I wanna new driveway.

Lara

Our driveway is fairly long and slopes slightly downwards. It leads to the garage and then across to the front of the house. At the moment it is concreted but the top of the drive is crumbling away so looks horrible.

The choices we can think of are:

Block paving (very expensive 9k)
Crete print ??
Pattern paving ??
Re-concrete

We would rather not have something that needs attention every year or so.
Would appreciate any suggestions - especially if you have already had any of the above done and like/dislike it, or, you can suggest something else . Thanks.

milkydrink

I'm really interested in the replies you get as mine needs doing too.

We moved in a year ago & have gutted & done the house, so no money left for drive & back garden.

I'm thinking of tarmacking ours, some of our neighbours have done theirs with a brick edge (to flower beds) & it looks good.

Would love block paving, but its so big it would cost loads. I can park four cars (easily) & would still have room for a flower bed along each side. So strip of flower bed, 2 rows of 2 cars & then another flower bed. So I'm guessing the cost would be scary.

Have you thought of tarmacking (with a brick edge perhaps) how big is it, how many cars?

Nile

Hello Lara

I'll move your thread to the 'In my home' board.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Regards

Nile

MarkyMarkD

Whilst block paving looks nice when it's new, all the local block paving I've seen which is a few years old looks rubbish - there are weeds growing in all the gaps between the blocks. I wouldn't personally go for it.

The stamped concrete stuff is going to be far better for weed protection and therefore keep its looks for the longest.

At the moment, we just have gravel which is rubbish for weeds and also tends to fall off the drive into the road (as our drive slopes down towards the road).

ormus

all the options are not cheap, but the cheapest method must be to dig/pick out the bad areas and then re concrete it.

Lara

ormus wrote: »

all the options are not cheap, but the cheapest method must be to dig/pick out the bad areas and then re concrete it.

Well that means most of it then :sad:. Where it isn't crumbling it has some cracks the width of the drive (1.5 times width garage) so would really like it all done so it's nice and neat.

Have you thought of tarmacking (with a brick edge perhaps) how big is it, how many cars?
Yes we have but we live in a cul de sac and would be the only ones with a tarmac drive :rolleyes: . We can get six cars on ours, tightly parked, and five easily with room.

We also share the top part of the drive with our next door neighbour who can only get two cars on his drive. So that gives you an idea of how long ours is.

I wouldn't contemplate gravel as I absolutely hate that stuff and even more so as we have a sloping down drive. Besides would hurt the dogs paws !

We have been told that if you have it "imprinted" you need to "polish and treat" it every two years. Has anyone else heard this? It was from a DIY expert...................not!

Looks like I shall have to get some more quotes because OH is not paying out 9k for a block paved driveway :eek: . Also like MarkyMarkD said it doesn't always look good a couple of years down the line :sad: .

Thanks for your input everyone .

Aletank

As far as I know Imprinted Concrete and Block Paving are similar costs, about £50 per square metre all in.

milkydrink

I think 9k for a 6 car drive is not bad.

One of my neighbours paid 15k.

But I'm not going to 9 or 15k, but it sounds like you might be tempted, it sounds like the block paving is what you want. If its what you really want 9k for a 6 car drive isn't that bad.

Lara

Block paving isn't really what I want - I don't think. Our friends opposite were having it done hence we asked for a quote but to be honest I don't think it will suit our drive, especially with next doors concrete drive! I look at our neighbours and yes it does suit their garden but the more I look the more I think no. Personally I like pattern paving ..................I think :rolleyes: .