Our services
Block paving, resin, tarmac or a stone or porcelain patio. Each has its strengths, and each one fails early if the ground beneath it is wrong. Here’s how they compare, and how we build them.
What we build
Every service page has a price guide you can try, the build step by step, finishes to choose from and answers to common questions.
01
Concrete block drives laid on a properly dug, compacted base, with edges haunched in concrete and drainage planned before we start.
02
Smooth, permeable resin bound surfaces laid 18mm thick over a sound porous base, with UV-stable resin that won’t yellow in sunlight.
03
Hard-wearing tarmac drives laid hot in two layers over a compacted stone base, with solid edging and drainage designed in.
04
Sandstone, porcelain and Yorkshire stone patios and paths, every slab on a full mortar bed with falls away from the house.
Compare
How the three main driveway surfaces differ in look, lifespan, drainage and upkeep. For the full picture, read our block paving vs resin vs tarmac guide.
| — | Block paving | Resin bound | Tarmac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Textured and traditional, in many colours and patterns | Smooth natural stone with no joints | Plain and uniform, usually black or red |
| Typical lifespan | 20–25 years | 15–25 years | 15–20 years |
| Permeable? | Permeable blocks, yes; standard blocks need drainage | Yes, when laid on a porous base | No, it needs drainage designing in |
| Maintenance | Sweep, top up joint sand, treat weeds | Sweep and rinse; wash once or twice a year | Sweep, and clean up oil and fuel quickly |
| Typical time for 50 m² | 4–6 days | 2–4 days | 2–3 days |
| Repairs | Easy: blocks lift out and go back in | Possible, but patches can show | Possible, but patches usually show |
| Suits | Heavy use, slopes and traditional homes | Modern homes and permeable front gardens | Long or large drives on a tighter budget |
Planning & drainage
Since 2008, the way a front driveway drains decides whether it needs planning permission.
Since October 2008, a new or replacement hard surface of more than 5 m² in a front garden in England has needed planning permission. The exception is a surface that lets rainwater soak through, or that drains onto a lawn, border or soakaway within your boundary. The aim is to keep rain out of overloaded drains and off the road.
We design around the rule from the start, so in most cases you won’t need to apply. Resin bound on a porous base and permeable block paving let water drain through. Standard block paving and tarmac are laid to fall towards a border, or onto a channel drain that feeds a soakaway. Our guide explains how the 2008 permeable-surface rule works, including the exceptions for listed buildings and flats.
Free quote
That’s what the survey is for. We’ll look at your ground, slopes and drainage, then tell you plainly which options will work, including the cheaper ones.
Free survey · fixed written quote · no pressure
