Which driveway surface and how much?

Which driveway surface and how much?

Author
Discussion

worsy

5,811 posts

176 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
Dig out
Sand compacted
These - http://www.matsgrids.co.uk/
Gravel

Job Jobbed.

Oakey

27,593 posts

217 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
TA14 said:
If they have dug out 1m deep for say 3m wide and 20m long that 60m3 or about 120 tonnes.
Someones parked a crappy scooter in the way, but here's a sneaky shot;



As you can see, he's still digging.

Little Lofty

3,294 posts

152 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
aspirated said:
Neighbour had a pattern imprinted drive put in, two weeks later slipped in the rain and ended up with a concussion after banging his head, it was replaced with block paving ASAP
My friend has a block paving business , he rips this stuff up all the time for the single reason of it being too slippery, I guess some must be more slippery than others judging by comments.My friend charges £60+ vat per m2 for supplying and laying block paving, this is for the cheapest 50mm block, but to be honest the blocks are only a small percentage of the overall cost, so getting a better block only adds £5/10 per meter square.He is doing a drive for me tomorrow, 38 m2 for £2970.00 inc vat as I'm getting a slightly better block for this project.

nails1979

597 posts

142 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
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sandman77 said:
That seems really cheap. Did you do it yourself or was that a contractors price? If you did it yourself where did did you buy your blocks from? I am looking to do my driveway and the cheapest Marshall's blocks I can find are from wickes.
Got a company in. They used MKM for the blocks. I was happy with the price. The steps were a bit poop but I may not have been specific enough.
I later got 2 areas done round the front. A 46 & a 40 square meter area. Used a different firm and cost 1800 & 1700 retrospectively. They used Thomsons. Was most man power though whereas the back they managed to get a massive digger in which really saved time.
quote=sandman77]

That seems really cheap. Did you do it yourself or was that a contractors price? If you did it yourself where did did you buy your blocks from? I am looking to do my driveway and the cheapest Marshall's blocks I can find are from wickes.

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

225 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
Oakey said:
Someones parked a crappy scooter in the way, but here's a sneaky shot;



As you can see, he's still digging.
Sure he is not having an underground garage built?!!

longshot

3,286 posts

199 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
The trouble with imprinted concrete or whatever you call it is it looks like what it is.

A guy who lives near me had it done and when new it looked quite nice (was very shiny though) but because it is a steep drive, he couldn't get his car up it in the winter. It's now got a crack running up it.

I'd have block paving. If done well, even when it's got some miles under it's belt, it still looks good and depending on the house, it getting a bit tired looking can add to it's appeal.

MikeOxlong

3,112 posts

190 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
Bebee said:
You'd be exhausted, might not even make 450 stabbings, no?

We need a swag man to test this out me thinks. scratchchin
As the stabbist once you 'd got half way you could give the stabee a break and go and make a cup of tea and have a rest before resuming proceedings.
Good bit of cardio training.

Oakey

27,593 posts

217 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
gizlaroc said:
Sure he is not having an underground garage built?!!
He doesn't even park on the drive!

longshot

3,286 posts

199 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
Maybe they have 3 jobs on the go at once.

One is doing a drive, one is landscaping a garden and one is knocking down a wall. wink

Chrisgr31

13,488 posts

256 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
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eliot said:
My neighbor has something like this down - possibly slightly larger limestone, but the main thing is that it doesn't get stuck in the tyres or migrate into the road:


Edited by eliot on Monday 23 June 10:57
I have something similar but granite chippings, does creep slightly on the slope but not much.

Oakey

27,593 posts

217 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
longshot said:
Maybe they have 3 jobs on the go at once.

One is doing a drive, one is landscaping a garden and one is knocking down a wall. wink
I've no idea, apparently they hit water. I keep expecting the house to fall into it!

V8RX7

26,902 posts

264 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
I like gravel - have laid it on all my houses.

Concrete looks industrial, can crack and powder and shows up oil stains etc

Tarmac is fine if done correctly but looks brash / harsh on big sweeping drives (I know the OPs isn't)

Block paving is fine if done correctly but lots isn't and the concrete ones look cheap after a few years with the aggregate showing.

Gravel when laid thinly over hardcore doesn't move. It looks great and large areas don't look OTT nor is there any drainage issues. The noise sounds great when you drive in and is very audible when someone else walks / drives in. Oil staining isn't seen.

It's only issues are poor to jack on - so use your garage
Weeding - a maybe 15 mins 3x a year.

JQ

5,753 posts

180 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
I don't think I've seen it quoted in this thread, but any idea of how the price of resin bound gravel compares to the other types of surfaces on a per sq m basis? That certainly looks the best solution to me, but I have a suspicion it may be rather expensive.

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,893 posts

207 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
JQ said:
I don't think I've seen it quoted in this thread, but any idea of how the price of resin bound gravel compares to the other types of surfaces on a per sq m basis? That certainly looks the best solution to me, but I have a suspicion it may be rather expensive.
I have ordered some samples online. But it appears that it's around 200 quid a tonne. No idea how much i'd need for my planned area, but i suspect it'll come out less than block paving....

JQ

5,753 posts

180 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
eltax91 said:
I have ordered some samples online. But it appears that it's around 200 quid a tonne. No idea how much i'd need for my planned area, but i suspect it'll come out less than block paving....
Cheers. It would be great if you kept this thread updated with quotes, costings and any photos of the finished drive - our driveway is horrible and is on our "to do" hitlist. Just need to get the kitchen extended and replaced, then new flooring for the whole ground floor and then we can hit the driveway.

FlipFlopGriff

7,144 posts

248 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Have you looked at granite setts - not the cheapest but longevity if you're looking to stay for a while. I'd love some but our drive is about 4m wide and 80m long so it would be a huge job and expensive.
FFG

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,893 posts

207 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
JQ said:
eltax91 said:
I have ordered some samples online. But it appears that it's around 200 quid a tonne. No idea how much i'd need for my planned area, but i suspect it'll come out less than block paving....
Cheers. It would be great if you kept this thread updated with quotes, costings and any photos of the finished drive - our driveway is horrible and is on our "to do" hitlist. Just need to get the kitchen extended and replaced, then new flooring for the whole ground floor and then we can hit the driveway.
OK, will do. This is the house as it stands right now: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.723207,-1.322999...

I am looking to go from the property border on the left as you look, all the way to the border on the right, taking the garden and driveway up. Then all the way down the side of the garage up to the house (the "front" side door is on the left as you approach the house)

Herbs

4,916 posts

230 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
FlipFlopGriff said:
Have you looked at granite setts - not the cheapest but longevity if you're looking to stay for a while. I'd love some but our drive is about 4m wide and 80m long so it would be a huge job and expensive.
FFG
Yes - I looked into this and nearly had a heart attack at the cost. After pricing up a drive and garden path, I decided i'll get the garden path done at a later date as the cost came out at £400 just for the sett's for a 4m*1m path .

skilly1

2,702 posts

196 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
worsy said:
Dig out
Sand compacted
These - http://www.matsgrids.co.uk/
Gravel

Job Jobbed.
Anybody got any comments on this system, look pretty good.

V8RX7

26,902 posts

264 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
skilly1 said:
worsy said:
Dig out
Sand compacted
These - http://www.matsgrids.co.uk/
Gravel

Job Jobbed.
Anybody got any comments on this system, look pretty good.
I have used them (or at least an identical looking version) as I had to have a ramp to my front door (new build regs)

They work well but are completely unnecessary for a flat ish drive.