Driveway options, please

[doglover]

We had 2 recent quotes for a block paved drive for just under £3k. We had no experience of such work and were quite surprised at these costs. As we're on a tight budget and still have several other jobs to budget for, do any of you have any other suggestions for us? We're not keen on gravel/shingle because there are several neighbouring cats who would, I fear, use it as a toilet! How about concrete maybe with a nice brick edging? Would that be cheaper but still look neat and tidy? TIA

bump

You can get that pressed concrete so it's made to look like paving- not sure if it's cheaper but worth a google and might be a good compromise. Or you can get resin bonded gravel which might solve the issue with the cats!

IMO the quote doesn't sound mad- its far more expensive than I thought laying a drive.

I'm sure you're right about the quote, OB. I'll investigate the pressed concrete option.

We're going to be stuffed when it comes to the back garden patio quote, aren't we?!!

We budgeted roughly £4k for the 'outside' works which now looks somewhat unrealistic. Bugger!

If you go for a cotswold stone style chipping, it's very unlikely any cats will be interested...they don't even like walking on it!

In terms of costs that sounds about right. We are in he middle of laying a drive and we are going with cotswold stone with a block paving border...we are doing all the labour and the material costs/waste removal are coming in at £600 - £700 and that's for 4x5m!

Cotswold stone style chipping? Right, will google that! What makes it unattractive to cats, I wonder?

it's quite big stones, not gravel so think that's it (scientific!)

Ok, not so easy to 'scratch', I suppose! The only problem with loose stones is they may fly up and hit windows? Our drive ends right by the house so this could possibly be an issue.

Can you get a such a thing as a concrete or tarmac drive with gravel stones sunk in ............... looks like gravel but the stones don't actually move?!

They are normally quite compacted down but I don't know for sure about flying stones.

Ours will be up to our window too

You can get gravel which is stuck down as an earlier poster said I think it's bonded resin or something.

It looks amazing but is smooth to the touch. I'm not sure about costs but block paving is very labour intensive so is probably pretty expensive.

Thanks, MLBF. I'm impressed that you're doing all the labour etc yourselves Unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to do this ourselves but what an ENORMOUS saving! Well done

When I say "we" it's the royal we!! DH has been out all week after work digging up the grass/soil (in the rain) He's very excited about the hardcore coming on Tuesday!

It's amazing how excited we can all become about the strangest things!! Best of luck to him!