Discussion
I'm wanting something that looks pretty good obviously BUT:
Block paving: seems to sink badly and now it looks crap plus it gets weeds coming up and looks very dirty all the time
Pattern imprinted concrete: I was keen on but next door had there's done in the last 8 month and it's a poor job with the surface fading or been damaged with their car tyres
Resin drives: do these stand up to the test of time? Do they crack often as I know of one that has cracked but he was parking a 4.5 tonne van on it
So which to go for? I've just had my pillars done and a new fence in preparation for a electric gate but what drive would complement my house and have you guys got pictures of yours?
Fishing for pics and pattern ideas and your experiences
(My facias are booked in to be done in the new year so yes they look scabby at the mo)
Block paving: seems to sink badly and now it looks crap plus it gets weeds coming up and looks very dirty all the time
Pattern imprinted concrete: I was keen on but next door had there's done in the last 8 month and it's a poor job with the surface fading or been damaged with their car tyres
Resin drives: do these stand up to the test of time? Do they crack often as I know of one that has cracked but he was parking a 4.5 tonne van on it
So which to go for? I've just had my pillars done and a new fence in preparation for a electric gate but what drive would complement my house and have you guys got pictures of yours?
Fishing for pics and pattern ideas and your experiences
(My facias are booked in to be done in the new year so yes they look scabby at the mo)
I had the electricity fail to the house a few yrs back and murphys who are contracted for northern powergrid took up the right hand side of it to fit a new cable and they said it was badly prepped and they would at least get their side perfect before they left, and it was! 3yrs later it's all over the place 
Next year I'm starting to put pillars round all my garden perimeter and joining front and back garden so my drive will extend over to the left hand side of my front window then a path will go round to the back, my initial thoughts are resin for long term
Next year I'm starting to put pillars round all my garden perimeter and joining front and back garden so my drive will extend over to the left hand side of my front window then a path will go round to the back, my initial thoughts are resin for long term
ghost83 said:
This is why I'm fishing for ideas I just can't decide everything I've seen has pros and cons,
I'm budgeting on around 3.5-5k on the driveway
Those pillars and fence just cost 2k the facias are 2.5k so the driveway will make it so has to be right
I'm in the same boat, albeit on a complete new build so we will be subject to building control. I don't know how big your drive is but from memory the resin was coming out at almost £100psm (you have to lay a tarmac base). I will probably go for red tarmac but some block drives look pretty good, I especially like the lighter grey/blue blocks, but my concern is that you are at the mercy of the person who lays it. We had gravel in our last house and it was a pain, though good for hearing people approach and it's a cheap option, but expensive stone and oak flooring means I'd be paranoid about people bringing stones into the house in the soles of their shoes. Be interested to know what you decide and how it works out, I'm about 7 months away from having to decide. I'm budgeting on around 3.5-5k on the driveway
Those pillars and fence just cost 2k the facias are 2.5k so the driveway will make it so has to be right
ghost83 said:
I've just had my pillars done and a new fence in preparation for a electric gate but what drive would complement my house and have you guys got pictures of yours?
I can't really help with the drive, but can I ask why you're having electric gates there? How will they open - roller uphill, or swing in or out?
CharlesdeGaulle said:
I can't really help with the drive, but can I ask why you're having electric gates there?
How will they open - roller uphill, or swing in or out?
Going to slide on a runner, I'm having a gate for privacy, bit of car protection and so my kids can play out and no danger of running into road hence why the wall and pillar has a fence on it as it had a bad drop to next doorHow will they open - roller uphill, or swing in or out?
This is one of my favourite concrete block drives we install. Marshalls drivesett argent in dark with a light border.
Due to the extra aggregate on top they weather really well, better than pretty much any other concrete block imo. Joints are fairly tight so weeds not so much of an issue as opposed to tumbled blocks which due to having tumbled edges means more space for stuff to be trapped in and get more weeds.
Block paving is fine if done properly or if the ground doesn't having underlying ground movement issues.
Resin is nice but i wont be getting involved, too much to go wrong and too much to repair if it does. I've got a mate who does it and he's had to replace several jobs (fair play to him for replacing them?) at a cost of thousands. cracking, peeling, fading all stuff he mentions. He even had one recently where he used a plastic permeable crate underneath and the shape of the crates is now showing through.
It can't be done if its too hot, too cold or wet. So basically as a commercial interest in this country it isn't really that feasible imo. Everyone who does it is an expert, which is confusing as it hasn't been about that long and it appears everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Everyones product is the best because of xyz. I expect to see a lot being ripped up in future. It can be a real good earner if everything goes well.
When i can afford to do mine one day ill probably use sawn granite blocks laid on a wet bed with a proper solid joint, basically modern day granite setts. But thats only because i can do it myself, doing that for a customer is no where near cheap hence why you don't see it a lot. I also park my fully loaded van on it which most people don't.
Due to the extra aggregate on top they weather really well, better than pretty much any other concrete block imo. Joints are fairly tight so weeds not so much of an issue as opposed to tumbled blocks which due to having tumbled edges means more space for stuff to be trapped in and get more weeds.
Block paving is fine if done properly or if the ground doesn't having underlying ground movement issues.
Resin is nice but i wont be getting involved, too much to go wrong and too much to repair if it does. I've got a mate who does it and he's had to replace several jobs (fair play to him for replacing them?) at a cost of thousands. cracking, peeling, fading all stuff he mentions. He even had one recently where he used a plastic permeable crate underneath and the shape of the crates is now showing through.
It can't be done if its too hot, too cold or wet. So basically as a commercial interest in this country it isn't really that feasible imo. Everyone who does it is an expert, which is confusing as it hasn't been about that long and it appears everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Everyones product is the best because of xyz. I expect to see a lot being ripped up in future. It can be a real good earner if everything goes well.
When i can afford to do mine one day ill probably use sawn granite blocks laid on a wet bed with a proper solid joint, basically modern day granite setts. But thats only because i can do it myself, doing that for a customer is no where near cheap hence why you don't see it a lot. I also park my fully loaded van on it which most people don't.
Our block paving has been down for approx 15 years and is quite large (parking for 7 cars) and hasnt sunk but it has discoloured a lot,i have pressure washed it a couple of times but the large tree overhanging it (on pavement at top of ramp) makes a right mess at this time of the year,we dont get many weeds but some moss.To me it is somewhere to park our cars and while i do sweep leaves and keep it looking respectable its not the most important part of my property.
Next door has just had the imprinted concrete which is very shiny and looks like it could be very slippery...
Next door has just had the imprinted concrete which is very shiny and looks like it could be very slippery...
Edited by blueveloce on Sunday 5th November 10:49
m3jappa said:
This is one of my favourite concrete block drives we install. Marshalls drivesett argent in dark with a light border.
Due to the extra aggregate on top they weather really well, better than pretty much any other concrete block imo. Joints are fairly tight so weeds not so much of an issue as opposed to tumbled blocks which due to having tumbled edges means more space for stuff to be trapped in and get more weeds.
Block paving is fine if done properly or if the ground doesn't having underlying ground movement issues.
Resin is nice but i wont be getting involved, too much to go wrong and too much to repair if it does. I've got a mate who does it and he's had to replace several jobs (fair play to him for replacing them?) at a cost of thousands. cracking, peeling, fading all stuff he mentions. He even had one recently where he used a plastic permeable crate underneath and the shape of the crates is now showing through.
It can't be done if its too hot, too cold or wet. So basically as a commercial interest in this country it isn't really that feasible imo. Everyone who does it is an expert, which is confusing as it hasn't been about that long and it appears everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Everyones product is the best because of xyz. I expect to see a lot being ripped up in future. It can be a real good earner if everything goes well.
When i can afford to do mine one day ill probably use sawn granite blocks laid on a wet bed with a proper solid joint, basically modern day granite setts. But thats only because i can do it myself, doing that for a customer is no where near cheap hence why you don't see it a lot. I also park my fully loaded van on it which most people don't.
What sorts of cost are you talking for granite setts? Due to the extra aggregate on top they weather really well, better than pretty much any other concrete block imo. Joints are fairly tight so weeds not so much of an issue as opposed to tumbled blocks which due to having tumbled edges means more space for stuff to be trapped in and get more weeds.
Block paving is fine if done properly or if the ground doesn't having underlying ground movement issues.
Resin is nice but i wont be getting involved, too much to go wrong and too much to repair if it does. I've got a mate who does it and he's had to replace several jobs (fair play to him for replacing them?) at a cost of thousands. cracking, peeling, fading all stuff he mentions. He even had one recently where he used a plastic permeable crate underneath and the shape of the crates is now showing through.
It can't be done if its too hot, too cold or wet. So basically as a commercial interest in this country it isn't really that feasible imo. Everyone who does it is an expert, which is confusing as it hasn't been about that long and it appears everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Everyones product is the best because of xyz. I expect to see a lot being ripped up in future. It can be a real good earner if everything goes well.
When i can afford to do mine one day ill probably use sawn granite blocks laid on a wet bed with a proper solid joint, basically modern day granite setts. But thats only because i can do it myself, doing that for a customer is no where near cheap hence why you don't see it a lot. I also park my fully loaded van on it which most people don't.
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