Three concrete driveway options
1. Plain broom-finish concrete
Simple, strong, unfussy. Light broom-texture for grip. Grey — though pigment available. £65–£85/m². Commercial-grade option for functional domestic drives.
2. Pattern-imprinted concrete (PIC)
Our most-requested concrete option. While the concrete is wet, textured mats press a pattern in — cobblestone, slate, brick, ashlar. Coloured hardener + release agent give rich tones. £90–£140/m². Looks like premium paving at concrete prices.
3. Exposed aggregate concrete
Retarder sprayed on while curing, then top layer of cement washed off to "expose" the stone aggregate underneath. Sparkling, upscale, modern. £95–£135/m².
Why it lasts 30+ years (when done right)
- 150mm MOT Type 1 sub-base — same as every other proper drive.
- A142 steel reinforcing mesh — in the middle of the pour, stops structural cracking.
- Poly-fibre additives — reduce surface shrinkage cracking.
- Control joints cut at day 2 — every 3–4m, to force cracks to happen along designed lines rather than randomly.
- Curing compound sprayed — slows moisture loss, stops surface crazing.
- Sealed on day 28 — once fully cured, 2 coats of acrylic sealer.
The #1 reason 1980s concrete drives failed:
No control joints + no reinforcement + no proper curing. Modern installs fix all three. Get a proper spec and you'll never repour it.
Concrete pricing in Lymm
- 30m² plain broom-finish: £2,000–£2,600
- 50m² pattern-imprinted: £4,800–£6,800
- 80m² exposed aggregate: £7,500–£10,500
When concrete beats block paving
- Heavy vehicles — caravans, horseboxes, commercial vans. Concrete spreads load; blocks eventually rut.
- Sloped drives — no jointing to work loose on a gradient.
- Long-term owners — if you're staying 15+ years, concrete beats block on cost-per-year.
When NOT to pick concrete
- If you might want to run services (cables / pipes) under the drive later — concrete is far harder to lift than blocks.
- If you want multi-colour patterns — PIC does patterns but colour choice is more limited than block.
- If your budget is tight and the drive is small — concrete has a high minimum price due to plant hire, regardless of drive size.