Creating the perfect driveway is an essential aspect of home improvement, especially in the UK where the exterior of a home can significantly impact its curb appeal and value. In this blog, we’ll explore six popular driveway materials – Resin, Setts, Cobblestone, Tarmac, Block Paving, and Porcelain – each offering unique benefits and aesthetics.

Resin Driveways
Block Paving
Cobblestone
Tarmac Driveways

Resin Driveways

resin driveway

Resin driveways are becoming increasingly popular in the UK due to their durability and versatile design. Made from a mixture of resin and aggregate stones, they create a smooth, visually appealing finish. One of the significant advantages of resin driveways is their permeability, allowing water to drain through and reducing the risk of flooding or puddles.

Additionally, resin surfaces are resistant to weeds and require minimal maintenance. They can also be customised with various colours and patterns, making them an ideal choice for homeowners looking to add a personal touch to their property.

Setts Driveways

cobblestone driveway

Setts, often confused with cobblestones, are traditionally made from natural stone, offering a timeless and classic appearance. This material is known for its strength and durability, making it suitable for areas with heavy traffic.

Setts driveways provide excellent grip in wet conditions, a crucial feature in the UK’s rainy climate. While they may require more maintenance than other materials, such as occasional re-sanding to keep the setts in place, their aesthetic appeal and long lifespan make them a worthwhile investment for those seeking a traditional look.

Cobblestone Driveways

Cobblestone driveways exude an old-world charm, reminiscent of historic streets and cottages. Each cobblestone is unique, contributing to a driveway full of character and style.

These stones are incredibly durable and can handle heavy loads, making them suitable for driveways. However, the uneven surface may not be ideal for all users, particularly those with mobility issues. Installation can be more labor-intensive, but the end result is a stunning and timeless driveway that can last for decades.

Tarmac Driveways

tarmac driveway

Tarmac, or tarmacadam, is a popular choice for driveways due to its cost-effectiveness and quick installation. This material is renowned for its durability and ability to withstand heavy vehicles.

Tarmac driveways are low maintenance, only requiring occasional cleaning and minor repairs. The black, sleek surface offers a neat, uniform look that can complement various house styles. However, tarmac can soften in extreme heat and may not offer the same aesthetic appeal as other materials.

Block Paving Driveways

block paved driveways Notts

Block paving is a versatile and visually appealing option for driveways. It involves laying individual blocks in various patterns and colours, allowing for a high degree of customisation.

Block paving is not only aesthetically pleasing but also durable and capable of handling heavy loads. It’s relatively easy to repair, as individual blocks can be replaced if damaged. The gaps between the blocks allow for better water drainage, but they may require regular maintenance to prevent weed growth.

Porcelain Driveways / Patios

porcelain patio

Porcelain is a newer material in the driveway market, known for its sleek and modern appearance. It’s incredibly durable, resistant to stains, scratches, and fading. Porcelain slabs are non-porous, meaning they don’t absorb water, making them less prone to weather damage and easier to clean. They come in a wide range of finishes and can mimic natural stone or concrete, offering versatility in design. While more expensive than some other materials, porcelain driveways provide a luxurious finish with exceptional longevity.

Each of these driveway materials offers distinct advantages and aesthetic qualities, making them suitable for various preferences and requirements. When choosing a driveway material, it’s essential to consider factors like durability, maintenance, aesthetics, and cost to ensure that you select the best option for your home in the UK.

As the leading driveways company in Nottingham we are constantly coming up with new and interesting designs to add value to your home and add real kerb appeal to your property. If you check out the pictures below of our team working you can see how much different the property looks after a transformation by ED Paving.

This transformation took just 3 days! & right now we are offering 25% discounts across all our driveways and patios

New SMA tarmac driveway installed in Hucknall Nottinghamshire
Removed old driveway
Installed membrane for weed control
Hardcore for foundation
Laid block paving borders on concrete footing
Drainage systems installed for rain water
Finished with SMA tarmac throughout

A stunning transformation to this home in Nottingham. We really enjoyed letting our creative juices flow on this block paving and landscaping project, as you can see there was a lot of work required in the design phase and our customer really had good ideas about what they wanted and this is why they entrusted Nottingham’s #1 paving, landscaping and driveway company.

The combination of low maintenance driveway in block paving as well as artificial grass in the backgammon design really sets off the bordered plants, its such an head turner and has added lots of value to this home. ED Paving regularly undertake this kind of work for customers in Nottingham, Loughborough and Long Eaton, but we have to say, we are super proud of this landscaping makeover and we hope you like it too.

If you are looking to transform your outdoor space, speak to us today, we are working as normal during the lockdown and and completely conform to social distancing, none of our team will ever enter your property either.

It’s been another perfect end to 2019 for ED Paving having worked on many small and large landscaping projects throughout Nottingham, Derby and Loughborough. From resin driveways to large block paving projects, we have landscaped around pools, installed all types of fencing and throughout we have always kept our customers happy with great quality and amazing after sales solutions.

We thought we would showcase this beautiful block paving driveway we completed in Gedling Nottingham, the before and afters really do speak for themselves on this one. we removed the old tired tarmac driveway that had really seen better days and installed the membrane for weed control. After laying our Type 1 hardcore for foundations we began to lay the block paving using the beautiful brindle paving with a charcoal paving border and pin stripe.

We also relaid some steps up to the main entrance of the property as well as creating a beautiful flower bed to add a touch of design and landscaping to the outside areas. We were on site for around 7 days in total, which is good going for a project of this size.

If you are looking for a new driveway or patio installed in 2020 then why not speak to us, we are Nottingham’s longest established driveway company with hundreds upon hundreds of projects completed. We can provide you with a free no obligation site survey and provide you with an accurate quote for your next driveway project.