Block paved drives in Doncaster built to carry a car
When a block paved drive fails, it nearly always fails from below. Ruts appear where the wheels sit, blocks start to spread at the edges and puddles form in the dips. All of that comes back to a shallow or poorly compacted base. A driveway needs considerably more depth under it than a garden path does.
We excavate to the right depth for vehicle use, lay a well graded crushed stone sub-base and compact it in layers with a plate compactor. The blocks sit on a screeded sand bed, are vibrated in, and are then filled with kiln-dried sand so the whole surface locks together. Firm edge restraints, either kerbs or concreted edge blocks, stop the drive creeping outwards over time.
Patterns, colours and borders
Herringbone is the strongest laying pattern for a driveway because the blocks interlock in two directions and resist turning wheels. Basketweave and stretcher bond suit paths and patios better. A contrasting border or a band of setts can frame the drive and break up a large area of one colour.
- Charcoal and grey blocks suit modern houses and hide tyre marks well.
- Brindle and red tones match older brick properties and Victorian terraces.
- Tumbled or aged blocks give a softer, more traditional look.
- Permeable block paving lets rain soak through the joints into the base.
Drainage and planning rules
Since 2008, if you pave over more than five square metres of a front garden in England with a surface that does not let water through, you normally need planning permission, unless the water is directed to a lawn or border within your property. Permeable block paving, or traditional blocks laid to fall towards a soakaway or planted area, avoid that problem. We will explain the options on your drive before you choose.
Water must never be sent onto the pavement or a neighbour's property. Where a drive slopes towards the house or garage, we fit a channel drain across the slope to catch the water before it gets there.
Dropped kerbs
If you are creating a new parking space from a front garden, you will need a dropped kerb to cross the footpath legally. That is arranged through City of Doncaster Council, who approve the application and set out who can carry out the work on the public highway. We can build the drive up to your boundary so it is ready once the kerb is lowered.
Front and back in one go
Doing the front drive and a back garden patio together often saves money, because machinery and waste removal are only paid for once. If you have been thinking about both, ask us to price them as one job.
Block paving driveways across the Doncaster area
We cover Doncaster town and the villages around it, including Armthorpe, Sprotbrough, Rossington, Tickhill, Bawtry, Thorne, Hatfield, Conisbrough and more. If you are not sure whether you are in our area, ring 01422 774538 with your postcode.
Questions about block paving driveways
How long does a block paving driveway last?
A well built block paved drive can last for decades. Individual blocks can also be lifted and relaid if a pipe or cable needs work, which is one of its advantages over solid surfaces.
Will weeds grow through block paving?
Weeds generally grow from seeds landing in the joints rather than from below. Keeping the joints topped up with sand and an occasional clean keeps them down. We also lay a weed membrane where it suits the build.
Do I need planning permission for a new driveway?
Not if it uses a permeable surface or drains to a lawn or border on your own property. Larger non-permeable front driveways that drain onto the road usually do. We plan the drainage so you stay within the rules.
How soon can I park on a new block paved drive?
Block paving can be driven on as soon as it is finished and the joints are filled, because there is nothing that needs to cure.
