Driveway Ideas in Dorset

Are you looking to revamp or update your driveway in Dorset? At Dares Surfacing, we understand how to spruce up a drab and dreary driveway, which is why we have put together 5 fantastic ideas below to transform your home!

Did you know?

The most popular types of driveways are:

• Block paving
• Resin bonded driveways
• Tarmac
• Gravel
• Concrete

1 – Block paving driveways

Block paving can allow for an array of different designs and applications when it comes to your driveway. Just take a look at this beautiful circular, two tone design highlighting the central point of the tree that takes pride of place in this driveway.

They tend to come in three categories of colour:

• Red – This will incorporate your bronzes, terracotta, brindle and brick red
• Yellow – This will incorporate your sandstone, biscuit and sand
• Grey – this will incorporate your charcoal

Pros:

• Block paving are hard wearing
• Damaged blocks can be easily removed and changed when necessary
• Lots of opportunity for different patterns and designs
• Considered more fade resistant

Cons:

• Blocks may shift as they settle
• Weeds could grow in the cracks and crevices
• May take longer to lay
• Dependent on the size of the area there may need to be additional drainage

2- Resin bonded driveways

Resin bonded driveways are very modern in look and feel and can help you establish a minimalist look for your home. Resin-bound paving is a mixture of aggregate stones and resin, a permeable solution and flexible surfacing material.

There is a beautiful array of colours when it comes to resin driveways such as autumn gold, chocolate and terracotta! It’s easy to maintain and is an aesthetically pleasing surface that gives the appearance of natural gravel without the associated disadvantages.

Pros:

• Colour will not fade
• Smooth finish
• No joins or loose stones
• Non slip
• No weed growth
• Permeable/porous
• Resistant to petrol, diesel and oil spills

Cons:

• Not best choice for heavy usage
• quality of installation and material used can vary
• To ensure the colour will not fade you need to ensure the resin has UV protection
• Moss growth can cause driveway to become slippery

3 – Tarmac Driveways

Simplicity at its finest a tarmac driveway is the perfect way to showcase a minimalist aesthetic. Highly practical and weather resistant, there’s no wonder tarmac is one of the most popular options for driveways!

Pros:

• Easy to install
• affordable
• High weather resistant
• Highly durable
• Skid resistant

Cons:

• Light can cause tarmac degradation, becoming brittle
• Oil can weaken the binder in tarmac and cause cracks
• Weeds can grow in cracks

4 – Gravel Driveways

Popular for their great look and low maintenance, gravel driveways can add that rustic and rural charm to your home. The gravel used for driveways is usually a processed product consisting of rocks, sand and clay. It’s coarse nature is designed for good drainage, allowing water to permeate through. If your property has large tree roots to deal with, or if you’re looking for a cost effective solution for a large area, gravel may just be what you’re looking for!

Pros:

• Low cost
• Easy to maintain
• Gravel can easily be replenished
• Great drainage

Cons:

• Gravel could be prone to washing away
• Weeds can grow more easily
• Difficult to remove snow
• Harder to clean

5 – Concrete driveways

Known for its strength and durability, a concrete driveway can give your home a modern look with very little maintenance. Although it may be a more expensive option, the benefits of having concrete for your driveway may outweigh the cons. It’s sleek appearance can also be coloured and stamped in order to make interesting designs!

Pros:

• Strong and durable
• Sleek and modern style
• Low maintenance

Cons:

• May look too plain to some
• Costly for large areas
• Can show tyre marks and oil stains