How to Choose The Right Material For Your Driveway

08.06.2017
Thinking about changing your driveway? It can be hard to choose which material to use for your new driveway but luckily, we’ve gathered the most important questions you should be asking yourself when it comes to picking a driveway material. Whether you’re considering block paving, pattern imprinted concrete or tarmac, these questions should help you make that final decision.

What’s Your Budget?

Working out your budget will give you an idea of the type of driveway you can and cannot afford. If you have a large area to cover, tarmac is probably your cheapest option but if you have a larger budget, you can look at something like block paving.

Where is The Location of Your Driveway?

If you want to make your front garden into a driveway, there are laws in place that insist a permeable material is used. This is because grass is naturally permeable and by taking this filtration system away, it puts extra pressure on drains and sewers increasing the likelihood of flooding. So drainage is something to take into consideration.

Is Your Driveway Sloped?

Certain materials work better on gradients than others. Gravel for instance, doesn’t work very well and tarmac can be a little tricky to pour. The steeper your gradient, the more you should consider materials such as block paving.

Do You Want a Specific Colour?

If you’re not bothered about colour then concrete or tarmac will work fine. But if you want a specific pattern or colour to match the aesthetics of your house and your neighbours’ then it’s worth looking at pattern imprinted concrete or block paving which allow for a lot of variation and bespoke designs.

Is Your Driveway Going to See a Lot of Traffic?

Durability should be taken into account when choosing your driveway material. Most materials are designed to be durable but it also depends on what your driveway is going to be used for. Are you going to park your car on it for long stretches of time? Is it going to see a lot of foot traffic? If so, things like gravel might not be the best option. We hope these questions have gone someway towards helping you make a decision but if you need a bit more help, contact us at Premier Surfacing.
Published: June 2017

Please pass my thanks onto all the men involved with the project of transforming our driveway and patio. They did a fantastic job and ensured that they represented Premier Surfacing with the greatest professionalism.

Mr G Talbot
Edmond, Shropshire