What type of driveway surface should I get?

[greenbirdsong]

What type of driveway surface do you have and would you recommend it?

I currently have a driveway that's about the size of 1.5 cars and is a loose stone/shingle. I want to 'upgrade' it to a better surface.

I like the look of resin driveways but have no experience of them. I also like the look of block paving but all my neighbours who have block paved driveways are full of weeds.
I've also heard you can get tarmac/asphalt in colours like sand/grey etc.

I want something that looks smart with minimal maintenance.

Any recommendations?
Thank you! 

We have gravel, the 20mm size that doesn’t get stuck in shoes and tyres etc. There is stone edging to driveway so it doesn’t escape. Much cheaper than block or resin and better drainage. We have had no weed issues. I also think it looks better if you have a large expanse vs solid options.

Ours is tarmac. It was the most cost effective surface as it's a large area with a long driveway and parking space for several cars. It's been down twenty years and has been completely maintenance free.

I was lusting after porcelain pavers….our house isn’t brand new but could carry it off I think… I just don’t know anyone who has it. Also suspect ££££!

Snowgirl1, that is so true. It all depends on good foundation of any work will show good results.

puffylovett, block paving done properly is amazing! It is a long tradition based on cobbled stones, bricks centuries ago.

I cannot be snobbish about the material because block paving has a wonderful choice of colours and styles to suit.
Natural materials like yorkstone type slabs are lovely but are prone to marking and mould and need special care and maintenance on a regular basis.

I like good old crazy paving. Suits 30s houses and lasts for years, look at those around you

Personally I hate block paving. It just never seems to look like it fits with the building & then there's the dreaded weeds. My neighbour has just had a resin drive laid and he regrets it immediately. What no one tells you is how it can stain really badly. His bathroom drain over-flowed onto the drive because there were leaves in it. The resulting brown water permanently stained the resin. I'd go for professionally laid tarmac.

Concrete print.

All day long.

If you have trees near your driveway then you should avoid block paving or any surface which will not be flexible with tree roots.

When we bought our house, the block paving had an enormous oil stain on it. It’s eventually worn away, I only jet wash it probably once a year but it’s taken the top layer of colour off exposing the aggregate and taking the stain with it. I detest it, despite the fact it’s been laid well.
we’ve no choice but to replace ours as we’ve relandscaped part of the front garden and there’s a huge chunk missing and a small part of its sunk. Can’t get anyone to do just partial block paving patch / repair - they all want to take it up and start afresh which we can’t afford. So, gravel it will be.

We have just had printed concrete it's fabulous, it's terracotta colour and looks like cobbles, weeds don't come through

For anyone who's had printed concrete or tarmac how much did it cost?
Just looking for a ballpark figure after being shocked at 7k for a resin drive. The size is roughly 1.5 cars long and the width is for one car.

If you're in the SE that price sounds about right OP. My neighour paid 5k for a one car space.

I reckon about £75 a metre

Apologies that's printed concrete price

Our drive takes 4 cars and we have block paving , my husband pulls weeds as he sees them so it’s fairly low maintenance .

The only thing I’ve found with printed concrete (sisters old house had it) was it was like sheet ice in winter. She did have a sloped drive, though.

LOVE the idea of resin until I realised our water main runs under our drive and if there was ever an issue with it, it would mean having to dig up the resin (presumably) w which isn’t appealing.