Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[dbug]

Hope you can still say that in 6 months time mate 

[Dishevelled Den]

choice 1 would be block pave but that area would cost a bit if done properly. Gravel is a PITA with stone all over place. Tarmac fine if you get a good base whacked down.

Depends on your budget and how it fits in with the plot/property.

Yes, I would agree with the block paving - providing there no overhanging trees.

Gravel is a massive pain and similarly tarmac - unless it's very well done - invariably leads to disappointment.

[scimmy_man]

I have seen concrete with gravel tamped into the top layer,

[Vamps]

I got ours done in 2004 a door to door salesman came at exactly the right time......swmbo was in hospital having had a mild Heart Attack...

Anyway, a reputable company so got a quote for 'block work' with a path in front of the house and a step, they did a really good job, originally quoted £5k and I said I would think about it, mind on other things, a few days later they rang me and asked how I would be paying? I said the magic work 'Cash' well they said they could do that for £3.5k and so they got the job........

[blackviper90210]

Nice one Mr V

[Elite_L0ver]

concrete the bugger dave. 

Given half the chance Jon, I would 

I concreted our last drive, sloped nicely to the drains etc, but she "hates" concrete

I want to concrete our patio, but no, it'll be too slippery

Time to change SWMBO me thinks

corrected that for you dave. 

It is already concrete, but a bloody mess, plus she "hates" concrete???  I can't sodding win

Time to change SWMBO as was said

Fancy swopping then? 

No in good mate mines got a few years yet till I trade for a younger model 

[Mr Skrunts]

concrete the bugger dave. 

Given half the chance Jon, I would 

I concreted our last drive, sloped nicely to the drains etc, but she "hates" concrete

I want to deck our patio, but no, it'll be too slippery

Time to change SWMBO me thinks

Whats up with concrete?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sugexp=frgbld&cp=13&gs_id=ax&xhr=t&q=patterned+concrete&safe=off&biw=1184&bih=624&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=2heFT5L6FsrA0QXsyJzABw

[blackviper90210]

concrete the bugger dave. 

Given half the chance Jon, I would 

I concreted our last drive, sloped nicely to the drains etc, but she "hates" concrete

I want to deck our patio, but no, it'll be too slippery

Time to change SWMBO me thinks

Whats up with concrete?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sugexp=frgbld&cp=13&gs_id=ax&xhr=t&q=patterned+concrete&safe=off&biw=1184&bih=624&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=2heFT5L6FsrA0QXsyJzABw

Absolutely nothing

Just SWMBO has a bee in her bonnet and doesn't want it!   Even though it'll be cheaper and easier, as I will lay it 

[MrMoffat]

Had a drive done a few years ago, OK it was a concrete, BUT, they used large rubber pads with a  brickwork pattern which they formed into the concrete (various designs to choose from) and finally painted with a specialist resistant paint. Looked fantastic  and actually lasted for years, and can be repainted if desired. I left SWMBO to choose pattern & colour (red). 
They also formed a semi circle step for the front door. It was a few years ago so do not remember price, but worth considering.   

[pscocoa]

Some ask what is wrong with concrete - nothing in principle but it has to look right in context of house.

Example - I bought my first house new in Leigh, Lancs in 1974. £5000 for a 3 bed semi brand new off Westleigh Lane. The builders basically left a concrete path around the houses with double width shared driveways unmade - so it was natural you just extended the path - in this instance block paving or tarmac would have looked crap. So you need to decide whether you go for cheap/looks odd or do job proper-like!!

An anecdote to the Leigh driveway - we had an arrangement with the RMC mixer drivers who pitched up with just enough left overs to do a driveway on a Saturday around noon - I think we paid £30 for enough to do a drive 40ft long and about 6ft wide and  6 inches deep or so to join with concrete path. ALL the neighbours came out with shovels tampers etc to help out and lay the thing ourselves - ahh those were't days. Where's that ferret.

[mantahatch]

concrete the bugger dave. 

Given half the chance Jon, I would 

I concreted our last drive, sloped nicely to the drains etc, but she "hates" concrete

I want to deck our patio, but no, it'll be too slippery

Time to change SWMBO me thinks

Whats up with concrete?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sugexp=frgbld&cp=13&gs_id=ax&xhr=t&q=patterned+concrete&safe=off&biw=1184&bih=624&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=2heFT5L6FsrA0QXsyJzABw

If I could afford it I would have the concrete inprinted like that, second choice is tarmac. No way will I ever have block paving, it looks so common these days, every man and his dog and even the councils do it these days.

Just my useless opinion of course.

[the alarming man]

problem with any brick is  when the snow comes turns icy too quickly....it took 6 of us to get my old omega 100 ft up a small incline in the snow and ice....guess you are looking at circa £1500-£2000....

[Sir Tigger KC]

I think there's a comparison site for this sort of thing....

www.pikey.com

 

[Marks DTM Calib]

For the real info on options and alos so you know what realy needs doing (as pretty much all the 'pros' dont do it right), have a good look here:

http://www.pavingexpert.com/

Did mine myself with clay pavers (not cheaper blocks), cost 2K for 72m2 all in.

As for the comment re blocks slippy, there only at worst as slippy as concrete (as blocks are only coloured concrete and hence why they DO wear and the colour DOES fade and why they stain)

[blackviper90210]

Cheers for that Mark! Comprehensive site alright. Will have a good read through it when the kids are in bed and SWMBO is not nagging me