New drive, gravel or block pavers

[JulietteHasAGun]

Obviously if money was no issue then block pavers would be better. But there’s a significant price difference of a few thousand.

is gravel ok or am I going to regret not paying the extra? Will have a thick membrane underneath, block paved edges to help contain the gravel as well and compacted down

i think anything will be an improvement on our broken up patchwork of concrete and gravel patches

Gravel that is neatly bordered with pavers across the actual entrance looks nice. I would prefer resin but it’s too expensive unless a small area.

I have everything pavers, gravel and printed concrete.

The printed concrete is fine. No weeds except at the edges. I'd have it again, not noticed it being slippy.

Gravel is fine, yes a bit of weeding but it takes me about 5mins once a week and it's an area much larger than you are talking about. The weeds pull out easily. If you're really bothered about any sign of weeds you can use a weed burner on any teeny tiny ones.

The block paving is an absolute pain. I have to weed weekly and it takes ages. The weeds are rooted deep between the pavers, pulling them out is difficult. The weed burner works on some of the weeds but I swear a few are impervious to it. You can jet wash it clean but that washes away the sand / mortar and just encourages more weeds.Then in a couple of areas it has sucken a bit. I think ants use the sand and hardcore underneath it to build nests in too. So definitely not block paving. If I could I would get rid of it completely.

A properly laid gravel drive is very good. There are 3 different layers involved. But it doesn't crack, no oil issues, weeds easy to remove, ice is no problem. Get a reputable company to do the work. Have a hard retaining border installed, a wide one across the front access.

Thanks everyone. I do like the look of the tar and chip but am a bit worried about stuff like longevity and cracking. Oil spills another good point. I’m leaning back towards gravel again. I don’t want to have to be doing it all again in 10-15 years.

We have gravel and limestone. That’s a nice combo and gravel stays in place. Not a fan of block pavers.

Gravel grid are brilliant if there’s a bit of an incline. Also it make the gravel easier to walk on.

Thankfully it’s 100% flat. If we were on a slope I’d be more inclined to pay the extra for sure.

I’m really flip flopping between the gravel and the tar and chip. I like the look of the tar and chip, I like that it will be easier to walk on. Dh is in his 60s, I’m in my 50s. While hopefully we won’t be in wheelchairs/zimmer frames for some time I have to be honest that our mobility will get worse not better.

So I don’t want something hard to walk on if I’m tottering about with a walking stick. But I also don’t want something which only lasts ten years and I have another big bill when we’re both retired.

If you're wanting longevity and minimal maintenance then either printed concrete or tarmac. But these will only properly last if the preparation and base are excellent. They can both last 20+ years if done well.

Something that may or may not be relevant and that's permeability. If you cover your driveway where is the water going to go? .

Agree with all this ⬆️ and I have a large gravel drive. A little easy weeding very occasionally. That’s it.

Well it’s 80% concrete at the minute, just broken up large areas which are different heights with a gap in between and a smaller area (like half a car size) of gravel where I think previous owners ran out of money. So most of it is already not water permeable. I don’t know where the water goes but it seems to drain off ok. House is slightly higher than the driveway with a step up into the porch so I don’t think it will flood the house.

Have you also considered whether you need a soak away?

I hadn’t thought about this but will text the guy and ask him.

I like gravel. You can always hear the crunch when someone is coming to the house.

How much extra is the resin? It looks so good and low maintenance.

Block pavers are a nightmare. The weeds are grim and a nightmare to control. I’m getting rid of ours and getting resin. They look good for about 2 weeks a year then back to a mess.

I like the look of gravel, but two of my neighbours have it and I hate them with a passion. There are constantly stones on the pavement. They get stuck in my shoes and are a distraction for my magpie children who want to "tidy up" on the way home 🙃

Gravel is about 4.5k
tar and chip 7k. Block paving about the same.
think he said resin was 9k.

Oh quite a bit more 😣

We have a steep drive which was broken concrete, and after much research went for large proper paving stones with a gritty surface. Cost more but worth every penny and still looking good 12 years later. Occasional weed breaks through but nothing like those with block paving.

When we put in gravel it was partly for environmental reasons - water run off is a problem in urban areas. For the same reason we chose the larger gravel type and it was well bedded in (the three layer type I think, described above).

At that time I was at the push chair stage and never found it a problem. Ageing parents were fine with it and I have osteoarthritis and often need a walking stick. I have a friend who is a regular wheelchair visitor who doesn’t find it a problem. I have considered putting in “stepping stones” but in practice I’ve found the extra grip and non icing very helpful. DM was happily trotting over her similar but even larger area at 90 and temporarily with the zimmer frame after a hip replacement.

I’m not sure what the grid is but ours was bedded on the membrane on levelled ground with a kind of kerb edging.

I suspect the larger gravel may be a factor in the positive vs negatives on this thread.

We had resin in 2019 so a little while ago. 46 m square was £6700 approx. Just shows how prices have increased. If you’re able to wait and save I would though, our drive still looks great especially when compared to other block paved or gravel driveways along our road. A neighbour knocked to ask who did it last summer and they went ahead and had a resin driveway too, which also looks lovely.

I would have paving slabs. Much better than block paving which if not looked after looks terrible.

they make a massive difference actually

If the gravel is laid properly then walking on it is not a problem. Gravel is only a problem to walk on if it isn't done in the 3 layers and you don't use the angular top dressing, which locks together loosely and stays on the drive.

Resin stains and cracks if it is not done on a firm, flat unbroken surface. It needs to be cleaned regularly as it collects residue.

Block pavers need to have the sand topped up every few years. Also if you drive over them in the same place regularly then they sink in that area. They are not maintenance free either.

Concrete breaks up after a few years and doesn't look good.

Tarmac needs to be road quality for wear and tear.