Making sure you choose the right driveway surfacing solution for your property is crucial. We all know that feeling of pulling up to your home and gliding onto your driveway after a long day or week and having that feeling of relief and relaxation come over you.

Here at iDream Solutions, we are professional Devon driveway and Cornwall driveway landscapers and designers, helping you to achieve the perfect exterior for your home. Whether you want to add character with a bold driveway colour or keep it minimalistic with a design that fits the exterior or colour scheme, we can help.

Not only does having the right driveway surfacing add curb appeal to your property but, it could also increase your property’s value. Find out the differences between installing block paving Devon or tarmac driveways and the benefits they could bring to your property by reading on.

Block paving, otherwise known as brick paving, is one of the most popular driveways and path surfacing options in the UK. Block paving is a series of bricks, available in a range of sizes, colours and shapes, arranged in an interlocking pattern creating an aesthetically pleasing, durable and completely bespoke surface to enjoy. You can find out more about our range of block paving in our blog ‘ things you need to know about block paving ’.

Tarmac, short for tarmacadam, is a mixture made using crushed stone or aggregate and sand which is then mixed with tar. Tar can also be produced using organic matter such as wood or peat. The black surface solution can be easily spread across your driveway to create a simple and smooth surface. Find out more about tarmac in our blog ‘ Tarmac driveway pros & cons – what you need to know.’

Having a high-quality, attractive and low-maintenance block paved driveway on your property not only transforms the exterior design of your home but also comes with a variety of benefits including:

Tarmac is one of the most reliable and most-used surface options for pavements and roads around and can also be used to create attractive and reliable driveways with various beneficial properties including:

If you’re looking to improve your driveway, you may be torn between two of the most common driveway surfaces, block paving and tarmac. While they are both great options when it comes to creating a low-maintenance, smooth driveway to last for many years to come. They are two incredibly different surface options.

Durability

Both block paving & tarmac have high strength and durability properties. Tarmac is designed for road surfacing and can withstand constant use from vehicles of varying weights, in all weather conditions. However block paving, installed in an interlocking herringbone pattern (or any other pattern you desire) gives the bricks a sturdy and durable structure.

Block paving, however, should retain its colour/appearance longer than tarmac, with the added option of adding sealant to your driveway to help preserve the colours, surface and appearance of the block paving. Whereas tarmac can fade in colour and may crack over time.

Maintenance

To keep your block paving colours and design looking as vibrant and as good as new, you may need to sweep and wash your block paved driveway. Block paving, however, does not require regular maintenance. You can add a sealant to your block driveway to help protect and maintain its appearance for many years, but this is a personal choice.

While your tarmac driveway is fairly low-maintenance, to ensure it stays looking and functioning to a high standard it is best to regularly sweep or clean it. In hot weather it is recommended to spray cool water over the driveway, this helps to prevent the tarmac from softening in the heat and becoming damaged by use. Also, if your tarmac driveway isn’t installed with adequate drainage, issues may appear over time which could affect the longevity of your tarmac driveway.

Installation Time

With block paving , our team of professional installers will be individually laying and fitting each block. While also ensuring any chosen pattern, colour design or shape preferences are met, it can be a timely installation which could take up to one or more days depending on the size of the project.

However, if all the groundwork has been completed, then laying the tarmac and ensuring it is even across the driveway is a relatively easy task for our team. Tarmac, however, can take up to eight hours to dry completely.

Cost

At iDream Solutions, we have been providing Devon and Cornwall with hardwearing, attractive and durable tarmac and block paving solutions for domestic and commercial customers for many years. For more inspiration, see our gallery or our wide range of case studies.

If you’re looking to tarmac or block pave your driveway in or around Devon and Cornwall, we have our experts available in various locations throughout Exeter and the surrounding areas including:

And many more. Find out more about the services and solutions we offer today by contacting a member of the team on 01626 680194 or emailing contact@idream-solutions.co.uk