Block paving is the surface we lay more than any other in Midhopestones. Stocksbridge Landscaping & Driveways installs block paved driveways, paths, patios and parking areas for homes across the neighbourhood from our base in Stocksbridge, using concrete and clay blocks in a wide range of colours, sizes and patterns, all laid on a properly compacted sub-base.
The service suits homeowners who want a hard-wearing, good-looking surface that can be repaired block by block if a pipe ever needs digging up. It also suits anyone replacing a block drive that has sunk, which is nearly always a sub-base problem rather than the blocks. We lay to BS 7533, the British Standard for paving, and put a written guarantee on the work.
Read on for how we lay it in Midhopestones, which blocks suit which homes, our process and what affects the price.
What Block Paving in Midhopestones Involves
Block paving is a flexible pavement. The blocks sit on a bed of sharp sand, held in place by their neighbours and by a fixed edge restraint, and the load is spread by the sub-base beneath.
Our build-up in Midhopestones starts with excavation to around 250 to 300 mm. A geotextile goes on soft or clay ground. Type 1 MOT sub-base is laid in two compacted layers to at least 150 mm for a driveway, less for a path or patio that carries only foot traffic. Edge courses are bedded on concrete and haunched so the sand bed cannot escape. The laying course of sharp sand is screeded to 30 to 50 mm, the blocks are laid to the chosen pattern, cut in at the edges with a bench saw, compacted with a plate compactor and jointed with kiln-dried sand.
Where a permeable surface is needed to meet the front garden rules or SuDS requirements, we use permeable blocks with wider joints on an open-graded sub-base and grit laying course, so rain drains straight through rather than running off.
Suitability for Homes in Midhopestones
Block paving works on nearly every type of property in Midhopestones. On terraces and semis with a modest front garden it is the standard choice for a one- or two-car drive, often with a contrasting border to tie in with the house brick. On detached homes with longer drives, larger-format blocks or a mixed-size layout stop the surface looking like a car park.
Pattern matters as much as colour. We lay driveways in 45 or 90 degree herringbone because the interlock resists the twisting load of tyres and keeps the surface tight. Stretcher bond and basketweave are fine for paths and patios where there is no vehicle load.
If your Midhopestones house is older and you want a traditional look, clay paving blocks suit it, and they hold their colour for life. Concrete blocks offer more sizes and tumbled or textured finishes at a lower cost. Where a tree with a preservation order is close to the frontage, we design the depth and edging to protect the roots and may suggest a permeable or no-dig build-up in that zone.
Our Block Paving Process
- Site visit in Midhopestones to measure, check levels and drainage and look at block samples against the house.
- Written quote with a layout drawing, block specification, sub-base depth and programme.
- Excavation and disposal of the old surface and spoil as registered waste carriers.
- Membrane, drainage and Type 1 MOT sub-base laid and compacted in layers.
- Edge restraints set in concrete and the sand laying course screeded to level.
- Blocks laid to pattern, cut in at edges and compacted with a plate compactor.
- Joints filled with kiln-dried sand, final compaction, clean down and handover with the written guarantee.
A typical driveway takes four to six working days, with blocks delivered direct to site and the crew coming in daily from Stocksbridge. Block paving can be laid in most weather, though we avoid compacting a sand bed in heavy rain. There is no curing time, so you can park on it the same day it is finished.
How Block Paving Is Priced in Midhopestones
Area is the obvious factor, but the shape of the area has nearly as much effect. Curves, circles and awkward angles mean more cutting and more waste. A straightforward rectangle in herringbone is the most efficient layout.
The block itself sets a band. Standard concrete blocks are the most economical; larger-format, tumbled, textured and clay blocks cost more per square metre. Contrasting borders and inset patterns add cutting time. Permeable systems need a different sub-base and jointing grit.
Ground conditions in Midhopestones influence the depth of dig and the amount of sub-base and spoil removal. Breaking out an old concrete slab is slower than lifting old blocks or tarmac. Drainage, a soakaway, a channel drain and a dropped kerb application are added where the site needs them, and everything is itemised in the quote. Our prices for Midhopestones carry no travel element, as Stocksbridge is on the doorstep.
Other Services in Midhopestones
Stocksbridge Landscaping & Driveways also offers three related services in Midhopestones. Driveway Installation covers resin bound, tarmac, gravel and concrete if block paving is not the right fit. Landscaping covers garden design and build, from patios and lawns to fencing and retaining walls. Garden Maintenance keeps lawns, hedges and borders in good order with regular visits.
Block paving often forms part of a wider project, a new drive at the front with a matching path and a patio at the rear, and we quote and schedule the whole job from Stocksbridge so it is done by one crew.
Planning more than one job? Have a look at block paving driveway installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does block paving last?
Laid on a correctly compacted sub-base with concrete-haunched edges, block paving in Midhopestones should last decades. The blocks are hard-wearing and colourfast, particularly clay. The things that shorten its life are a thin base, poor edge restraint and never topping up the jointing sand, all of which we address in the way we build and in the aftercare advice.
Will weeds grow between the blocks?
Weeds grow in the sand joints from seeds that land on top, not from below, so some will appear over time. Keeping the surface swept, brushing in fresh kiln-dried sand every year or two, and an occasional treatment keep them under control. Resin jointing compounds reduce weed growth further and we can discuss that option for your Midhopestones drive.
Is block paving permeable?
Standard block paving is not, so run-off must go to a lawn, border or soakaway to stay within permitted development for front gardens over 5 m². Permeable block paving has wider joints and an open-graded sub-base that lets rain drain through. We install both and recommend the right one for your Midhopestones property.
Can you relay my existing block paving?
Often, yes. If the blocks are in good condition but the drive has sunk, we lift them, rebuild the sub-base and edges, and relay the same blocks on a fresh sand bed. It is cheaper than new paving and keeps the look. If the blocks are damaged or the base is beyond repair, we advise a full replacement, and we can bring samples out from Stocksbridge to match.