How Much Does It Cost To Do A Driveway In The UK?

Many homeowners believe that laying a driveway is an expensive business and they tend to leave it to the bottom of the home improvement list. A well-laid driveway will increase the value of the property as well as be an attractive feature.

There are, however, some things to take into consideration when considering the cost of a driveway.

There are four types of material used for constructing a driveway.

1. Gravel

This is usually the cheapest type of material for a driveway. The driveway is made by dumping plenty of gravel and then levelling it. It is not suitable for small children as the gravel is very hard on small feet. The tiny pieces can also be picked up and swallowed by curious children. The advantage of gravel is that it is easy to lay and maintain; neither does it crack.

2. Asphalt

This will look like a tarred road. It is cleaner than gravel dust and is easy to repair if cracks develop. Asphalt will last about twenty years. The disadvantage is that it only comes in black. It will also need resealing every three or four years.

3. Brick

You may also know this as paving. It is more expensive because to look good it needs to be laid by a professional who knows what they are doing. The advantage is that you can add on more bricks if you want to extend the driveway. There are also plenty of great designs to choose from. The disadvantage is that weeds grow through the bricks, so you need to weed kill every year.

4. Concrete

According to Buller Driveways, this is the most popular method of driveway construction. Not only is it durable, lasting up to forty years, but it is easy to clean, does not need resealing and comes in several different choices of colour. The disadvantage of concrete is that it may crack in very low temperatures and will then need to be repaired.

The Foundation

While it may not be essential to put down a foundation, it will be a benefit in the long run. It will provide a solid base on which to lay bricks as well as gravel so should prevent any cracks and sink.

You Should Factor In The Cost Of The Following:

Prices will vary in different regions of the UK.

• Mini digger to do the digging and scraping: £150 a week
• Skip to remove rubble: £60 per week
• Weed liner: £40 per square metre
• 8” base: £50 per tonne

The Costs

• Gravel driveways will run you between £1,000 – £1,500 depending on the length of the drive.
• Asphalt will set you back between £50 – £80 per square metre. Be aware of getting quotes which offer you less than this as the asphalt may be of an inferior mixture and will not last as long, meaning you will incur further costs when it needs repairing.
• Brick or paving will cost you between £65 – £100 per square metre. Again, you should be aware of a quote which comes to less than £55 a square metre as it may not be long lasting and will need to be repaired sooner.

Concrete should set you back between £1,700 – £2,500 for a 50 square metre driveway. You should plan to pay between £35 – £50 per square metre.