Cheap alternative.

[v8 jago]

Im looking for advice or some ideas ! Ive dug my front garden up and left my drive as concrete with the intension of concreting the garden. It would cost around £350 - £400 to concrete but now also thought how crap it would look all concreted. So its got the hardcore down and noting on top yet as im stuck on what to do to make it look decent. Want to put my car there on the odd occasion and not wanting gravel due to cats and there bad toilet habits. Any of you got any ideas ?? Ill concider anything.

[V12Les]

Patterned concrete. If you do the prep/groundwork for them it dosen't work out to expensive. Can workout cheaper if done in the winter months.

[benjdr]

V12Les said:

Patterned concrete. If you do the prep/groundwork for them it dosen't work out to expensive. Can workout cheaper if done in the winter months.

Word of warning. This, done badly, is HORRIBLE. Make sure you see some examples of previous work of whichever company you use.

[v8 jago]

My neighbour has pattened concrete and he doesnt rate it. When he turns the steeling back and forth the coating comes off and it doesnt like any oil etc dripping on in. Just thinking ahead.

[V12Les]

benjdr said:

V12Les said:

Patterned concrete. If you do the prep/groundwork for them it dosen't work out to expensive. Can workout cheaper if done in the winter months.

Word of warning. This, done badly, is HORRIBLE. Make sure you see some examples of previous work of whichever company you use.

Good point. Goes without saying...check anyones work before hand.

[v8 jago]

Only thing is half my drive is normal concrete and dont think the patten would blend in. If i could get something different type of material to break the front up. Was thinking of putting a few pots and plants on the (ex lawned) area when not parking on it just to keep the front looking ok

[satans worm]

v8 jago said:

Only thing is half my drive is normal concrete and dont think the patten would blend in. If i could get something different type of material to break the front up. Was thinking of putting a few pots and plants on the (ex lawned) area when not parking on it just to keep the front looking ok

We have been looking at alternatives for a while for our new build drive, the best looking, when new, we thought was stone resin, but im not convinced on how long the look will last before breaking up under tyer wear.
Another alternative could be coloured tarmac, not necessary the red stuff but apparantly diffeent colours are availble, not looked into it too much, on the to do list.
Really not that much choice out their, and everything seems stupidly expensive.

[Slagathore]

Tarmac is a quick and cheap.

[barney123]

Currently trying to decide what to do with our drive.

Anyone know about this stuff :-

http://www.sureset.co.uk/picture_library_details.p...

??

[V8mate]

v8 jago said:

My neighbour has pattened concrete and he doesnt rate it. When he turns the steeling back and forth the coating comes off and it doesnt like any oil etc dripping on in. Just thinking ahead.

Sounds like it hasn't been sealed.

Mine is super-tough and any spills are washed away perfectly with some washing-up liquid and hot water.

[v8 jago]

Tarmac isnt the way i would like to go and the guy with the concrete drive seals it yearly. I think he says it costs around £70 for the sealer and power washes the drive first thing then lets it dry and applys the sealer. Im not far from yarm ! Im near saltburn but the problem about getting a company in is that ive lost my job otherwise id have the existing drive pulled out and all the space out the front done rather than leaving the drive and just doing the garden I love the idea of the reclaimed stone to get it all done but as the total aera out front of my house is 60m2 and it would cost £3600 if it was all prepaired I know you get what you pay for, But its a lot for most these days the way things are.

[VxDuncan]

I walk past a house every day that has a patterned concrete drive, done a couple of weeks ago. That did a pretty good job, almost looks like a proper surface. Trouble is the company that did it have insisted on stamping the company name, logo and phone number on one corner (right next to the pavement). It really ruins it. If you go this route please make sure they won't do this!

I'd still be concerned about resale value (it looks crap) and being slippery in the wet (though I can't vouch for that). I'd go with tarmac if on a budget personally.