Watty's Awakening

greenbee

Have most of it grass on grid in case you need lots of people parking, and a small bit hardcore/scalpings/hoggin with gravel on tope for your normal day-to-day parking needs. 

Slinky

badmemory said:

Showing my ignorance here, but isn't there a concrete type thing that is imprinted to look like block paving.  Very technical language there obviously!

Yes there is. It tends to have quite a shiny surface to it, which may or may not be an issue depending on whether the drive slopes. I think the size of the drive that Watty is mentioning may require casting in more than one section, for expansion purposes. They seem to put pieces of timber between sections which can be squashed a bit. (Can you tell I've walked up and down a lot of drives in my previous working life!). No expansion joints leads to cracking.

beanielou

My drive which can take 6 cars is chipped.

themadvix

I agree with those suggesting grass on grid for most and a smaller area that is used for day to day parking. I’d avoid anything solid because this reduces drainage and increases flooding risk. Grass grid sounds like a really good option - or the wildflower section and a smaller drive.

daisy_1571

I like the 2 area option, grass on grid for the larger part (as it sounds the cheapest for a large area) and a more defined 'driveway' of whatever you fancy chips (although in my experience they move about the place), permeable blocks, 2 rows of slabs for the wheels and chips/plants/slate in the middle for drainage  etc

savingholmes

themadvix said:

I agree with those suggesting grass on grid for most and a smaller area that is used for day to day parking. I’d avoid anything solid because this reduces drainage and increases flooding risk. Grass grid sounds like a really good option - or the wildflower section and a smaller drive.

This would be my preference from your description. 

On my own place I would like tarmac with a paver border - and a raised bed to one side of sleepers... I've had quotes from £5.5K to £15.5K for pretty much the same work - so definitely do your home work.

Watty1

Thanks for all the ideas. The cottage is on the junction of two roads so I don't think I would sit out there to read although it does get the sun first thing early in the year and so I do take a cup of tea out there sometimes just to make sure I don't miss any work related bits (and to avoid WattyDog if I am honest as he does not believe his human should have a peaceful cup of tea but fetches his stones to drop on me relentlessly).

I'll come back to this one as the work is likely to be in the 15 K region and I don't have that right now.  Reading all the comments I think there is no ideal option and you have all been so kind sharing your experiences and thoughts.  The VNM parks his 3.5 ton work van there and I sometimes park my horsebox there so that plus 2 cars is a lot of weight and space taken up and I'm not sure my desire to return some of it to grass would be possible but I will put that on hold for now.

Watty1

In other news the alarm that disturbed me so much earlier in the year has gone.  It was disconnected and  ceremoniously thrown away.  The only one who really understood it was the ex.  I've left the window and door sensors in place as removing those will make a mess of my newly decorated space but I am delighted it has gone.

The builder suggested removing it and getting a ring alarm and after researching I decided that was the option to go for. 

Mixed feelings as I remember the fun the ex and I had installing it but I also remember he never really showed me how to work it and so I never really used it.   The good and the bad all mixed together.  . 

Slinky

Watty if you do decide to go with block pavers, you need to get the heavy duty ones to cope with the weight of your vehicles. We had these to cope with the heavy weight delivery I used to receive from my business at my previous home.  You definitely need to make it clear to whoever does your drive that you have heavy vehicles parking on it.

Watty1

@Slinky thank you!  That was really helpful.   It is the weight of the vehicles that finally made me decide to put up with what is there (and the cost) until the future is clearer!