Pattern Imprinted Concrete Drives

akh43

Has anyone got one of these type of drives? If so how do they rate them with regard to maintance and hardwearing.

I am in the process of getting quotes for a new drive and so far all my quotes have been for paving flags, but the one today offered me this. The make on the leaflet he gave me was Creative Impressions and the leaflet said:

Weed Free
Permanent rapid installation
adds value to any property
individual design
Oil and stain resistant
maintenance free

The pictures look very nice but would like some feedback before I decide.

The price difference between paving flags was £200, ie paving flags £2,000 and pattern imprinted concrete £2,200.

Thanks.

???

tinalives

I was considering the imprinted concrete at one point but never went ahead with it (went for 10mm Golden gravel instead - total cost £165) but at the time a lady who had it said that whoever did hers must not have laid membrane down first as she was having problems with weeds growing up through it???

Plumpud_3

I've known several people who have had these drives. They look very good when first done, but soon look shabby. I personally think they are very poor value for money. The people that I know have moaned about them after a while. They seem to crack, usually at the edges. The colour goes patchy. Areas drop and the drainage is rubbish. Alot of that seems to be down to the workmanship of it being laid. One friend had a lot of trouble with it being slippery - it looked like it had been sealed - was really hazardous.

Obviously the product should have evolved and improved since it was first introduced, but because of these problems, we have decided not to have it. We are about to have our drive done and will have paver bricks. This may cost more in the short term, but are much longer lasting. If you have an oil leak, you just take up the bricks that are stained and replace them. If it becomes uneven, from tree roots for example, you just take up that part, re-level, and re-lay. It also continues to look good as it ages.

Of course gravel is a good, economical choice. It is also discourages burglars - they apparently don't like the sound, too noisy. It isn't suitable for us as our drive is too steep. It's what we have at the moment and it is just not working.

akh43

Thanks for the comments.

Am now re-thinking the pattern imprinted concrete drive as have had another quote for paving stones of £1,250, which is nearly £1,000 cheaper. Got one more quote to come before I decide, but I think it will be paving stones.