A driveway is the first thing visitors see and the surface your car sits on every night. It has to look right, drain properly, and last for decades without sinking or weeds running through the joints. Done well, it pays for itself in kerb appeal and time saved on maintenance. Done badly, it cracks, sinks at the edges, and traps water against the front of the house.
We have installed thousands of driveways across the West Midlands over the past 36 years. This page explains the four surface types we install, when each one is the right choice, and what a properly built driveway should look like under the surface.
Get a free on-site quote or call Gary on 0121 250 4438.
The four driveway surfaces we install
Block paving
Concrete block paving is still the most popular choice in Sutton Coldfield and the wider B72/B73/B74 area. It is laid block by block on a compacted Type 1 sub-base with full edge restraint. The big advantage is repairability: if a block ever cracks or sinks, we lift it out and replace it without disturbing the rest of the driveway. Patterns range from straightforward stretcher bond to herringbone and complex circle features.
Best for: traditional and contemporary homes where the owner wants visual detail (kerbs, borders, contrast bands) and the option to repair individual blocks in future.
Resin-bound driveways
A resin-bound driveway is a smooth, permeable surface made from natural aggregate mixed with UV-stable resin and trowelled onto a structural base. There are no joints to weed, the surface drains through itself (so it usually meets permeable paving rules without a soakaway), and the colour range goes from pale neutrals to deep ambers.
Best for: contemporary properties, larger driveways where a single uninterrupted surface looks best, and homes that need a permeable surface to meet drainage rules.
Tarmac driveways
Tarmac (asphalt) is laid hot, rolled, and cools to a hard, smooth, dark surface. Done properly it lasts decades. Done badly it cracks at the edges within a year. The difference is the depth and compaction of the sub-base, the binder course beneath the wearing course, and getting the edges right.
Best for: larger drives and shared accesses where speed of installation and overall cost matter more than visual detail.
Gravel driveways
Gravel is the most affordable option and drains effectively if the sub-base is laid correctly. A common mistake is to dump gravel on bare soil; it migrates, weeds come up, and the surface ruts. We lay gravel on a compacted sub-base with a stabilising grid where appropriate, and proper edging to keep the stones where they belong.
Best for: rural and semi-rural properties, longer driveways, and homes wanting a softer, less formal look.
What a properly built driveway should look like underneath
Most failed driveways in this area are not failed surfaces, they are failed sub-bases. Here is what we build into every driveway we install, regardless of the surface on top.
- Excavation to a depth suitable for the surface above and the expected loading. For a standard car driveway with block paving we excavate to typically 200-250 mm below finished level.
- Sub-base of compacted MOT Type 1, laid in layers and rolled with a vibrating roller, not just a wacker plate.
- Edge restraint bedded in concrete to stop the surface migrating sideways. This is the single most common omission in cheap quotes.
- Drainage designed for the site - typically falls to a permeable strip, ACO channel, or existing surface-water drain. Where required, we install linear drainage to keep water away from the property.
- Laying course appropriate to the surface (sharp sand for block paving, binder for tarmac, structural base for resin).
- Surface laid, compacted, and finished with kiln-dried jointing sand or its equivalent.
- Sign-off with photographs of the build-up sent to you for your records.
If a quote you have received does not mention sub-base depth, edge restraint or drainage, that is a red flag.
What it costs
Driveway pricing depends on size, the surface chosen, drainage requirements, and whether the existing surface needs to come up. As a rough guide for the Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield and Birmingham area:
- Block-paved driveways from £4,500, including excavation, sub-base, edge restraint and jointing sand.
- Resin-bound driveways from £5,000, including the structural base.
- Tarmac driveways from £3,500 and are usually the most cost-effective choice for larger areas.
- Gravel driveways are the lowest entry cost but require periodic top-up.
We never give a final price over the phone. We give a fixed written quote after measuring on site, looking at access for materials, and discussing drainage and edge detailing with you.
Recent driveway projects
We publish recent driveway projects with the location (down to road or postcode prefix), the block or material used, and before/after photos. If you want to see what a particular surface looks like after a few years, ask and we can arrange a visit to a completed driveway nearby with the owner’s permission.
Where we work
We install driveways across:
- Driveways in Sutton Coldfield (B72, B73, B74, B75, B76)
- Driveways in Lichfield (WS13, WS14)
- Driveways in Birmingham (B23, B24, B27, B30 and inner suburbs)
- Streetly, Tamworth, Solihull, Mere Green, Four Oaks, Walmley and Wylde Green
See the full list of areas we cover.
Frequently asked questions
Which driveway surface lasts the longest? A properly built block-paved driveway with a Type 1 sub-base, full edge restraint and kiln-dried sand should last 25+ years without needing to be lifted, and individual damaged blocks can be replaced without disturbing the rest. Resin-bound driveways have a typical life of 15-20 years before the surface needs refurbishing. Tarmac lasts 15-25 years with occasional top sealing. Gravel will need topping up every few years.
Do I need planning permission for a new driveway? For most front driveways under 5 m² this is not relevant. For larger front driveways, the surface must be permeable, or rainwater must drain to a permeable area within your own property, to remain permitted development. We design every driveway to meet these rules so the work does not need planning permission. Listed buildings, properties in conservation areas, and flats are exceptions and we will flag those.
Can you lay a driveway over an existing one? Sometimes, for a tarmac overlay on a sound base, yes. For block paving and resin, no - we always excavate and lay a new sub-base. Overlaying block paving on an old concrete pad without addressing drainage causes the new driveway to fail within a few seasons.
How long does a driveway installation take? A typical four-car block-paved driveway is 3 to 7 working days from dig to handover. Resin needs a fully cured base and a dry weather window for the pour. Tarmac is usually quicker than block.
Do you guarantee the work? Yes - a written 10-year guarantee covering workmanship and the sub-base. The guarantee is named, dated and signed at handover. We are a settled local business; we have to stand behind our work because we live and work in the same area as our customers.
Get a fixed written quote
Call Gary on 0121 250 4438, email through the contact page, or request a free on-site quote. We aim to respond the same working day, seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm.
“I can't believe how amazing it looks. Gary was so helpful and professional in every way. Best decision I ever made.”
“I would like to thank you very much for such a lovely job. I have had lots of compliments from friends and neighbours.”
What customers say about our work
We also cover
We also work in Erdington, Four Oaks, Mere Green, Wylde Green, Boldmere, Streetly, Little Aston, Minworth, Walmley, New Oscott, Kingstanding, Great Barr, Aldridge, Castle Bromwich, Coleshill, Solihull, Knowle, Tamworth, Lichfield, Burntwood, Shenstone and the surrounding West Midlands villages.
