Reply to: Block Paving

[Halo Jones]

Bless BGG he tries: SSM7 is how you measure (for costing purposes) not actual prices, I have checked out Spons (commercial price book) and for bricks laid on edge in a herring bone pattern expect £49.68 m2 if you lay the bricks on face then expect 30.64m2. These rates are for commercial so you may pay a bit more for domestic.

Things to consider:

Yes you need planning permission for non-porous finishes this is due to surface water being diverted into local drains & possibly exceeding the capacity of the grey water network.

Depending on the aesthetic you are after reclaimed bricks can be a cheap option (but not red ones as they are more expensive)

If you plan on having spoil heaps / plant / skips in the pavement you technically need permission from your highways office

Doing it your self may seem cheap but consider plant hire costs, transport costs, sanity costs, extended duration of works, where do you park your cars in the meantime?

If you are worried about weeds use a commercial strength herbicide on your excavated plot.

Considering current economic conditions many small companies are struggling, do not pay upfront for anything.

Check your local area for any “groundworkers” they are the firms that do the work commercially but if they are quiet (most likely) they may consider your project.

Agree a lump sum figure not re-measurable.

Check all drains, kerbs and other details prior to signing off / paying for the work.

On domestic work the use of your welfare facilities (toilet) is expected but to save your carpets put down cardboard on the route.

[oracleslave]

Do you live next door to Wilmslow OS?

You mean this immigrants are "mafia types" !!

< runs to shop to fetch 4-ply and eau de toilette>

[Pondlife]

For a number one make them use the neighbours front car tyre.

For a number two make them use an empty Asda plastic bag and throw it at the neighbours two down when full.

Do you live next door to Wilmslow OS?

[oracleslave]

Can you prevent these immigrant workers coming inside your house and using your toilet? What is the etiquette?

For a number one make them use the neighbours front car tyre.

For a number two make them use an empty Asda plastic bag and throw it at the neighbours two down when full.

[BlackenedBiker]

I'm thinking of ripping up the front lawn in favour of paving it so we can park another car (plus my grass isn't green enough as cats wee on it).
Been advised to use that moulded concrete that looks like block paving as real block paving gets weeds coming up between after less than a year if the neighbours is anything to go by.
Can you prevent these immigrant workers coming inside your house and using your toilet? What is the etiquette?

Apparenly you need Planning permission for this as it is a non-pourous surface.

WTF!!!!!!!madmad

[Board Game Geek]

I'll ask Mrs BGG (Halo) to check her SMM7 for you.

[GreenerGrass]

I'm thinking of ripping up the front lawn in favour of paving it so we can park another car (plus my grass isn't green enough as cats wee on it).
Been advised to use that moulded concrete that looks like block paving as real block paving gets weeds coming up between after less than a year if the neighbours is anything to go by.
Can you prevent these immigrant workers coming inside your house and using your toilet? What is the etiquette?

[threaded]

How much should it cost /m2

Is it difficult to do yourself

Dead easy.

The only problem you'll have is gits trying to steal your tamping machine whenever you turn your back.

[MrNoMotivation]

We went the Pikey/Albanian route - came through our street like a plague of locusts. Cheap as chips and apart from one dip good value. Recommend you get them to lift each manhole cover before you handover the money. Ours hadn't appreciated that cement doesnt float and had to get down and dirty before he disappeared with his tax free wad.

Sounds like the company we used. They destroyed the man hole cover and a part of the underground walls with the digger. They had to build it up again. Make sure everything is 100% before you hand over the dosh.

[singhr]

We went the Pikey/Albanian route - came through our street like a plague of locusts. Cheap as chips and apart from one dip good value. Recommend you get them to lift each manhole cover before you handover the money. Ours hadn't appreciated that cement doesnt float and had to get down and dirty before he disappeared with his tax free wad.

[MrNoMotivation]

If you are thinking of doing it yourself, have a look here


We had ours done last year and it was worth it

I agree. Very good when trying to keep up with the Jones'.

[FiveTimes]

If you are thinking of doing it yourself, have a look here


We had ours done last year and it was worth it

[MrNoMotivation]

Just had mine done by a bunch of Irish/polish builders.
Really had to keep my eye on them as we caught them a few times trying to cut corners.
Need to dig at least 12 inches down using a digger.
8 inches of hardcore, then the mebrane, followed by 2 inches of sand and then the blocks which are 2 inches high.
Cost us 3K.
The drive can park 3 cars and that included walls either side and a small front wall + garden area and drainage. An English builder that I know and does quality work quoted us £5.5 - £6K.
Our previous drive was crazy paving and let me tell you it was crazy and the walls were getting a bit dangerous.
All depends how long you're thinking of staying in your property. We want to sell up in the next couple of yrs so as long as it looks good i don't care what happens after that. If you're staying there for 10-20yrs then get it done properly.
I've heard that just for the drive done in block paving you shouldn't pay more the £100 per sqm.
I really wouldn't do it yourself unless you know what you are doing. No offensive but seeing as you're posting here asking for advice I reckon you will end up getting someone else to clear your mess and then starting again.

[DimPrawn]

Have you tried calling a paving specialist?

[TykeMerc]

How much should it cost /m2

Is it difficult to do yourself

Depends on the type of blocks used, any patterns etc and competition in your local area.

Easy enough to do it yourself, but you will need to hire a compactor and it's pretty hard physical work. Existing surface makes a difference, ripping up old concrete for instance is hard graft.