Concrete Patio

[JJA]

I know this is a tough one. I have a concrete patio about 5m x 5m that I want to cover with a light grain gravel. The reason being that the concrete looks sh*t. What I want to know is, I think there is a method for laying a substrate of bitumen adhesive, and then coating it with the gravel to a thin layer. The reason you would do this is that if you just chuck a load of gravel on top of concrete it will just slide around and pile up in the corners.

My question is, what would be the best type of substrate, and I can I buy tubs of it rather than have a contractor come round with a flippin asphalt truck...?

Any help gratefully received!

[The Natural Philosopher]

I'd be inclined to lay about 3" of dryish mixed sand and cement and then tip gravel onto it while wet..

[Huge]

When we had our hard-standing and drive "done", we didn't want 200 square meters of black tarmac, so after som experimentation we got the contractor to roll gravel into the top-coat while it was hot and still sticky, so it looks like gravel, but is actually hard. It worked a treat. But it was done "hot".

[The Medway Handyman]

Timber decking sounds an ideal solution?

If you want any advice let me know, I've built loads.