Build the base.Lay the drive on it.
We break out the old drive and compact a stone sub-base. The edges go in next, then the blocks or the resin.
02How we work
Most of a drive is underground. We spend our time on the dig and the sub-base, because the surface only stays level if they do.
03By type of work
Block drives laid on a compacted stone sub-base inside solid edges. Once the blocks are down, sand is brushed into every joint.
Read moreResin and tarmac drives, and loose gravel. Each handles rain in its own way, so we go through which one fits your drive and how you use it.
Read morePatios in stone or porcelain, bedded on mortar over a compacted sub-base. Levels sit below the damp-proof course and fall away from the house.
Read moreGarden paths in blocks or slabs, held by firm edges. Steps sit on a prepared base, with every rise set to the same height.
Read more05Before you hire anyone
Ask us, ask anyone else, and compare the answers. Most of what you pay for ends up out of sight.
Ask usThe depth depends on the ground and what drives on it. Ask what happens if soft ground turns up.
The quote should name the stone, how thick it goes and how it gets compacted.
Ask about the falls and any channels, and whether the water ends in a drain or a soakaway.
On a front garden it can depend on the size and the drainage. Check with your council.
Lowering a kerb is the council’s decision. Ask who applies and who may do the work.
Moving covers, rebuilding walls and relaying turf are common extras. Find out before you agree.
06Before and after
Photos and video on this site are illustrative.
07The method
We walk round with you, check the levels and access, and talk through surfaces and where the rain should go.
A quote listing the dig, the layers, the edging and the drainage, so you can compare it with any other.
Old surface out, edges set, crushed stone laid in layers and compacted. Most of the time goes here.
The surface goes down and the joints get finished. We tell you when it’s ready, then walk it with you.
08Journal