Driveways & Paving

What Is Driveway & Paving Supplies?

Everyone's dream garden is unique to their creativity, ideas and the area they have available; some desire paving that is light grey, others a dark grey and for those looking to complement the existing nature of their outdoor space, rich earthy tones tend to fit the bill. 

Here at Materials Market, we understand this mission to craft a space that is unique to you and provide diverse sizes of paving slabs so you can achieve your desired look with ease. No matter what space you're working with, we make sure that each garden or patio project has its own individual touch!

Although selecting the right driveway surface may not initially sound as thrilling as creating a patio or other landscaping projects, it can have an immense and practical influence on how your outdoor space works.

Let's have a look at the most common driveway surfaces below. 

Concrete Block Paving Driveways

• Matching paving stones interlock together to create an intricate, mesmerising tessellating pattern
• Block paved driveway creates a clean, uniform finish
• Does not require curing
• Ideal for sloped driveways
  
  

Asphalt Driveways 

• If properly maintained (with sealing and patching) an asphalt driveway is able to last 15 to 25 years
• Asphalt requires more upkeep than concrete, which can make it a bit trickier to work with 
• Asphalt paving tends to be cheaper than concrete
• On hot days, this paving material may soften while tree roots growing underneath could cause deformations in its structure
  
  

Gravel Driveways

• Gravel is the ideal pick for those looking to save money, particularly if you have a lengthy driveway
• A gravel driveway is one of the cheapest and less laborious ways to ensure that your driveway surface is permeable - a cheaper alternative to permeable paving materials 
• Can have an aesthetic appeal 
  
  

Tarmac Driveways

• Tarmac's weather resistance and durability is unparalleled- it can withstand storms, hail, and ice without any damage
• Smooth surface provides skid resistance that prevents larger vehicles from damaging the driveway while also minimising snow or ice accumulation
• Tend to be cheaper than block paved driveways/concrete pavers
  
  

Pricing of Driveway Materials

Now that you're familiar with the facts on some of the most popular driveway materials, it’s time to consider pricing. To determine the "best driveway material" for your new driveway, we must factor in both functionality and cost.

When compared to more expensive materials and types of driveways, such as natural stone, gravel driveways are the cheapest driveway material that requires the least amount of laborious effort. 

A concrete driveway, on the other hand, given its durability, comes with a higher cost than other paving materials on the market. This dearer price tag comes as a result of concrete's many advantages. Freshly-poured concrete driveways are a sight to behold—but don't be fooled, that allure can soon fade away due to pesky oil, grease, rust and tire marks. Thankfully, using a product such as Castrol SuperClean combined with pressure washing will soon restore lustre and revive your driveway's appeal.

To summarise, gravel is the cheapest material, while a concrete or resin driveway is the most expensive of all driveway foundations.