Block paving recommendations

[Healey73]

Looking to block pave the drive. I'm arranging removal of concrete and base to be added. Need someone to lay the blocks.

Any recommendations? Location is just north of Norwich.

[DustToGlory]

If you can afford it use clay blocks instead of concrete.

[Healey73]

DustToGlory said:

If you can afford it use clay blocks instead of concrete.

Good tip, thank you. They look great, will look into it.

[B'stard Child]

If you have old cars don't

[Healey73]

Well the old one can piddle all it likes on the garage floor! But something to consider, ta

[B'stard Child]

Healey73 said:

Well the old one can piddle all it likes on the garage floor! But something to consider, ta

Sorry was written in haste before the laptop battery died

IMHO

Brick weave is high maintenance it might not seem like it initially but

- If you clean it down twice a year to stop the moss growing in the cracks it needs re-sanding and it's a mucky job and uses a lot of water if you are on a meter

- the moss and weeds grow fast in low traffic areas

- Oil Stains are a real eyesore and I haven't found a coating that actaully works and I run older cars and in the case of my Opels they aren't very oil tight (stops the underside rusting)

I did an area equivilent to 5 car spaces and I really regret it from a maintenance perspective - If I had my time again I'd go for coloured and patterned concrete

[B'stard Child]

This is mine a year after laying it (and several years ago)



You can already easily see staining and moss/weed buildup in low traffic areas (not sure where all the cars are in that shot it's a bit rare to see it empty.....

Some staing was so bad I had to resort to brick acid and that whilst it get rid of bad stains it changes the colour of the bricks unless you do it all

Only time it looks great is wet and under snow (I said it was 5 car spaces)

Edited by B'stard Child on Monday 20th May 23:57

[Healey73]

Thank you for the pointers, I have also looked at concrete and resin but I have been finding it hard to find anyone interested in quoting let alone doing it. A few have tried to push tar and chip but I don't really want loose stones.

Oh and probably another reason for edging towards brick weave is the small matter of the other half liking it!

[B'stard Child]

Healey73 said:

Thank you for the pointers, I have also looked at concrete and resin but I have been finding it hard to find anyone interested in quoting let alone doing it. A few have tried to push tar and chip but I don't really want loose stones.

Oh and probably another reason for edging towards brick weave is the small matter of the other half liking it!

My other half liked it that's why she wanted it done in the first place - till she has to dig the moss and weeds out or help clean it then she moans like chuff (mainly about my leaky cars but I had them before the drive was done so I remind her of that)

Loose stones was out for me too - I do occasionally jack up a car on the drive so hard standing was important but I really really regret the brick weave choice

[Healey73]

Thanks Ian, some useful ammo there, the weeding may just do it.

[B'stard Child]

Healey73 said:

Thanks Ian, some useful ammo there, the weeding may just do it.

LOL - it seriously winds Mrs BC up as she likes a "presentable image" and I sort of let the side down sometimes but when i have a space boy do those weeds grow fast and I all I hear is her muttering about the weeds and of she goes to remove some

I offered to use some weedkiller and spray all but enviroment and cats etc meant the easy option was out

[B'stard Child]

To give it some balance we have a very small back garden (space for one car - don't laugh) and it has to be very low maintenance - south facing so moss doesn't grow so fast and the brick weave gets a wash once a year



Err it was her idea to use old tyres to grow spuds in..... honest





On reflection a good point about south and north facing - drive is on the north side so gets very little sun so maybe my view is tainted by that

[Healey73]

Love the tyre planters, don't think I'll get away with that though. I don't think of the north south divide, most of the drive and all of the front is north facing so could be moss city!

I think I will push for tarmac again, maybe with some coloured Chipping's to keep her happy. Now to find a tarmac contractor who isn't called O'Learey.

[B'stard Child]

Healey73 said:

Love the tyre planters, don't think I'll get away with that though.

Mrs BC is waiting for a 6 pot block to be avaliable - she wants to manage her mint plants (multiple flavours) by using a straight six block as a planter