New driveway - Advice please

[novice47]

Can somebody advise me please, I have a gently sloping driveway with plenty of curves, it is at present unmade, ie. stone chippings which are well compacted. It is bordered on one side by a raised lawn and a hedge and tree on the other.

A lot of vegetation sprouts in the Summer months from grass cuttings, leaves, bird droppings etc.

I am looking for a completely sealed surface which can be hosed down regularly, the only solution which springs to my mind is pattern imprinted concrete, but the quality of finish I have seen varies dramatically and it seems so ridiculously expensive for what it actually is!

Money is tight and I can do a lot of stuff myself, can anybody suggest a solution. The driveway is approximately 54 sq m in dimension.

Thanks in anticipation.

[Tony McC]

I'd go for block paving that will be treated with a sealant a few months after installation.

I don't like to apply sealants until the paving is at least 3 months old (preferably 6 months) so if you got the paving done this year, you could get it through the winter by treating with a weedkiller and then look at having it sealed in, say, March of next spring.

[novice47]

Thanks for your response Tony.

I've always thought that block paving was one of the worst offenders for weed growth, is this not the case? I've seen some which looked fantastic when laid and then probably 12 months later look awful. I take it proper sealing would prevent this?