+59 votes
by (770 points)
Ive finally saved enough to get a driveway in (after parking on my lawn the last few years) i cant decide how to have it. im having another flower boarder the other side but thats all i can decide. Which one of the 2 mock ups do you think i should go for?  
Ive finally saved enough to get a driveway in (after parking on my lawn the last few years) i cant d

55 Answers

+34 votes
by (860 points)
 
Best answer
A slab going to your door would be nice for 1. Handicap accessibility 2. If you ever need to wheel anything heavy in/out of your house.  
+22 votes
by (2.6k points)
Why only a little bit of block paving and not all gravel?  
by (770 points)
@periwig35390 just as a bit of a boarder and to try stop the gravel from moving onto the pavement lol
by (2.6k points)
@kaslik947 fair enough
+12 votes
by (650 points)
A big huge drive, more space loading and getting in and out without going on path where slabs would be I'd go for but what works for you really
by (810 points)
We have ours all gravel bar a slabbed path that runs from the entrance to the door , for the same reason you said I have a relative who has crutches or a wheel chair and the gravel just wasn’t practical for her it looks fine tho  
+15 votes
by (2.2k points)
If u put path all the way down u might run over it and break them
by (770 points)
The plan was to use concrete slabs that are safe to drive on
+41 votes
by (640 points)
How about all block paved with your flower borders each side?  
by (770 points)
@rancor86 we are doing it ourselves to save money and i think it would be daunting to attempt all that ourselves  
by (810 points)
Ps ours has been done over a yr and we drive over and park on it at times too without any issues
by (640 points)
@kaslik947 it would look lovely but picture one (slabs door to pavement)
+40 votes
by (640 points)
I’d go for the one with a path personally, I hate walking on gravel x
+25 votes
by (610 points)
The first, with the path.  
+41 votes
by (5.1k points)
Have the path to your door, not only will it look better but you won’t walk all the grit from the gravel into your house
+29 votes
by (1.8k points)
I’d definitely go for a path  
+3 votes
by (1.6k points)
I'd do the one with more gravel so could have option of having 2 cars on there or larger van and space to move around.  
+12 votes
by (7.3k points)
The one on the left and why not run two parallel strips of block paving in the gravel area the same width as your car tyres?, saves digging it out of them
+28 votes
by (1.6k points)
No1. Gravel to park on then the nice to path as a nicer entrance to the house x
+13 votes
by (2k points)
I'd definitely go with the path option. Gravel is a nightmare for going everywhere at least you can sweep if off the path and you have a smooth path to walk on. And it will define it better.  
+32 votes
by (690 points)
I would have something hard to the road save you getting dirty shoes as gravel can be dirty if wet xx
+8 votes
by (7k points)
I would just patten imprint concrete the lot.  
by (2.7k points)
@kelter I agree gravel is s nightmare gets stuck in shoes
by (770 points)
@kelter ive been told id have to have planning permission as its not a surface that allows water to drain through it. Its beautiful though ❤
by (7k points)
@kaslik947 planning permission really ? Would of thought just putting a drain in would sort that x
by (320 points)
@kaslik947 resin you need the water runs through it if its laid right.  
+7 votes
by (910 points)
Tarmac it weeds grow through block paving after a while
by (5k points)
@whangee Yes it does but it's cleanable. Tar can get weeds growing through and holes but it is nice when its just been done.  
+32 votes
by (2.1k points)
Block pave the whole area even if it means waiting a bit longer. you will regret gravel
+25 votes
by (1.6k points)
The second one as surely slabs will break if drive on them?  
by (770 points)
@andi904 the space is more than big enough for the car and i was planning on using thick concrete slabs that are safe to drive on
+17 votes
by (770 points)
Has anyone resined their gravel to keep it in place? Or used grids?  
by (5k points)
@kaslik947 I wanted resin but it was silly money. It looks nice though
+12 votes
by (1.3k points)
Wonder how much block paving would be on a drive that size? I have gravel and hate it! X
by (2.7k points)
@ethelred my drive including drop kerb was £5800. It's two generous parking spaces but no more but I also had a bit of grass on pavement which I had to pay for all that to be tarmac down to kerb. I had 5 kerbs dropped no regrets on that bit. I was told it was about 3 grand for my drive and 3 for the double pavement to be tarmac and drop kerb. It is longer than a car but not by much but obviously adds to sqm 4 years ago
by (1.3k points)
@ladder blimey it’s very expensive but sooooooo worth it! X
by (2.7k points)
@ethelred you might get a cheaper quote I had 3 went for the middle one as that's who was doing all the drives round by me. I did it a year after I got my mortgage so I get my money's worth cos I'm tight. I have a lodger so the first years money covered most of the cost. I'm never planing to do it again it was grass before and no joke the kerb was 6 inch high and had to park on it mines ground floor flat so 2 or 3 cars out there before its so much easier now i have 2 parking spaces never hace to worry about carrying shopping back or damage bumping car up the kerb or getting hit cos the roads only a car wide with parked cars
+21 votes
by (590 points)
We've got gravel, last year we topped it up and made it look good , evened it out and generally tidied it up. This year it looks rubbish again. Muddy under foot ( even though it has membrane underneath) I'm constantly weeding it. Unfortunately as its quite large ( 4 cars and a small caravan size) it's too expensive to change it. However if I could afford it I would have resin put down. House down the road has it in a golden gravel it looks lovely
by (770 points)
@mannerly gosh that must be huge! Is it hardcored underneath?  
by (590 points)
@kaslik947 I'm not sure it was already down when we moved in. Weve just tidied it up a bit. Probably not  
by (5k points)
@mannerly What about brick weave but all drives have their drawbacks. You know the shingle drawbacks and brickweave gets weedy.  
by (590 points)
@chenoweth what's that? Thanks  
by (5k points)
@mannerly What, brickweave?  
by (590 points)
@chenoweth yes  sorry - what's brickweave?  
by (5k points)
@mannerly Well it gets sand laid and whacked flat and bricks laid in different directions in a pattern (and there are various colours of brick to choose from). Once laid sand is brushed between the bricks to stop weeds growing. Ours has been down about 16 years and is fine. Every couple of years we jet wash it. We've been pleased with it but as I've said there seem to be drawbacks with all drives, they all need maintained. You're welcome to see ours any time we're in Dersingham.  
by (590 points)
@chenoweth ooh that's lovely of you thanks. And thank you for taking the time reply to my post  
by (5k points)
@mannerly You're very welcome and as I said you're welcome to see mine - which is ready for jet washing so you'd see it at its worst.  
+22 votes
by (620 points)
Try not to use gravel Hun it’s a nightmare for a number of reasons x x
+25 votes
by (920 points)
I prefer the first picture with the path, with only a small amount of block paving you are still going to get gravel all over, we have part concrete and part gravel drive and its covered in little bits of gravel.  
+25 votes
by (590 points)
1st pic xx
+22 votes
by (1.3k points)
I had all my drive flagged and garden , best thing ive ever had done x
+24 votes
by (630 points)
I would slab it all and put cement in between slabs stop weeds coming through, I’ve got block paving and regretting it now as weeds come through all the time nightmare!  
+30 votes
by (5k points)
2nd pic to get more cars on. I had to get planning permission to drop my kerbs (I have 2) and then the cost of dropping the kerb. We had brickweave but it has drawbacks it gets weedy. It's nice to have a space for visitors and workmen.  
+29 votes
by (1.7k points)
Mines about the same size and we park 2 cars side by side. Was tempted to resin bond it but can imagine I'd have to pull my pants down for that.  
+5 votes
by (1.1k points)
Definitely have a path, the gravel will be a pain otherwise and go in your house on your shoes. Make sure you prep it all properly and gravel will be fine X
+1 vote
by (400 points)
If you can afford it and wait, I’d have block all the way, so much less maintenance in the long run.  
+33 votes
by (670 points)
I’d have patterned concrete, block paving is hard to maintain and getting rid of weeds
by (2.7k points)
@flyman563 depends how well you did your base mines no trouble. Plus you can dig it up and sell it if times are hard lol
by (670 points)
@ladder true but I didn’t have time to do mine and concrete there is no maintenance. I did sell the block paving though  
by (2.7k points)
@flyman563 you have to hace a surface water can go through if it's a new drive now
by (2.7k points)
@flyman563 the man laughed at me when I said I can't sell old tarmac. Apart from my flat it's the most expensive thing I've ever bought /owned
by (670 points)
@ladder ah we have drains embedded in ours
+15 votes
by (630 points)
Which ever one had less gravel! It’s so annoying
+28 votes
by (2.4k points)
2nd pic  
+11 votes
by (640 points)
Personally I'd either slab it all. over or block pave all over maybe even gravel could be cheaper option x
+41 votes
by (1.5k points)
First picture is what I would pick
+27 votes
by (1k points)
If you want gravel make sure you put grids down first to contain it saves it going everywhere and makes it look much more tidy
+40 votes
by (1.1k points)
Having got gravel I can tell you it's a bloody night mare, every time my car pulls off the drive it brings so much of the gravel with it, I am forever brushing it up
+27 votes
by (650 points)
My neighbour as a gravel drive and I'm not joking when I say it goes all over the street its really annoying. I'd honestly put slabs down that you can drive onto.  
+11 votes
by (380 points)
I’ve got gravel, hate it, the stones all gather in one place and I have to keep moving them around and they walk into the house, definitely go for something more solid.  
+16 votes
by (470 points)
Have thought of paving n tarmac
by (1.3k points)
@karlee97 was it expensive to get this done please
by (470 points)
@ethelred I did I'd myself tarmac cost for both drives around 2000 the rest of work before tarmac cost me materials 1200 but for 2 drives if I got someone in it would have been 8000 min
by (1.3k points)
@karlee97 blimey! I have gravel but want to save up for either tar Mac or block paving
by (470 points)
@ethelred Ye I know everything costs
by (1.3k points)
@karlee97 it does but it’s worth it! Hopefully will last a long time
+37 votes
by (400 points)
Gravel is hard work.  
+24 votes
by (3.4k points)
Gravel will flick up on paving in second picture .  
+32 votes
by (3.4k points)
If doing tarmac better to do resin ! Regret having tarmac as goes off ! i brick the lot and border in in different coloured bricks
+18 votes
by (1.3k points)
I would go for the one with no path. This will give you a bigger driveway. x
+46 votes
by (640 points)
Would go with the path and put 4-5 lines of blocks along the front on a strong concrete mix or they will slide after a bit with cars going over them
+28 votes
by (640 points)
To do gravel properly to drive on you need a good sub base Wacker it in tight then you only need 30 mm of gravel on top and run wacker over it and it binds tight to sub base so it won’t flick up just give it a rake 4-5 months and will be like new again
+5 votes
by (4.9k points)
Gravel is a nightmare more ends up on the road than your drive
+19 votes
by (790 points)
Are you wanting to park cars in it?  
+44 votes
by (1.6k points)
Hi there I’m after same on my drive it’s same area just no how much it is for the resin if u don’t mind could inbox roughly the price, if not no probs. cheers
+9 votes
by (890 points)
Be careful who you choose to do the work. Loads of s doing this sort of work and their websites and vehicles all look professional. Be very cautious. Especially if it's a freephone number.  
+7 votes
by (4.2k points)
Can you afford to have it all block paved without the path, as otherwise you wont have much room to get out on the passenger side.  
+28 votes
by (1k points)
If it’s a big enough space for two cars then I’d go with that option no 2
+31 votes
by (4.6k points)
The gravel will gradually spill out on to the path/pavement so I’d block the whole lot.  
+22 votes
by (2.3k points)
I like the resin best
+32 votes
by (1.1k points)
I’d avoid gravel. I had half slabbed for one car to park on and gravel fro the second car. It was a mess within a year. The gravel was everywhere, out on to the street. Weeds growing through the membrane, muddy, you could see the tyre tracks etc. I changed to monoblock and can get 3 cars in.  
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