggested wooden door for you. They will take upkeep and I imagine with the weight of the glass and the weather will make them move over time. I would think very carefully about this option if I were you. Look at different options and certainly don't let your builder bully you into anything. He/she doesn't have to live with it. What is your view like? Does it warrant the expense? Would it add value to your property? Do you like bifold doors? Do you know anyone in your area with them you could go and ask advice from? Good luck.

I had hardwood bi-folds fitted last year and it took me ages to decide what to get. The reason I finally chose bi-folds was I use all my garden doors several times a day even in the winter and just opening the one section is easy and folds back neatly and doesn’t catch the wind as easily. There also have magnetic catches. And opening three sections is very neat and gives the biggest opening. However these openings are only two metres wide. Where I have a 2.4 opening I’ve got French windows and the 60cm doors fold back and hook onto the side windows well. Tbh bi-folds aren’t my favourite but they best suited the openings.

As mentioned, dilute patio cleaner or even vinegar will break down the thin layer of cement that is binding the sand onto the surface, then wash it off. If you are concerned about losing the patination, I have used a mixture of soil and compost made into a slurry, spread it over the surface and let it dry then sweep off the excess. What is left behind provides colour and nutrients for lichens, algae and mosses to grow back. There are other things but that is the simplest.