PAVING AND DRIVEWAYS

Driveways and paving from our Colchester base

We install driveways for homeowners and businesses from our Colchester base, nationwide across England. Whatever surface suits your home and budget, we can lay it and finish it properly.

Tarmac, tar and chip, concrete and gravel driveways
Edging and drainage included in the plan
Free, no-obligation quote
Residential and commercial work

Call 01206 304660 Mobile 07788 917265

FREE, NO-OBLIGATION QUOTE

Ask about paving and driveways

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Family owned. Personally delivered.Own fleet and plant. No middlemen.Based in Essex. Working nationwide across England.

01 / OVERVIEW

Choosing a driveway surface

There isn't one right answer for every driveway, it depends on your house, your budget and how you want it to look. Tarmac is a popular choice because it's quick to lay, hard wearing and reasonably priced, and it suits most homes without drawing attention to itself.

Tar and chip, also called surface dressing, is hot tar with stone rolled into it, giving a natural gravel look with a surface that's bound in place. Concrete is a solid, low maintenance option that works well for driveways, yards and parking areas, and can be laid plain or in a pattern. Gravel is the cheapest option and easy to maintain, though it needs a proper edge to stop it spreading onto paths and lawns.

Block paving is a more decorative option built from individual units rather than a poured or rolled surface. We'll talk you through the practical differences on site and give you honest advice rather than pushing the most expensive option.

Driveway finished in hot tar with stone rolled in

PAVING AND DRIVEWAYS

02 / PAVING AND DRIVEWAYS

Edging and drainage

A driveway is only as good as what's underneath it and around the edges. We fit proper edging to every driveway so the surface holds its line and doesn't break up at the margins, and we think about drainage from the start rather than as an afterthought.

Where a surface isn't permeable, we plan the falls so water runs to a soakaway or gulley rather than pooling on the drive or running onto the pavement. Getting this right at the start saves problems later, especially on a sloped driveway or one close to the house.

03 / IN DETAIL

Paving and driveways, done properly

What goes into the job, and what to expect from us.

Planning permission for driveways in Colchester

In England, a new or replacement driveway at the front of a house over 5 square metres doesn't usually need planning permission if it's permeable, or if the water is directed to a soakaway on your own land rather than onto the road. If the surface is impermeable, such as standard tarmac or concrete, and rainwater drains to the public highway, planning permission is required once the area is over 5 square metres.

This is one of the reasons gravel is popular for front driveways, and why we plan the drainage on every drive: done properly, it can avoid the need for planning permission. We'll talk you through what applies to your driveway before we start work.

OUR WORK

Recent paving and driveways and surfacing work

See all our projects

FAQS

Frequently asked questions

How long does a new driveway take to install?

It depends on the size and the surface. A standard tarmac driveway for a house is often completed within a day or two once the groundwork is done, while larger or more complex jobs, or ones needing a new base, take longer. We'll give you a time frame on site when we quote.

Do I need planning permission for a new driveway?

Usually not, if the surface is permeable or the water drains to a soakaway on your own land. If it's an impermeable surface over 5 square metres draining onto the road, you'll need planning permission. We can talk you through what applies before work starts.

Which driveway surface lasts the longest?

Concrete and tarmac both have a long service life with reasonable care, as long as they are laid on a sound base. How long any surface lasts also depends on ground conditions, drainage and how the drive is used, for example regular heavy vehicles.

Can you remove my old driveway before laying a new one?

Yes, we can dig out and dispose of an old surface as part of the job, then prepare a proper sub-base before laying the new driveway. We'll include this in your quote so there are no surprises on the day.

Do you work on commercial driveways and parking areas?

Yes, alongside homeowners we work for businesses, housing developers and local authorities nationwide across England, so we're used to driveways, yards and parking areas of all sizes.