From the first visit all the way through to the last day of work our team deals with everything. This means there is no outside contractors turning up, no confusion as to what is done and when. And most importantly it means you will always know who you are talking to!

Before laying block paving, it is important to dig a thorough base. The underlying ground must be strong enough to support the weight of the paving and should also be level and well-drained. You can test the soil strength by digging a hole 150mm deep and 300mm wide. The hole must be drained well and leveled with a plate compactor or permeable drainage aggregate.

Permeable paving should be installed with a sub-base that is at least 150mm thick. This sub-base should contain 6mm of clean crushed stone. It should not be fully compacted as this would impair the permeability. The permeability of block paving can be compromised if site debris or dirt is present.

There are two main types of block paving: permeable and impermeable. The first type has gaps in the surface which allow water to drain. It can be either standard block paving or a permeable version, depending on the manufacturer. This material is durable and attractive, and it is ideal for exterior paving.

Permeable block paving is used for driveways, sidewalks, and patios. It also makes for a more environmentally responsible option that doesn’t require any planning permission. Permeable paving is also durable, requiring less maintenance than other paving materials.

FREE  NO-OBLIGATION QUOTE

Enter your details and we’ll call you right back

How long does it take to lay block paving?

For the exact same driveway, the whole job will differ in length depending upon the style of block paving you’re using and how the weather condition behaves. The majority of our jobs take, on average, between 3-5 days to complete the whole driveway. However you’ll need to consider the vibration plate period (1-2 days), block pavers require time to settle prior to you can drive over them.

What are the steps involved to have my driveway block paved?

• Our team will visit your Manchester property, take measurements, discuss available options and then provide you with a quote for the work to be carried out.
• We will inspect any pipelines (gas, water, drainage) and electrical cabling to make sure no damage occurs whilst performing the work.
• Check whether you will need preparation consent. Sometimes, you might need preparing consent, such as when your driveway will be more than 5m ² and is not permeable, which causes rainwater to run into the road. If your drive is less than 5m ² or is made from a permeable product, preparing approval is not needed.
• Elimination of the pre-existing driveway, throwing any unusable waste away. At this stage we will take the area back to soil and dig to the required depth.
• Lay drainage and connect soakaways (underground containers that distribute excess moisture in the ground if needed).
• Lay a 150-200mm sub-base, including crushed stone or comparable. This is compressed with a whacker.
• Secure edging blocks with cement.
• Lay membrane, to stop weeds growing through your drive.
• Apply sand laying course to a depth of 60-65mm, which drops to roughly 40mm after condensing.
• Lay the paving blocks.
• Sweep sand into the gaps in between pavers, and vibrate them to allow the sand to sink down.