£90 sqm for block driveway - When is it too much money ?

[Addict]

Had two quotes for our drive area (72 sq meters) to be block paved.

1st quote (admitedly about 1 year ago) £6k.

2nd quote a few days ago, £6500. That equates to some £90 per square meter.

Of course, not all driveways are created equal, but judging from prices on this and other sites, £90 sq m seems to be almost double what is normally charged. There's nothing 'special' that I can think of about our driveway, except to say that it's not square, nor rectangle - as we live on in a detached corner plot - so it's kind of triangle shaped.

Is £90 sq m really unreasonable? or can jobs easily go upto that much for 'standard' (if there is such a word) block paved driveway ?

Ironically some chancer knocked on our door asking if we were interested in having our driveway paved. Offered to do it for £2k, payment upfront, and he'll start in 4 weeks time. Hmmmm .. bargain - not.

[TheVictorianCobbleCo]

It does sound on the high side, but each quote depends on where you are, what preparation needs to be done, what needs to be taken away, concrete break up, etc, etc. Get a couple more quotes, see where they fall in. Ask for a breakdown in costs, I always give one, it will give you an idea of where the money is going.
WCS

[lutonlagerlout]

addict a quote is a quote. you dont have to accept it,no-one is giving you a chinese burn are they? TBH £90 a m2 is not that excessive for the area you mentioned if you were going for a top quality job with clay paviors etc.
i would have guessed (without looking its hard) at about £5 -6 k but like bill says get more quotes,and ask people who have nice drives who did their drive.
hope this helps
LLL

[Ted]

I don't think £90 a square metre is too bad but you should naturally expect a good job at this price.

Good, well-laid, PIC often costs £120 a square metre.

[Dave_L]

OK - what surface is there already? Concrete?

As has been said, concrete break up and cart away costs!

Do you have a detailed spec?

What blocks, laid to what pattern?

[Addict]

Thanks for the replies guys - I realise that citing whether a quote is high is rather subjective.

In answer to the questions. We're in Milton Keynes, and the existing area is gravel over top soil (maybe clay), but definately no concrete involved here.

As for spec - "it's in the post" or so I'm advised, but basically, it's standard block paving on the entire 72 sq meters, with a step at the front door area. Naturally (is it natural??) there's drainage points as well. Pattern doesnt seem to make any difference in the quoted price - can either have 45 or 90 degree herringbone for the same price.

The guy was from TopPave if that makes any diff ? Suspect that being from an 'organisation' adds a few quid on top as well. We have a guy from Marshalls coming in a week or two as well - although over the phone he advised about 4700-5800 inclusive of vat for a 72 sq meter area - making him £65-£80 per sq meter - slightly cheaper.

But cheaper does'nt always equal best eh?

[lutonlagerlout]

addict are you having clay pavers??
believe me if you are going to spend that sort of money go for clay over concrete,in 10 years time the clay will still look the same the concrete ones weather and bleach horrendously over 10 yrs
i normally go about £70 a metre for concrete and £80-85 per metre for clay ,and i am in luton
we are pretty tied up now but i have seen a crowd called "dreamscape" turn out some really nice work in the luton area,i think thats all they do is drives might be worth a try
do not go for anyone that cold calls or leaflets thet will be pikeys 100%
as for top pave and marshalls contractors you will probably be paying a 5-10 % premium for them as they will have to kick back some money to the suppliers
if i am wrong to mention this firm let me know but they have turned out some lovely drives round this way
cheers LLL

[Ted]

Being from an "organisation" can make a big difference.

I know men who install drives who are banned from driving for drink driving (or never got their test), claim the dole and housing benefit, pay their men less then minimum wage in cash (so their men are signing on too), only work for cash so pay no tax and can carry on claiming, drive their vans on public highways, fly-tip, and as result don't honour their guarantees as they are only verbal as the job is done for cash. They also cut loads of corners and have no public liability insurance or anything.

If you are from an "organisation" you obviously have to ensure your drivers have licences so are insured and legal, you need to be fully insured, you can't fly-tip so have to use skips at £180 a go, you have to pay your men at least minimum wage (some more) and you have to pay the taxman. Obviously some "organisations" still cut corners and don't honout their guarantees but it is easier to sue them and you don't have to feel guilty about ripping the taxman off.

[Addict]

The quotes we've had are for normal concrete blocks, rather than the clay ones, but I take your point about clay bricks - it's not something I previously looked into (nievity lead me to believe that a paving block is a paving block is a paving block - I'm now learning that is simply not the case).

The only other thing that hurts is those companies wanting 50% upfront. Sorry, but I've seen and heard too many horror stories to be paying cash upfront. Especially if 50% £3k!!