Driveway Costs by the Numbers: Tarmac, Block Paving and Resin

Driveway quotes are usually given per square metre, which makes them easy to chart and compare, as long as you know what each rate includes. The guide prices one Coventry installer publishes, supplied and laid, show how much the choice of surface matters.

Guide prices per square metre

• Concrete: around £120/m²
• Tarmac resurfacing: around £120/m²
• New tarmac: around £180/m², plus £10 to £15/m² for coloured tarmac
• Block paving: around £180/m²
• Imprinted concrete: around £250/m²
• Resin bound: around £300/m²

On a 40m² drive, that works out at roughly £7,200 for block paving and £12,000 for resin bound. Rates usually fall for larger areas, and the final figure always depends on a survey.

What sits under the surface

The visible surface is only part of the cost. A new tarmac drive is typically dug out to 200–250mm, with 150–200mm of compacted Type 1 sub-base, a 50–60mm binder course and a 25–30mm wearing course on top. Experienced tarmac driveway contractors in Coventry will also tell you when an existing drive is sound enough to resurface with a new wearing course, which costs about a third less than starting again.

Lifespan and running costs

• Tarmac: 15 to 20 years on a proper base, with sealing every 3 to 5 years
• Resin bound: 15 to 25 years or more with proper care
• Block paving: damaged blocks can be replaced individually, with a yearly weed treatment and fresh sand every 2 to 3 years

Dividing the installed cost by the expected life gives a cost per year that is often closer between surfaces than the headline prices suggest. A permeable resin bound driveway laid on a porous base can also save on drainage, because rain soaks straight through.

Time on site

• New drives: typically one to two weeks on site, from excavation to finishing, weather permitting
• Tarmac resurfacing: 1 to 2 days over a sound existing base
• New tarmac: cars can usually drive on it after 24 hours

Factors that move the price

Charting quotes side by side shows which extras make the difference: the condition of the existing ground, excavation depth, edging, drainage and dropped kerbs. With block paving installers, the block itself matters too. Standard 50mm concrete blocks suit most homes, while 60–80mm blocks or clay pavers cost more but suit heavier vehicles or period properties.

A few simple figures make driveway quotes far easier to compare like for like. For more on driveway companies and the metrics behind them, see our driveway category.