Block paving driveway costs

[Isouf]

Hi!
Just curious if you had your driveway done recently how much did it cost (sqm)? I am near Cambridge.

I know there are a lot of variables but just trying to get an ideia.

Also if you have suggestions of block pavers for a warm/colourful driveway (we don't like the grey ones with black border)

Thank you!

We had a block paved driveway and wouldn’t choose it again. The cost also factors in pressure washing and resanding it far more frequently than I anticipated as sealing doesn’t seem to last. I also have keep on top of the weeding. I can’t remember how much is cost per sq m, but when we can eventually afford it, we will go for another surface.

I think ours is called brindle. It is warm, but it looks grey quickly and needs treating.

We wouldn’t do block paving again either. It’s a nightmare to maintain.

"The cost also factors in pressure washing and resanding it far more frequently than I anticipated as sealing doesn’t seem to last"

My experience is If you use an acrylic sealent it lasts 12 months max. I put resiblock a polyurethane sealent down just before lockdown and driveway is still largely weed free. It still needs rinsing down a few times a year.

Visually it's the one we like the most.
I like resin (but that's more expensive as far as i know) and my partner doesn't like it.

Tarmac might need planning permission because it's non permeable (i read a few things about this but haven't investigated further). Plus it can easily be an eye sore- could potentially look ok if it was designed nicely with a cobble stones border or something like that and loads of plants and bushes.

Imprinted concret not nice at all (no offence).
Gravel we have a small section currently and stones go on the pavement and the driveway is not flat neither is inclined towards the house.

So i think that leave us with block paving unless there are other options i dont know of?

Permeable block paving is more costly than the standard. Normal block paving has a hardcore and sand base so although it's not waterproof it's not permeable either.
If your council has restrictions on non permeable paving then you might need to apply for planning permission for block paving and install a soakaway or rain garden for the runoff.

You say imprinted concrete is not nice, but its the one thats guaranteed not to have weeds and shit growing through it like block paving.

Additionally, imprinted concrete comes in advance designs that can make it appear like block paving, if thats the specific sort of visual design you are looking for.

Personally I would never have block paving. Over time, gaps appear, endless weeding and colour fading - fuck that.

Tarmac isn’t permeable but asphalt is - and you can lay resin over it if you fancied in the future? It’s also one of the cheapest and lowest maintenance options.

Part of the variation in cost is going to come from the difference in price of different types of block paving. You can pay anything from £25 per sq metre up to £70 per sq metre just for the raw materials.

Labour can easily be £50-£70 per sq metre on top of that.

"Also if you have suggestions of block pavers for a warm/colourful driveway"

Marshalls do a block called Tegula which comes in colours other than grey etc. The Traditional, Harvest or Autumn colours are probably what you're looking for (cost £45 per sq metre)

https://www.marshalls.co.uk/gardens-and-driveways/products/drivesett-tegula-original-block-paving

Or here are some more examples that are slightly more expensive

https://www.pavingsuperstore.co.uk/block-paving-and-setts/cobble-setts?colour_filter=rose--2c--brindle--26--terracotta

I didn't know about the asphalt so thank you!
I quite like the tegula ones!
Thank you all! I was just looking for some more real life examples and if there were other alternatives i haven't though of 🙂

We’ve got resin with the tiny pebbles in. It’s lovely & comes in a great range of colours. This is ours.