New driveway.

[Beezerk]

I'm after a bit of advice on a new driveway we are planning to have installed.
The current drive is a single paved driveway, it looks a bit tatty and the weeds between the slabs are a right pain in the @rse to keep at bay.
We are planning on widening both the entrance and driveway to turn it into a double drive.
Now I don't have a clue about driveways, gravel, paved, bricks, resin, tarmac, not a clue on the pros and cons of them all.
Has anyone got any experience with a new driveway recently, what did you go for a why?
Also, will I need planning permission if I widen the drive entrance, I'm guessing it would be by around 2 metres.

 

[Hobbit]

Just had the drive extended by 4m, and 2 times 4m squares done out back. In each case it was dug out 15cm and a steel reinforcing mesh put in, then concrete and tiled. In each case, the reinforcing was put in to cope with the weight - car/jacuzzi/shed. Cost €2,600. Took 2 guys 4 days.

 

[AmandaJR]

Had imprinted concrete which cracked in places but held firm. Just changed to resin and so far so good. Looks great.

 

[Blue in Munich]

I'm after a bit of advice on a new driveway we are planning to have installed.
The current drive is a single paved driveway, it looks a bit tatty and the weeds between the slabs are a right pain in the @rse to keep at bay.
We are planning on widening both the entrance and driveway to turn it into a double drive.
Now I don't have a clue about driveways, gravel, paved, bricks, resin, tarmac, not a clue on the pros and cons of them all.
Has anyone got any experience with a new driveway recently, what did you go for a why?
Also, will I need planning permission if I widen the drive entrance, I'm guessing it would be by around 2 metres.

Don’t think you will need planning permission as such to widen the crossover but you will have to do it through your local authority. The norm these days is to have an online application process.

If the driveway slopes towards the road you may also have to put drainage in to prevent your runoff reaching the carriageway.

As for materials, we did ours in black limestone flags over a concrete base. Depending on where your services run to the house, that gives you the best chance of a matching reinstatement if you have to renew one of them. And you may want to run a couple of small ducts under the new one to future proof it for fibre broadband if you’ve not already got it.

 

[rudebhoy]

A couple of the neighbours have had theirs relaid recently and paid 5-6k. Wife wants ours doing, but that's a lot of money for something that isn't going to improve our quality of life one iota.

Have just had the garden landscaped and am getting a new roof on the conservatory in a couple of weeks time. At least I can see the tangible benefits of both. The driveway is just where I park the car.

 

[need_my_wedge]

Extended around our driveway a few years back, had it done in resin. Very happy with it.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Do whatever allows the least amount of weeds through. Weeds are the great enemy.

I see the full range of replacement driveways on our estate. The resin ones look pretty good to be fair, they seem to last the best, but I have no idea of cost I'm afraid.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Block paving, simple and classic. However looks good and stands the test of time

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Block paving, simple and classic. However looks good and stands the test of time

Apart from the weeds coming up between the paving, the discoloration of the bricks. Our drive is block paving. If we ever replace it, I'm with @rudebhoy on this so it's unlikely, it wont be to replace with the same.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Apart from the weeds coming up between the paving, the discoloration of the bricks. Our drive is block paving. If we ever replace it, I'm with @rudebhoy on this so it's unlikely, it wont be to replace with the same.

Wet n forget it twice a year keeps it looking good

Weeds don't come up if properly done.... Weed proof membrane applied only weeds you then get are surface ones from birds dropping seeds .. and they clear up easy

 

[rulefan]

If block paving is not laid on a concrete base it is likely to distort where the tyre tracks are. There are always problems with weeds and resanding. Looking at the various neighbours. resin seems to keep its appearance best. Indian or other stone flags look good but may need repointing every few years.
My original tarmac lasted 25 years. New tarmac laid on to top and extended 25 years ago. Still virtually perfect.

You will need local council approval for a dropped kerb.

Whatever you go for get a good foundation.

This was a good suggestion "And you may want to run a couple of small ducts under the new one to future proof it for fibre broadband if you’ve not already got it."

 

[SatchFan]

Had ours done a couple of years ago. One of our best decisions ever. Front garden scooped out and replaced by block paving. We also retained a small part of the borders just to break things up with a bit of planting. The front kerb was dropped as well which makes it very convenient to get in and out.

 

[GreiginFife]

Apart from the weeds coming up between the paving, the discoloration of the bricks. Our drive is block paving. If we ever replace it, I'm with @rudebhoy on this so it's unlikely, it wont be to replace with the same.

If the base has been prepared and laid correctly with appropriate membrane giving full coverage then weeds will not come up through it and if the block is sealed and maintained properly then it won't discolour. If you don't care for concrete or resin then it will deteriorate too. Due to stresses, weather and climate no driveway surface is maintenance free.

We had ours done 4 years ago. Originally was 2 rows of slabs running from the pavement right down the side of the house to the garage. On quite an incline. The "gravel" that had been there was all but gone and the ground around the slabs at the top of the incline had started to crumble. It was a total mess. Single width so cars had to go in one after the other. I ended up parking on the street to avoid using it.
We took 4M from the front garden, extended it out so the "top" (past the house basically) is block paved in "buff" colour 6M x 4M and the "bottom" (narrow stretch down along the house to the garage) we had re-laid as "buff" slab and Cotswold Pea Gravel. Cars both sit at the top, bottom is only ever used if we have visitors and one car needs to be put down the bottom.

4 years on the buff colour is stull buff and we get no weeds as it was done properly. Each year (end of summer) it gets brushed and hosed before a sealer is sprayed on to it (whole thing takes about an hour) and it's as good as new.

We have also had no issues with blocks "sinking" and that's even with a big X4 sitting on it most of the time.

 

[Beezerk]

Thanks for the replies, I've done a bit of reading, maybe a permeable block paving may be the route for us, no planning permission required from what I gather if we go down that route.
I'm struggling to find if I need permission to widen the entrance though, it's just on a cul de sac so not onto a main road as such.

 

[spongebob59]

I use these products and can recommend, Apply once a year for easy maintenance

https://www.smartseal.co.uk/driveway/block-paving/

 

[SatchFan]

We used Bradstone permeable block paving so no drainage channels required. Each block has a number of raised grooves on the sides which give a 6mm gap filled in with a 3mm jointing aggregate.

 

[williamalex1]

We had ours extended about 10 years ago to save us moving cars about. Very pleased with it, I pressure wash, re-sand and apply weed/moss killer around spring time every year. I still get the odd weed and bit of moss popping up but it's easily maintained.
The most important part is the ground work preparation for base foundations,.
We also lowered and extended the kerb opening. We had to inform the council about the kerb, they came and checked it was done to the correct standard.
I take you're getting a curved driveway to suit your slice

 

[spongebob59]

Just as an aside, block paving cleaning seems to just as popular as window cleaning rounds around here ?

I'm guessing the eastern European car wash gangs needed a sideline during lockdown.

 

[williamalex1]

Just as an aside, block paving cleaning seems to just as popular as window cleaning rounds around here ?

I'm guessing the eastern European car wash gangs needed a sideline during lockdown.

It's a messy job, especially mono block

 

[Blue in Munich]

Thanks for the replies, I've done a bit of reading, maybe a permeable block paving may be the route for us, no planning permission required from what I gather if we go down that route.
I'm struggling to find if I need permission to widen the entrance though, it's just on a cul de sac so not onto a main road as such.

assuming that you have footway adjoining your existing crossover, you'll be looking for something like this on your local council website;

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-a...-licences/vehicle-crossovers-or-dropped-kerbs

In layman's terms, you won't be allowed near doing it (nor do you want to) because of the possibility of damage to services in the footway. The council will need to approve the works & the contractors.