New block paved driveway

[Chris240]

Finally in a position to sort out our dilapidated old tarmac driveway that’s through to the mud in places. It’s huge at almost 350sqm.

Had a couple of quotes through so far, first came in at £175 a meter (which seemed very high) from a guy who’d done block paving for family about a decade ago and the second came in at £89 a meter (which seemed incredibly low). Both without drainage.

Has anyone else that’s had similar work done happy to share what they ended up paying or what I should really be looking for as I expected a bit of variation in pricing but that’s crazy!? Based in Bedfordshire.

[Wacky Racer]

I had my drive done around eighteen years ago with Marshalls paving.

I might be wrong, but I think it was around £16k including materials and drainage and manhole work.



It is wet because I had just finished power washing it an hour before.

Treat the inevitable weeds with Gallup XL at double recommended strength.

[Chris240]

Looks great! And very similar to what where going for. Do you know roughly how many sqm your drive is?

I think what’s got me concerned is the large variation in price, just not sure what is the ‘right’ amount to pay for such a big area.

[8-P]

Here’s a quote I went with from 2017

The cheapest was 3900, the most expensive 7000

Marshalls savannah blocks.

https://www.marshalls.co.uk/gardens-and-driveways/...

Bet it would be double now. Drive still doing well.

Driveway

- Take up all existing tarmac and grass area on the left side.
- Remove tarmac on the entrance.
- Put down scalping stone where needed.
- Fit 2 new inset manhole lids.
- Put in new aco drains across the garage.
- Lay new block paving approx. 60 square metres.
- Build new step at the front door area, Savannah blocks as discussed.

Price £4300

This price includes all materials and waste disposal.

There is no VAT to pay.

Edited by 8-P on Saturday 6th September 20:28

[Wacky Racer]

Chris240 said:

Looks great! And very similar to what where going for. Do you know roughly how many sqm your drive is?

I think what’s got me concerned is the large variation in price, just not sure what is the ‘right’ amount to pay for such a big area.

No idea Chris, but that picture is about 70% of it.

Be careful, there are a lot of cowboys about.

As always, preparation is the key, mine had several tons of MOT1 underneath.

[Evanivitch]

Chris240 said:

Finally in a position to sort out our dilapidated old tarmac driveway that’s through to the mud in places. It’s huge at almost 350sqm.
.

Do you need it all to be done? You could do what you need for regular use, then grids and gravel the occasionally used parts. That would give you options for drainage and a soakaway.

[Jeremy-75qq8]

I have one. It is light grey with darker edges. Looks lovely but ... it gets tyre marks on it from all the cars so if I did it again I would go a bit darker.

[Dog Biscuit]

We've just had our driveway done - bigish job. 250sqm. Paid 25k.

Absolutely top notch from a very well regarded company. Included tapping into existing drainage and a perimeter house front with aco drains

Looks fab and very very pleased

We're oooop norf in Warrington area

Edited by Dog Biscuit on Sunday 7th September 05:55

[Alex Z]

Evanivitch said:

Chris240 said:

Finally in a position to sort out our dilapidated old tarmac driveway that’s through to the mud in places. It’s huge at almost 350sqm.
.

Do you need it all to be done? You could do what you need for regular use, then grids and gravel the occasionally used parts. That would give you options for drainage and a soakaway.

That would be my suggestion too. Pave the area you need, and reinstate a garden for the rest.

[menousername]

8-P said:

Here’s a quote I went with from 2017

The cheapest was 3900, the most expensive 7000

Marshalls savannah blocks.

https://www.marshalls.co.uk/gardens-and-driveways/...

Bet it would be double now. Drive still doing well.

Driveway

- Take up all existing tarmac and grass area on the left side.
- Remove tarmac on the entrance.
- Put down scalping stone where needed.
- Fit 2 new inset manhole lids.
- Put in new aco drains across the garage.
- Lay new block paving approx. 60 square metres.
- Build new step at the front door area, Savannah blocks as discussed.

Price £4300

This price includes all materials and waste disposal.

There is no VAT to pay.

Edited by 8-P on Saturday 6th September 20:28

I like that- similar to what I want for mine.

May I ask which shade is that?

[borcy]

I got a quote for a 3 car drive 5 years ago, 15k. Probably double that now.

[Juan B]

My parents just had a block paved drive finished this week.

Around £100/sqm, £15k ish for just over 150sqm. North West based (Wirral). Photo is a bit dark sorry

[Chipstick]

Juan B said:

My parents just had a block paved drive finished this week.

Around £100/sqm, £15k ish for just over 150sqm. North West based (Wirral). Photo is a bit dark sorry

Is that slate with a charcoal border? That’s what I have booked in to be laid later this year. The lightness was something I was concerned about, especially reading about tyre marks above - but hoping the various shades in the slate are dark enough opposed to pure light grey.

[Phooey]

Not sure on size of ours but it is big. If I was doing it again I would tarmac it and use a nice edging. It's just too much to maintain - IMO block paving is best suited to smaller driveways whereas tarmac / resin / stone for larger driveways.

Edited by Phooey on Sunday 7th September 17:24

[Jeremy-75qq8]

Chipstick said:

Is that slate with a charcoal border? That’s what I have booked in to be laid later this year. The lightness was something I was concerned about, especially reading about tyre marks above - but hoping the various shades in the slate are dark enough opposed to pure light grey.

Find someone else with the same colour and ask.

We have a 911 , a Cayenne and a vw up. They all do it so it is not the cars ( other than all vw group but the tyres are all different brands !)

[thebraketester]

Bedfordshire is a big place, I might be able to recommend someone if you are in the lower end of the 'shire.

[Chris240]

Evanivitch said:

Do you need it all to be done? You could do what you need for regular use, then grids and gravel the occasionally used parts. That would give you options for drainage and a soakaway.

Unfortunately that is only the part of it😂 the total area is about 550sqm but the other 200 odd on top of the block paving is going to be grass/gravel.

[Chris240]

thebraketester said:

Bedfordshire is a big place, I might be able to recommend someone if you are in the lower end of the 'shire.

We’re down just south of Leighton buzzard at the bottom of the county, any recommendations would be great thank you!

[Skyedriver]

Not sure how it works when you are replacing existing but local authorities usually want drainage to stop the surface water from your drive getting onto the public surface water drainage.

[Chris240]

Skyedriver said:

Not sure how it works when you are replacing existing but local authorities usually want drainage to stop the surface water from your drive getting onto the public surface water drainage.

Agreed, and given the slope we’re on it’ll be a fair old torrent into the road when it rains hard.