Driveways - paved/gravel??

[MrsCampbellBlack]

So we're going to extend our driveway to enable us to park 4 cars on it as opposed to the current 2 and wondering what type of look to go for - any views on paved as opposed to gravel?

The house is 1950's bath stone to give context,

thanks!

[sixtiesqueen]

Oh god don't have gravel. It's a bugger for pushchairs/bikes and the gravel spills out onto the road.

We have just had a quote for a large drive. I guess you'd get 5/6 cars on it (129 metres sq) and it was £7,095 for block setts. Beautiful!

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Oh my lord! Thats a lot of money! Off to google block setts though - thanks.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Aha - yes something like this would be rather nice

[lionheart]

Gravel = neighbourhood litter tray.

[RachelHRD]

Echo the gravel = litter tray for local cats. In our last house we had to dig it all up and replace it with larger pebbles which worked but was expensive and time consuming but preferable to a giant litter tray.....

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Right - gravel definitely off the list now. DH thinks tarmac looks fine - honestly!

[crazycarol]

Mono blocks when properly laid always look really nice. We are part paved and part gravel. The gravel is a mess, weeds push through, always goes where it isn't supposed to. Some of the paving is wobbly, weeds grow through the gaps. Security wise I am told that gravel is much better as you can always hear someone creeping around that isn't supposed to be there.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Thanks!

I like the look of gravel but think I'd need a man with a rake to keep it pristine and since I don't have that will be paved I think.

[sixtiesqueen]

I'm not sure tarmac is any cheaper than block setts. Our old neighbours have just paid £5k to have their drive tarmaced - you can get 3 cars on it. Ours is three times the size so the quote of £7k for block setts seems reasonable

[marko1976]

block paving = very 1980's ! horrible pinky colours too... no thanks... weeds a nightmare ...much more maintenance than gravel. powerwashing blowing out the sand joints !
Natural stone is the best but that runs the risk of staining , joints cracking out (unless use very expensive resin) Car oils will ruin it too... irreversable chemical reactions to natural minerals in the rain !
with gravel you just top dress and hey presto ! Cheaper. Classic look and better security from burglars

[PigletJohn]

Have Hoggin.

It is not a pile of pea-shingle, which people think a gravel drive is. Hoggin is a mixture of small stones, sand, and enough clay to bind it into a solid material. It needs to be rolled on a draining base, such as crushed stone. It is not loose and does not kick about or rut.

Once down, it lasts a long time. I had a house with drive and paths in hoggin, a hundred years old, it was fine except where some plonker had tipped shingle on it instead of repairing with the proper stuff and rolling it. A proper paving contractor will know how to do it.

[Shadowboy]

We went for gravel for a 4 car drive. 1.cost- if you have a good base and pick a decent gravel it won't back down much. Ours has been down 2 years and looks fab.

1. Noise- we are in a really rural area with no streetlights so wanted something to give us a bit of noise/warning if there was anyone coming up the drive. (Our dog is useless-never barks!)
   

3.colour- I find creamy/sandstone colours look so much more attractive against red brick than the standard paving slab colours you get.

[JT05]

We have just put blue slate on our worn out parking area. It's temporary because of impending building works, but it seems ok and looks nice.

[jojosapphire]

We will be needing to look into this in the new year, on our list of possiblitys is the poured concrete with the pattern in it to look like stone... Mainly because of no weeds..

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Block paving can be done in lots off different colours so not pink unless you want that.

The foundations HAVE to be laid deep enough for the weeds not to grow. That was my main concern and so far we've had no weeds. We had the same company lay ours as our neighbours used and there's has been down for 2 years and no weeds either.

Tarmac won't be much cheaper and will crack eventually unless it's laid really, really well. Bricks can be lifted easily and replaced if needed.

£7k is what we paid ,can park 3 cars and it took 2 weeks to dig up old tarmac and lay new drive.

[Fairybust]

If you like gravel go for bonded resin gravel. The lovely look without the litter tray problem.

It's expensive but worth it.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Yes,bonded resin looks fab. It was a toss up between and paving but I was worried about dh spilling oil on it or something equally as mucky!

[PigletJohn]

lots of good info on the Paving Expert website

(I have no connection)

Looks like it is written by the old fella who has handed over to his son.

The base on which your drive, path or patio is built appears to me to be the most important thing. I'm having some paving done shortly, and the contractor is laying it on a base of MOT1 (which is a specification originating from roadbuilding) which should be available in any part of the country, made from graded and crushed stone, whacked down with a vibrating plate as mine is not big enough to bring a roller in. I'm having a brick edging, to guard against the risk of the surface spreading sideways.

[CelestialLight]

This thread is 5 years old!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Ffs

[PigletJohn]

Damn Zombie thread

[ilovesouthlondon]

Don't worry piglet, I'm still here!