Putting in a drive - what have you got and would you recommend it?

economiser

Another gravel fan. The smaller stuff is best, it packs down well. Avoid pebbles, difficult and uncomfortable to walk on. Its also cheap, you can reduce or enlarge if you want to and if it needs to be dug up for drains, water, gas pipes etc. its easy to re-establish.

wildmandy

I'd be interested to hear if you gravel fans considered (or know anything about) plastic-grid products such as:
http://www.adpnetlon.co.uk/news_stories/news_story12_domestic.html
http://www.proctorgroup.com/index.asp?lm=98
http://www.hexapath.com/prod01.htm

Reading through, they are supposed to offer strength and stop the gravel disappearing.

Mandy

Becles

I had gravel but it's no good if you have children. The gravel gets kicked all over the place, and I spent too much time sweeping it back onto the drive from other places, or damaging lawn mower blades on bits that had been kicked onto the lawn. They were also forever digging in it!

We got beamish cobbles laid which were expensive but they look fantastic. As has been said, they dug decent foundations and we haven't had a problem with it sinking or weeds growing through.

economiser

wildmandy wrote: »

I'd be interested to hear if you gravel fans considered (or know anything about) plastic-grid products
Reading through, they are supposed to offer strength and stop the gravel disappearing.

Mandy

Gravel can be a problem on slopes as rain will and usage will wash it down the hill. The products you mention would I think help where there is a slope but I would not have thought they would make much difference with a flat drive.

wallbash

Just a thought , could you carry gravel in on soles of shoes, problem if you have laminate flooring ??

economiser

wallbash wrote: »

Just a thought , could you carry gravel in on soles of shoes, problem if you have laminate flooring ??

This will be a problem to some degree whatever you do if you wear outdoor shoes indoors. However if you pave a small area in front of the door and use a doormat, which you use, then you should be OK. We have wood floors and haven't had a problem.

tro127

We have been wanting to put a driveway in the front of our house for a while but have been put off by the cost. Many people have suggested gravel which I'm not apposed to, just wondered what prep work is required before you can put it down?

gardnt1

I have just had a quote to relay my driveway, which involves re-tarmacing surface of existing drive, bur full construction of front garden area, which i dont like anyways. Having existing drive resurfaced as new tarmac against old always looks IMO horrible. Having a block edge, and block borders, but was put off complete block paving by the amount of care afterwards that it may need.......weeds from birds dropping seeds etc, new sand when it gets washed out and by several people with existing drives that just dont like this very maintenance. Quote for tarmac was £2700, 5-7 days work.

theloft

I can give you the benefit of considerable experience, having been in our house for lots of years !! We've had concrete, tarmac, block paving and gravel. Our vote goes for gravel every time, reasons as follows:-

Concrete - discolours, cracks and is difficult to repair.
Tarmac - wears and if the weather gets hot, can get messy. Also looks grey and manky after a few years. Shows oil stains.
Block paving - looks superb when first laid but oh! boy are you in for maintenance problems. First of all unless you buy the extremely expensive glazed type, they fade and discolour, then weeds and grass grow up between them. They need power spraying every year to keep them clean and then re-sanding to keep the weeds down. I wouldn't touch them again with a barge pole.
Gravel - don't get the very small stuff then the stones don't wash away even on slopes, (if you have a slope get the last yard done with glazed blocks, then it is a simple matter to sweep the odd stone back on the drive.. Make sure the bed is solid and you will have a virtually maintenance free driveway for years. Weeds pull out easily and a rake-over once a year will keep it looking pristine. No stains show up and it is better for the environment as the rainwater soaks straight in. Gravel every time !!

wallbash

In defence of block paving :j

So they discolour a bit .... charm
Weeds . kill off once a year
Resand every other year . bag of the correct sand , wizz around with brush

Maintaince ( and I have a garage to both sides of the house and parking for a number of cars ) an afternoon a year.

Block paving everytime.