Which driveway

My drive is a bit of a mess , it has sunk in places where the main drain for our row of houses runs underneath it from my back garden.

I am thinking of having a new drive but need to watch the cost . It is tarmac at the moment not very big about 18m sq

I notice a lot of people have block paving , what do you have and is there a weed problem

Re: Which driveway

http://www.esc-surfacing.co.uk/tar_a...driveways.html
Hi Meg...
A couple of my neighbours have this, not sure of the cost, it looks really good. My drive is quite long and is paving slabs - bad for weeds. Block paving is nice to look at but that can sink and weeds get in the gaps. So many to pick from so take your time and get it right... You could just have gravel

Re: Which driveway

Hi Meg. Before having anything done I thoroughly recommend you have the drains checked with a camera. If the garden/drive has sunk it just could be caused by a partially collapsed drain. That very thing happened to me..well not actually me but to my garden.

Re: Which driveway

Meg, I support EZR's comments. There's no point in spending a lot of money to do something on top when down below the basic problem is still there.

If you tell the company who deal with your waste water they might come and inspect it themselves, although being on your land they may make a charge, still cheaper I think than going to a specilaist company direct.

Next point to consider is having sorted the drains (Hopefully not having to put new pipes in) then you need to think about the foundations for the top surface, again some contractors will show you all kinds of 'nice looking' driveways without ever mentioning the foundations.


Finally, when you come to pick a contractor remember that the ones who advertise on TV are just like the double glazing firms, almost any small firm can lay slabs, block pave, shingle, tarmac, anything, but only experienced guys can tell you what foundations you need under this.

I know your drive is not a motorway but we all see the nice tarmac on the top, what costs the millions of pounds is not the tarmac but the foundations underneath.

Yes, you are one end of the scale and the motorway contractors are the other end, but the principle is the same.

Take it one step at a time, first sort the drains, second talk to some small local contractors about foundations, third decide what surface you want.

We had shingle at one house 15 years back, I think you have a dog he(she) won't like it.

Re: Which driveway

I think I'd avoid gravel, even though it's lovely to look at and the 'crunch' is a good anti-intruder deterent. But as we discovered, it's very difficult to push wheelie bins and my mum's wheelchair over.

Re: Which driveway

Hi Jennifer I quite like the look of dressing tar, I could never have just gravel on its own because my drive is on a slope and I think it would all end up at the bottom..
EZ I have had that done a number of times over the years thanks to being on a lane used by heavy tractors with our drain going underneath and collapsing with the weight. I will bear that in mind thank you .

Re: Which driveway

Hi Harvey last time myself and my neighbours tried to discuss drains with Severn Trent Water they didn't want to know about any part that was on private land but they are now responsible for blockages, we used to have to pay . I am aware a well laid drive will have three or four layers
I will take all your points on board thank you Harvey

I only use well recommended people for any work I have done usually from the Consumer Association website and I like to see examples of their work .
I may use the very capable man who is going to relay my patio and a low wall . He arrived with a portfolio of previous work, testimonials and examples of his work I can visit.

I was looking for some ideas to help me decide what will eventually go on the top layer of my drive
My neighbour has little blocks and it looks nice but it was expensive to have done.

Re: Which driveway

Hi Deb gravel is out because of the slope .

Re: Which driveway

Hi Meg, the practical advantage of block paving is that it is very easy to take up and replace should anything in the drive need to be excavated, and weeds wouldn't be a problem if you sprayed annually with a good weedkiller such as Pathclear.

Re: Which driveway

Hi Barry that's a thought thank you .

I understand the weed problem is caused by blow in airborne weeds rather than any that come up through the ground. I don't like using chemicals if I can help it, I am not on a street with road drains but a no through lane which becomes an unadopted road a few feet beyond my house and the run off from the drive goes down the lane .