Tarmac driveway or block paving?

jimpwarsop

My drive is original concrete from 1969, it has a crack across at half way.  When I'm home I cant see it, as there is a car on it, when there isnt a car on it I dont stand looking at the drive.

My son has a large block paved drive, I spend hours every year weeding it and scraping between the blocks - a pain.

I have seen thousands of pounds worth of block paved drives that havent been properly laid too.

stuart45

All methods depend on the quality of the build. Tarmac can last for many years if done properly(that's why it's used in roads), or can break up in no time if not. Same for block paving if the sub base is not right.

dander

I like the look of Tarmac much better than block. There's something very "institutional carpark" about the blocks, I think pretty much anything that's just a single flat plain surface looks less loud. But other people love the blocks, so you really just have to pick what you like best. Agree though that the secret is in the ground work, get a solid flat base under any surface and it'll look decent.

in_my_wellies

I've have gravel. Good drainage, good for bugs that live in it and easy to 'repair' if drains need attention.
It was put down in the late 1950s as far as I know. We extended and topped it up in 1990, £70. It suffered and became compacted with needles from a blue cedar but that died and was removed about 10 years ago. I rake it every so often, 10 mins. During lockdown my daughter and I dug out and riddled the compacted areas and now it's good as new. I thought about getting a leaf blower to remove the autumn leaves but I've never got round to it as a brush works and is less polluting.
I think new planning laws require a 2 meter apron between the gravel and the footpath/road

greensalad

in_my_wellies said:

I've have gravel. Good drainage, good for bugs that live in it and easy to 'repair' if drains need attention.
It was put down in the late 1950s as far as I know. We extended and topped it up in 1990, £70. It suffered and became compacted with needles from a blue cedar but that died and was removed about 10 years ago. I rake it every so often, 10 mins. During lockdown my daughter and I dug out and riddled the compacted areas and now it's good as new. I thought about getting a leaf blower to remove the autumn leaves but I've never got round to it as a brush works and is less polluting.
I think new planning laws require a 2 meter apron between the gravel and the footpath/road

Unfortunately because of the slope I don't think gravel will work.

molerat

A house near my daughter had a gravel drive installed, total PITA for everyone else in the street.  Sharing is definitely not caring !

in_my_wellies

molerat said:

A house near my daughter had a gravel drive installed, total PITA for everyone else in the street.  Sharing is definitely not caring !

I agree in the wrong place. I'm lucky, I'm at the end of a 2 mile track so no pavement or road with proper traffic and it's flat. When I pull the bins back in I kick about 10 stones back onto my drive as the main gates are open

Most of the houses along the main road (lane) are Edwardian and have gravel drives but totally flat or slope down from the road so not a problem. Probably historic as the lane follows the edge of an old long gone gravel quarry, now filled in and used for horses. 

The new fashion seems to be a hard surface with fine gravel top layer rather than stones.