In most cases, the paved areas in a garden require little maintenance other than an occasional jetwash and possibly the application of some weed killer if there is an issue with weeds coming up between the slabs. It is for this reason that paving is still a popular option rather than decking that requires regular treating. However, if the paving is old and discoloured it may be time to give it some attention or even replace it.
Purchasing new slabs, especially if they are stone instead of concrete, can be costly so instead some people simply revive the area by taking up the old slabs and relaying them so that they are even and level. After that they can then be painted with a water-resistant coating which protects the slabs and brings out the natural colours of the stone.
If the slabs are made out of concrete and they have become faded then a simple solution is to paint them with masonry paint adding sand to the paint to make them less slippery in icy weather.
A new advance in paving for drives and gardens is the imprinted concrete surface which can be formed to resemble brick paving. As the concrete is applied to a whole area there should not be any gaps where weeds can appear, and the area can be jet-washed occasionally to keep it looking good.