gravel driveway DIY or getsomebody in

[BobbyBobBob]

We want our driveway doing properly with gravel. Does anybody have any ideas of how much it would cost to do it ourselves, and also how much it would cost to get a professional to do it? I realise there are a lot of cowboys out there so we'll be careful choosing if we decide not to do it ourselves.

Also, any reccomendations in the Manchester area?

Thanks

[TonyV]

What are the approx dimensions / area and are there any gradients. Is there an existing drive that you are replacing?

[The Builder]

Easy to do yourself, Bobby. Don't do what so many do and use 20mm chips. I think they look "clunky", and don't settle in properly.
Use 10-12 mm and rent a pedestrian roller to give it a solid finish.

[BobbyBobBob]

Ok thanks. If we do it ourselves we'll bare it in mind.

Tony, the dimensions are 7 meters by 7.5 meters. There are no gradients but it is just our front garden at the minute so we don't have a driveway.

thanks

[TonyV]

Bobby
First you will need a dropped kerb - some councils have an approved list of contractors, but yours does not seem to and council carry out work.
http://www.manchester...ng_for_a_dropped_kerb
You can no longer discharge water from a new driveway to road, so you need to construct a permeable sub-base from MOT Type 3, rather than the traditional Type 1. You would need to construct a sub - base anyway. This will give you some guidance. http://www.communitie...avingfrontgardens.pdf

[TonyV]

continued - Will work out approx material cost's later on this evening, assuming you are going to assuming you are going to cover entire 52.5 sq metres in gravel suitable for traffic.

[TonyV]

Bobby - so approx to DIY £720 for drop kerb, £1,950 materials + VAT. Only other to add is excavation, you are looking at approx 13 Cubic metres to remove, which is a fair bit by hand and unless you trust yourself with or have a licence for mini digger, you would be best to sub to someone.
Materials included are Skips, Geotex fabric, cheap edgings to retain gravel, 200mm depth Type 3 MOT (sometimes called DOT), 50mm depth gravel & 1wks week hire of compactor and cement mixer.
Have asked on a landscaping site if anyone in your area would like to quote - will let you know what the response is in a day or 2.

[TonyV]

Cont You probably want to add 10% to this price, + I have not included sand / cement to retain edgings as don't know how many linear metres of edging you need.
Hope this helps.

[TonyV]

Bobby - an alternative to loose gravel.

http://www.resinsurfa...hire.co.uk/index.html