Isle Landscapers Limited

Pros:

Permeable, block paved driveways are easy to maintain and straightforward to repair. If one paver breaks, that block is replaced instead of breaking up the whole driveway.

Block paving has a neat finish and comes in a range of colours and styles to complement the exterior of any property. You could, for example, design your driveway to be made up of rotated blocks that allow water to naturally drain between them.

Cons:

The main con of having permeable block paver driveways is that installing each block individually takes up a lot of time, and other materials can be installed quicker.

Additionally, due to the weight of block paving, you will need to hire a professional company to do it for you, adding to the cost. Excluding installation, it can cost around £30 per square metre.

Pros:

Concrete driveways are durable and make them suitable for heavier vehicles. It also prevents surface damage if oils or other fluids spill onto it. Concrete will, of course, stain from oil, but the driveway will not be damaged.

Concrete is a low-maintenance, and hard-wearing option for driveways as the material can last up to 20 years. There is an array of colours to choose from which can be easily changed in the future if you so wish.

Cons:

Water runoff is not an issue if it has been properly installed. On the other hand, if it is not designed or installed correctly, it can lead to earlier signs of cracks and water damage.

As mentioned previously, concrete is prone to discolouration and will stain if in contact with oils, making it less ideal for those who want a driveway to work on your car.

Pros:

Permeable tarmac driveways are more cost-effective than other options and are a durable solution for your driveway. You can make your tarmac driveway low maintenance by using a high-quality sealant finish.

A well designed, installed and maintained tarmac driveway can provide a life of around 20 years.The costs are relatively cheap compared to other materials, with materials costing approximately £20 per square metre excluding installation.

Cons:

If you use the sealant, then the permeability of the tarmac is reduced. Unfortunately, there is less flexibility to transform a tarmac driveway into an eye-catching statement, as there are limited colour options.

Pros:

Porcelain paving makes for a sturdy and solid driveway that is scratch-resistant. As we will subsequently explain, porcelain is not a recommended standard material to use for driveways.

Cons:

Heavier cars will eventually wear down porcelain over time, exceeding the surface's strength and causing cracks. Porcelain as a material is quite costly when compared to other materials, selling at around £70 per square metre.

Pros:

A driveway made from resin material allows for a lot of choices. You can decide upon many colours, whether you want permeable or impermeable solutions, and what drainage requirements you want.

They can be low-maintenance and quick to install, but an occasional jet wash will maintain their upkeep.

Cons:

Resin-bound driveways are quite expensive. If you still want a resin driveway, expect to see prices between £50 and £75 per square metre, including installation costs.

Pros:

Stone Pavers are known for their natural aesthetic and durability. Stone pavers are frost-resistant in the winter and will retain their appearance over time.

Paving slabs for your driveway is a great way to get a bespoke look without breaking the bank. The natural colour of stones blends into your home and suit hedge borders around it.

Cons:

Despite their durability, stone pavers will need re-sealing and maintenance every few years to protect them from oil stains and long-term weathering.

Stone paver driveways will need an effective drainage solution to maintain their durability.

Additionally, this material is prohibitively expensive, with certain varieties of stone costing between £70 to £100 per square metre.

Pros:

Gravel material makes for the most wallet-friendly driveway and the quickest to layout of all the available options in this guide. You can choose from an expansive guide of blends and colours. Gravel suppliers usually remove the fine dust particles before installation to bind the clean pebbles and chips and, therefore, the sturdiness of the gravel.

Further points to mention are that gravel is a great material to cover large areas, last a long time, and requires little maintenance. You may want to move the gravel around every so often so that an even cover remains. Gravel driveways look great, but they aren't for the bare feet trips to the bins!

Additionally, compared to other materials with many advantages, the price does not reflect how great gravel driveways can be. They can cost as little as £4 per square metre.

Cons:

Gravel driveways are more labour intensive than they seem because they involve laying three to four layers of stones. Edges are necessary to stop gravel stones from entering your lawn and garden.

If you do not have a good hardcore foundation before laying the gravel, the success of the drive is threatened.

Pros:

Grass paving driveways can carry a lot of weight from people and vehicles alike. They are a relatively cheap option, costing between £8 and £12 per square metre for material supply, while installation costs can easily drive this up.

Cons:

However great looking a grass-paved driveway can look, it has many drawbacks. There are risks of weeds that damage the aesthetic of a good-looking driveway. It requires watering, feeding, and mowing to maintain it and will require a flat foundation to prevent mud subsidence.

There are also asphalt driveways. Asphalt may not sound too pleasing to the ear, but it can be to the eye once you see how sophisticated it looks. A mixture of stones can be scattered before being compacted down, which can break up the pure onyx look of the asphalt and add character to your driveway.