Driveway costs

[jeeves]

I have a drive about 65m² (incl 1 manhole) that I want block paved.

I am looking at marshalls drivesett tegula blocks.

I have got 4 quotes and they come up as follows

£8k - very very quick look, did not measure up
£5.5k - didn't get a good feel for the person
£7k - measured was professional
£4300 - paced out and was spot on with his area guess

My question is does £4300 seem to good to be true or are the others expensive? Any ideas?

Ironically, the £4300 firm was one I was most impressed with on meeting in terms of the guy seeming to know what he was on about (and that was before I knew the price!).

One offered concrete mix for the sub-base and the others were crushed MOT type2.

[Current drive is half concrete / half crazy paving]

 

[rjm2k]

We are having ours done at the moment , similar area same blocks no manhole for roughly same price. Firm who did a neighbours 5 years ago. Was roughly mid quote of a few. Looking fwd to rain stopping so they can finish!

View media item 78180

 

[noseall]

Any ideas?

Yeah, have any of these tradespeople been recommended to you and have you any experience of their previous work?

Oh, and was their van tidy?

P.S. £4300 seems rather lean.

 

[noseall]

View media item 78180

Where does the rainwater go?

 

[jeeves]

Thanks for your replies.

rjm2k, you mean price was around £4300?

noseall, the cheapest quote, the guy cam round in a car to quote, I've seen there board up on a drive they had done, they are marshalls listed, ltd company been around since 80s. The £7000 was a Nissan Pathfinder type vehicle, neat and tidy, but has done a number of jobs I have seen in the local area! The 8k did our patio and did a reasonable job. The £5.5k was passing trader(s) who was leafleting.

I want the job done properly and I'm not looking for false economies, it's just a shame I preferred the cheapest one the most (before the price came into it).

 

[rjm2k]

Tegula is permeable

Yes 4.3

I think the lowest quote was 3.7 and highest 4.7

Just measured on Google earth at around 54sq m

 

[jeeves]

Also whats the opinion on sub-base being MOT type 2 vs MOT type2 mixed with cement?

One thought it needed to flex and the other thought it need to be rigid like footings to a house?

 

[jeeves]

Tegula is permeable

Do you know what your square metre area is off hand?

 

[rjm2k]

Tegula is permeable

Do you know what your square metre area is off hand?

Around 54sq m

 

[xdave]

Also whats the opinion on sub-base being MOT type 2 vs MOT type2 mixed with cement?

One thought it needed to flex and the other thought it need to be rigid like footings to a house?

A mesh reinforced concrete sub-base with drainage holes, covered with fabric and then screeded as normal is suitable for a non-permeable surface but I'm not sure if they are specified with permeable ones. I've only seen that done with normal, if slightly dry, concrete and not cement mixed with MOT type 2 though. For a standard non-permeable with soakaway drive I would always opt for a reinforced solid base as they won't sink.

 

[cannonfoder]

its should be there abouts for Marshalls £100 through the ground