Block paving driveways in Colchester and Essex
Herringbone, tumbled and Tegula-style drives laid on a proper sub-base, with a free survey, a written quote and a written 10-year workmanship guarantee.
What are you looking to have done?
Two quick questions and you'll see a guide price.
Which surface for your driveway?
Not sure? Pick the closest; Tom talks through the options on the survey.
Block paving: roughly what size?
A typical two-car drive is 40 to 50 m². A guess is fine; the free survey measures it properly.
Guide price
Pick a surface
Guide range. Larger areas come in lower per m²; the free survey fixes the price in writing.
Our typical rates per square metre
- Block paving: around £130
- Tumbled paving: around £150
- Resin bound: around £200
- Tarmac: around £130
- Imprinted concrete: around £130
- Gravel: priced on the phone
- Indian sandstone: around £180
- Porcelain: around £200
We lay block paving driveways across Colchester and Essex: hard-wearing concrete blocks laid tight together in the pattern you choose, herringbone, basketweave or stretcher bond, in standard or tumbled blocks, with a soldier course or double border in a second colour.
Laid on a proper base, a block paving drive takes cars every day, and a damaged block can be lifted and replaced without disturbing the rest. That base is where we spend the time: the old surface comes up, a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base goes in, and concrete-haunched edges hold every side.
We're a family-run firm based in Colchester, working across the Essex towns around it, including Chelmsford, Braintree and Harlow. Tom comes out to measure up and talk through the options, the price goes in writing, and the guarantee is handed over with the finished drive.
The block paving we lay
Patterns, borders and details from our own jobs.
Herringbone
Blocks set at an angle so each one locks against its neighbours in every direction, which is why it suits drives that take cars.
Tumbled blocks
Blocks tumbled for softer, worn edges, which gives a drive an older, cottage look.
Tegula-style cobbles
Mixed-size, cobble-style blocks in brindle tones, laid here with a red border in front of a detached house.
Borders and chevrons
A soldier course or a double border in a second colour frames the drive. This one has a buff chevron run through it.
Inlays and patterns
A pattern set into the drive in a contrasting block, like this interlocking diamond pattern in charcoal pavers on red herringbone.
Drainage channels
A channel along the garage or the front door takes the water off the drive before it reaches the house.
Why the blocks stay flat: what goes under them
Block paving that sinks, ruts or spreads at the edges has nearly always failed underneath, not on top. So every drive starts with the dig-out: the old surface comes up and the ground is taken down to make room for a proper sub-base.
MOT Type 1 goes in and is compacted. Concrete-haunched edge restraints are set along every side so the blocks can't creep outwards, and the blocks are bedded on sharp sand. Kiln-dried sand is brushed into the joints and the whole drive is compacted, which locks the blocks together.
Falls take the rain to a channel or a border rather than towards the house, and permeable blocks are an option where the water needs to soak away. That build-up is why the 10-year workmanship guarantee can go in writing. If your drive is level and only looks tired, cleaning, re-sanding and resealing may be all it needs.
Block paving before and after
Three of our own block paving jobs, photographed at the start and the finish.
Gravel to herringbone
A tired gravel drive in front of the garage, replaced with herringbone, a soldier border and a raised brick bed.
Before 
After Tarmac to tumbled blocks
A worn tarmac drive and its curved white walls came out; tumbled blocks in pink and brindle went down.
Before 
After Bare earth to buff herringbone
The front of a brick cottage, dug out and laid in buff herringbone with a red border.
Before 
After
How a block paving drive goes in
Six steps, the same on every drive. It's why the guarantee goes in writing.
Step 01 / 06
Free survey
Tom measures up, checks levels, drainage and access, and talks through blocks, pattern and border.
Step 02 / 06
Written quote
Blocks named, guarantee stated, price in writing. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Step 03 / 06
Dig out
The old surface comes up and the ground is dug out to make room for the sub-base.
Step 04 / 06
Sub-base and edges
MOT Type 1 laid and compacted, then concrete-haunched edge restraints set along every side.
Step 05 / 06
Bed and blocks
A sharp sand bed, then the blocks laid in your pattern, cut neatly round covers and channels.
Step 06 / 06
Joint and hand over
Kiln-dried sand brushed in, the drive compacted, the site swept and the written guarantee handed over.
New block paving, or bring the old drive back?
Not every tired drive needs digging up. Tom will tell you which on the survey.
New block paving
- The drive has sunk, rutted or spread at the edges
- Weeds keep coming up through a failing base
- You want a new layout, a different pattern or more parking
- What's there now is tarmac, concrete or gravel
A new drive goes in on a fresh sub-base with a written 10-year workmanship guarantee.
Clean, re-sand and reseal
- The blocks are sound and still level
- It's green, stained or the joint sand has washed out
- You want it looking new again without a rebuild
- Tarmac drives can be recoloured and resealed too
No hard selling: if a clean and reseal will do, Tom will say so on the survey.
Driveway cleaning and resealingWhy people pick First4Driveways for block paving
What customers mention in their reviews, and what we put in writing.
10 years, in writing
A written workmanship guarantee on every block paving drive, handed over with the job.
Built on a proper base
Compacted MOT Type 1, concrete-haunched edges and kiln-dried sand joints under every drive we lay.
Tom quotes in person
He measures up and talks through blocks, pattern and border himself. Nine Google reviewers mention him by name.
Insured, tidy, on time
Public liability cover on every job. Reviewers mention sites cleared away and work done when promised.
What customers say about their new drives
Verbatim from Google. Names as they appear on the review.
4.9 from 30 Google reviews5.0 from 90 on Yell5.0 from 16 on Facebook
Jon Curson
August 2019 · Block paving
Would highly recommend. Thomas and his team removed our old concrete driveway then replaced and extended with block paving, all within 3 days. The end result looks great.
Jake Talbot
March 2024 · Driveway
Tom came to quote for a new driveway, found him very friendly and approachable. We went ahead and the end result was superb. Hard working guys. Fully recommend.
Glyn Evans
July 2019 · Driveway
Tom and his team did a brilliant job. Competitively priced, turned up when they said they would, tailored the drive to our requirements, gave great advice and we are really happy with the end result. Always polite and friendly and I would recommend Tom to anybody.
Block paving questions
Straight answers to what people ask us most.
What is the going rate for block paving?
Our rate is around £130 per m² for standard blocks and around £150 per m² for tumbled, and larger areas come in lower per m². The price card gives you a guide in seconds; the free survey fixes the price in writing.
Do I need planning permission for a block paving drive?
Not usually. In England, paving more than 5 m² of a front garden needs planning permission only if the rainwater runs off onto the road. If it soaks through permeable blocks, or drains to a lawn or border, it doesn't. We lay permeable block paving where a front drive needs it.
How long does a block paving drive take?
It depends on the size and what has to come up first. Jon Curson's old concrete drive was dug out, replaced and extended with block paving within three days. You get the timing with the written quote.
Why does block paving sink, and how do you stop it?
Sinking and spreading start underneath: too little sub-base, or edges that let the blocks creep. We dig out properly, lay and compact MOT Type 1, set concrete-haunched edge restraints and bed the blocks on sharp sand. That's why the 10-year workmanship guarantee is in writing.
Which block paving pattern is best for a driveway?
Herringbone is the usual choice where cars turn and park, because each block locks against its neighbours in every direction. Stretcher bond and basketweave give a calmer look and suit paths and patios. A soldier course or double border in a second colour finishes any of them.
Can you bring an old block paving drive back instead?
Often, yes. If the blocks are level and sound, a clean, re-sand and reseal clears the moss and stains and puts the joint sand back. See driveway cleaning and resealing. If the drive has sunk or spread, it needs lifting and relaying on a proper base.
Other jobs we do
One team for the drive, the patio and the garden. Every job starts with a free survey and a written quote.
Resin driveways
10-year written guarantee
Resin bound only, never bonded. UV-stable resin and natural aggregate hand-trowelled to 18mm over a solid base. Walk on it after 24 hours, park on it after 48.
Resin driveways
Patios
10-year written guarantee
Indian sandstone, porcelain, tumbled block paving or granite setts on a compacted hardcore base and semi-dry mortar bed, with falls away from the house. Steps and raised beds too.
Patios
Tarmac driveways
5-year written guarantee
Hot-mix asphalt laid as a binder course then a wearing course over MOT Type 1, with drainage falls and a block paving border if you want one. Usually done in one to two days.
Tarmac driveways
Cleaning and resealing
Priced on the survey
Block paving and patios pressure cleaned, re-sanded and resealed. Tarmac drives recoloured and resealed. The cheap way to make an old drive look new again.
Cleaning and resealing
Block paving across Colchester and Essex
Based in Colchester. We lay block paving across Essex; the towns below have their own pages.
Colchester
Our base. Every service, across the town and the villages around it.
Our base
Chelmsford
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across Chelmsford. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Chelmsford
Braintree
About 16 miles from our Colchester base. Driveways, patios and landscaping with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Braintree
Harlow
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across Harlow and Old Harlow. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Harlow
Hertford
Driveways, patios and landscaping across Hertford, Ware and the Hertfordshire villages around them.
Driveways in Hertford
St Albans
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across St Albans, Harpenden and the villages. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in St Albans
Bishop's Stortford
About 36 miles from our Colchester base along the A120. Driveways, patios and landscaping with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Bishop's Stortford
Southend
Block paving, resin driveways and patios from Leigh-on-Sea to Shoeburyness. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Southend
Brentwood
About 37 miles down the A12. Driveways and patios across Brentwood, Shenfield, Hutton and Ingatestone.
Driveways in Brentwood
Stevenage
Block paving, resin driveways and patios from the Old Town to Great Ashby. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Stevenage
Cambridge
Driveways, patios and landscaping across Cambridge and its villages, with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Cambridge
Also covering: Witham, Clacton-on-Sea, Maldon, Halstead, Basildon, Billericay, Wickford, Rayleigh, Saffron Walden, Burnham-on-Crouch and the villages between. Not listed? Call and ask.
Get a free quote
Let's talk about your drive or patio
First4Driveways is a family-run business based in Colchester. Tom comes out to quote every job in person, talks through the options and materials, and puts the price in writing before anything is dug up. Block paving, resin and patios carry a written 10-year workmanship guarantee; tarmac and gravel carry five years.
- Free survey and a written quote
- Written guarantee on every job
- Fully insured, public liability cover
- Family-run, based in Colchester
Need to talk now?
Call Tom directly
Start your free quote
Tell us about the drive or garden and we'll arrange a free survey.