These patio stones need putting back nicely, how?

[textbook]

Got these to take up, (all grouting gone). What's the best way to get them up then put them back? Just put grouting back in them or take them all up and remove cement underneath then re lay it?

[DmitriKara]

Looks like a really tricky job mate. In my humble opinion it all depends on what final result you want and how much effort are you willing to invest. If you want to have it brand new you will surely have to take them out and literally redo everything, but if you want to have it easy and with short term durability you could simply re-grout and enjoy till it wears of / breaks apart.

[jape]

Looks good as it is to me! Why make work? Crazy paving is surprisingly hard to make look right, use the photos to remind you. Lift them all, bed in a shovel of mortar and grout with sand is all I would do; in fact I would do it all in sand for myself, maybe even plant gaps with miniature mondo-grass or something like dwarf chamomile. If so, just rake out joints, refill with sand/soil mix and add your little plants.

[Timllfixit]

Number them with wax crayon?

[DmitriKara]

numbering should be step 1 there if he chooses to take all out, but if it was up to me, I would invest as much time as needed for the best result. from here I really can't tell for sure if you have to take everything out or if you could still handle it great with grouting alone.. it's really up to you in my humble opinion