How to choose the best surface for a large drive?

[bluegeranium]

I have a large (not sure how big but you can park 5/6 cars on it!) gravel drive which is in dire need of replacement.

The previous owners did it very badly and there is hardly any gravel left. I don't know whether to go for tarmac/concrete or go back to gravel done properly.

Block paving will be far too expensive I think but was wondering about the screen printed or is it resin? drives.

I can't seem to find any info which would help me choose the best option.

thanks

[smudge]

On an area that big, I'd go for gravel again.

We have a gravel drive which was done over 20 years ago. It still looks really nice & we only get the odd weed growing which are easy to pull up. Another good thing is that you can hear people walking on it, even the cat & squirrels!

I personally don't like block drives as they can show oil marks, etc, & can also have weed problems growing up after a time. Let's put it this way, most of the 'old' block drives round here have some weeds growing through whether they were laid professionally or not.

[annie0000]

What about that rubbery stuff that allows grass to grow through - very enviromentally friendly - drains better adn it would look like a lawn.

[annie0000]

Maybe something like this:

http://www.netlon.co.uk/_turfsystems/prod-netp ave50.htm

[bluegeranium]

If I do go for gravel which I probably will from a cost point of view what sort of gravel would you recommend? my elderly Mother lives with us and is a bit unsteady on her pins so need something fairly level. I know you can get the pebbles but I don't want it to be like walking on the beach where your feet sink into it!

[esti-sutree]

Hi I'm Esti from Sutree.com,
we have on our site some videos which I think may help you get an answer for your question and perhaps some others you may have. take a look:

http://www.sutree.com/videos/Home-and-Garden/1 23

hope it helps :)

[Tewart]

Re your elderly mother - my sister has a large gravelled drive and my 80 year old mum can't walk on it without nearly/actually falling over. Have you thought about paving around the main entrance to make it easier getting in and out of cars for her?
Would agree, though, block paving mega expensive - gravel would be infinately cheaper. We can park 8 cars on ours and the block paving cost �6K, if that helps convince you!

[landscaper2]

You get what you pay for, even with gravel. A 'proper' gravel drive would not be much cheaper than block paving and would entail a good depth excavation, laying an exterior edge of brickwork or kerb edgings, hardcore sub-base with around 100mm of concrete. The gravel (usually 6mm in this case) is then rolled into hot tar, with a loose stone topping. Even with the cheaper method, a good excavation is required, with maybe 200mm of consolidated hardcore restrained by solid edgings, before 35mm of 10mm stone is spread. Unfortunately with this application the gravel will always 'be on the move' and will need raking more so than the 'Tar' method. I dont think you will find printed concrete much cheaper than block paving. If you do get a contractor in, try and go on recommendation and view previous jobs - preferably older than 5 years!

[bluegeranium]

Oh dear I'm even more confused now!!! What I could do with is somewhere that you can walk on the different gravels to see what they are like even then I guess it depends on how good the finished job is.

I might even think again about tarmac maybe that would be cheaper - certainly would be flat as long as I don't get some dodgy man that's 'got some left over'

[smudge]

Hi again blue - apart from our gravel drive, which we've always been pleased with, my ex-boss also has a massive gravel drive & frontage to their old rectory.

His wife's elderly mother lives in a converted coach house within their grounds, so they put down some old flag stones outside both their front porches, to enable her to get in & out of their cars.

The rest of the front is gravel, as is the entrance to the church next door, which looks really nice & houses plenty of cars.

[smudge]

P.S. If you pop into your local builders merchants, they will be able to show you all the different kinds of gravel & assist you in what would be best for you. Good luck.