DIY block paved driveway
Discussion
Ok, bear with me.
My drive is rather large for what is a low value semi on an ex council estate in Cardiff. It's also in very poor scruffy condition. A mix of Cotswold chippings, concrete handstand and broken slabs make it unsightly. I've done a fair bit of work to the house and the drive lets it down. Because of its size the cost of having professionals in is too high for the value of the house, I haven't actually had anyone round to quote but speaking to others that have had quotes and work done on drives half my size tells me it's just not an option. Driveway companies around here seem to vary from utter crooks who leave jobs unfinished or try and add huge costs or they are very well recommended but very expensive for what is usually a fairly straightforward job.
I'm a big fan of the pavingexpert.com website which shows in huge detail every aspect of the process and any issues I may face. I'm considering going ahead and doing the bulk of the work myself, and getting friends in the trade to help. The process would go a little like this.
Hire of a mini digger to dig down to the required 250mm below finish. Now I can hire a digger for £180 for 5 days through a friend. However in my experience a good driver is worth every penny, in which case it's £150 per day for digger and driver. Hopefully one day to dig down?
I'd need a grab lorry to take the broken concrete and earth away. I've been quoted £400 as a rough estimate although i don't know the exact amount and there's also a substantial wall to demolish and remove.
The sub base would be spread using the mini digger and I believe I'd need a whacker to compress the hardcore or stone dust etc. So there's more costs there.
I'm then going to lay the edgings. There's a tree to go round in a semi circle, and flower beds on both sides so they would need laying in cement to a string line then haunching. I can do all that myself.
Next would be the sand base. I can lay that and smooth to a level myself ready for the blocks.
Next would be the blocks and the cuts. This is where I would probably employ a bricklayer I know on a day rate. Let's say £150 a day there. I think two days would see it done as he's done it plenty of times and although not his bread and butter, has done some nice jobs on driveways I've seen.
I could do the final filling with sand and if needed sealing.
I think it could all be done for a very reasonable cost.
Have I missed any obvious problems or issues I will run into with my method. It will probably take a matter of weeks rather than days. But that's ok. I can work on the bits I will be doing in the evenings during the summer.
Any thoughts on this or if you have any experience I'd be really interested to hear.
I'm a tradesman myself and have friends who are bricklayers who would work for me on a day rate basis.
My drive is rather large for what is a low value semi on an ex council estate in Cardiff. It's also in very poor scruffy condition. A mix of Cotswold chippings, concrete handstand and broken slabs make it unsightly. I've done a fair bit of work to the house and the drive lets it down. Because of its size the cost of having professionals in is too high for the value of the house, I haven't actually had anyone round to quote but speaking to others that have had quotes and work done on drives half my size tells me it's just not an option. Driveway companies around here seem to vary from utter crooks who leave jobs unfinished or try and add huge costs or they are very well recommended but very expensive for what is usually a fairly straightforward job.
I'm a big fan of the pavingexpert.com website which shows in huge detail every aspect of the process and any issues I may face. I'm considering going ahead and doing the bulk of the work myself, and getting friends in the trade to help. The process would go a little like this.
Hire of a mini digger to dig down to the required 250mm below finish. Now I can hire a digger for £180 for 5 days through a friend. However in my experience a good driver is worth every penny, in which case it's £150 per day for digger and driver. Hopefully one day to dig down?
I'd need a grab lorry to take the broken concrete and earth away. I've been quoted £400 as a rough estimate although i don't know the exact amount and there's also a substantial wall to demolish and remove.
The sub base would be spread using the mini digger and I believe I'd need a whacker to compress the hardcore or stone dust etc. So there's more costs there.
I'm then going to lay the edgings. There's a tree to go round in a semi circle, and flower beds on both sides so they would need laying in cement to a string line then haunching. I can do all that myself.
Next would be the sand base. I can lay that and smooth to a level myself ready for the blocks.
Next would be the blocks and the cuts. This is where I would probably employ a bricklayer I know on a day rate. Let's say £150 a day there. I think two days would see it done as he's done it plenty of times and although not his bread and butter, has done some nice jobs on driveways I've seen.
I could do the final filling with sand and if needed sealing.
I think it could all be done for a very reasonable cost.
Have I missed any obvious problems or issues I will run into with my method. It will probably take a matter of weeks rather than days. But that's ok. I can work on the bits I will be doing in the evenings during the summer.
Any thoughts on this or if you have any experience I'd be really interested to hear.
I'm a tradesman myself and have friends who are bricklayers who would work for me on a day rate basis.
Regards the savings, I'm not yet sure as I haven't priced up the materials.
If the savings are less than 2k I will probably just pay to get it done, as I have to factor in the cost of my time. I have a feeling speaking to various people that the savings will be much larger. Now some of those savings could be gained or lost (depending how you look at it) by being able to afford a nicer block. To be able to go for maybe a deeper sub base for extra strength. I will be parking my fully loaded transit plus the family car on the drive every day so need it to be slightly higher spec perhaps than your average driveway company may throw down for a little old lady. But it seems a good company would be looking at 5-10k so I'm looking to do it for less than 5k if I'm honest.
Anyone in the business care to advise wether 5k or less is feasible for a DIY drive of 100m2
If the savings are less than 2k I will probably just pay to get it done, as I have to factor in the cost of my time. I have a feeling speaking to various people that the savings will be much larger. Now some of those savings could be gained or lost (depending how you look at it) by being able to afford a nicer block. To be able to go for maybe a deeper sub base for extra strength. I will be parking my fully loaded transit plus the family car on the drive every day so need it to be slightly higher spec perhaps than your average driveway company may throw down for a little old lady. But it seems a good company would be looking at 5-10k so I'm looking to do it for less than 5k if I'm honest.
Anyone in the business care to advise wether 5k or less is feasible for a DIY drive of 100m2
Muppet32 said:
For 100m2:
You'll need a digger for at least a week (2-3 days to dig out and a couple spreading the hardcore etc): £220+VAT (1.5tonne mini digger)
Muckaway: 3 to 4 loads @ £160+VAT per load. £640+VAT
Hardcore (150mm thick): 15m3 or 33tonnes @ £17.50/ tonne = £577.50+VAT (Use MOT Type 1 or blended MOT/Scalpings - avoid recycled)
Wacker Plate: Maybe 1.5 weeks: £65+VAT
Sharp Sand (50mm): 11 tonnes: £300+VAT
Blocks (100m2): Normal 200x100x50 are about £10/m2, Nice 'Tegula types' are £17/m2 so say a total of £1700+VAT
Kerbs: If you want kerbs, they start at £12/lin m. Let's say 25m: £300+VAT
Concrete: To haunch the kerbs/blocks/edging: £35+VAT
Disc Cutter/Block splitter: £40+VAT
Recessed manhole covers: £45+VAT ea
Kiln Dried Sand: £55+VAT
Plus a few other bits and bobs and you're up to £4000+VAT. So there's your 5 grand
You can see why a drive company would charge around £65-75/m2...
ETA: I forgot grid drainage at £10/lin m. In theory they should run to a soakaway too...
Thanks so much for that. That really gives me something to work on. Brilliant.You'll need a digger for at least a week (2-3 days to dig out and a couple spreading the hardcore etc): £220+VAT (1.5tonne mini digger)
Muckaway: 3 to 4 loads @ £160+VAT per load. £640+VAT
Hardcore (150mm thick): 15m3 or 33tonnes @ £17.50/ tonne = £577.50+VAT (Use MOT Type 1 or blended MOT/Scalpings - avoid recycled)
Wacker Plate: Maybe 1.5 weeks: £65+VAT
Sharp Sand (50mm): 11 tonnes: £300+VAT
Blocks (100m2): Normal 200x100x50 are about £10/m2, Nice 'Tegula types' are £17/m2 so say a total of £1700+VAT
Kerbs: If you want kerbs, they start at £12/lin m. Let's say 25m: £300+VAT
Concrete: To haunch the kerbs/blocks/edging: £35+VAT
Disc Cutter/Block splitter: £40+VAT
Recessed manhole covers: £45+VAT ea
Kiln Dried Sand: £55+VAT
Plus a few other bits and bobs and you're up to £4000+VAT. So there's your 5 grand
You can see why a drive company would charge around £65-75/m2...
ETA: I forgot grid drainage at £10/lin m. In theory they should run to a soakaway too...
Edited by Muppet32 on Friday 5th February 17:48
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