Block paving driveways in Bristol, built by hand and built to last.
Marshalls and Tobermore approved block paving installers serving Bristol, South Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas since 1999. Full sub-base, hand-laid blocks, kiln-dried finish and a 5-year workmanship guarantee in writing on every driveway we install.
- 5-Year GuaranteeOn every installation
- Marshalls ApprovedAccredited Bristol installer
- Fully InsuredPublic liability cover
- Free Site SurveyAcross Bristol & surrounds
What is block paving
Still Bristol's go-to driveway, when it's laid properly.
Block paving is individual concrete or clay blocks, laid in a pattern over a compacted, drained sub-base. Strong enough for daily car traffic, repairable block-by-block, and available in dozens of colours and formats. Laid properly, a block paving driveway in Bristol should easily give you 20 to 25 years of service.
We've installed block paving across Bristol since 1999, from terraced fronts in Bedminster to long sweeping driveways in Sneyd Park. The key isn't the blocks themselves; it's everything underneath them. Every driveway we build starts with a proper excavation to 200-250mm, a Type 1 MOT sub-base compacted in layers, and a 30-50mm sharp sand laying course before any blocks go down.
Edges are restrained on a concrete haunch, blocks are hand-laid to your chosen pattern, then cut in with a precision wet saw and finished with kiln-dried jointing sand. Drainage is planned for every drive, with permeable blocks or falls to a channel or soakaway. The result is a driveway that sits flat, drains properly, and won't dip or rut after the first wet Bristol winter.
- Free Bristol-wide site visit
- Fixed written quote in 48 hours
- Marshalls & Tobermore approved
Hard-wearing for 20+ years
Rated for vehicle traffic. Holds its level for two decades when the sub-base is right.
Repairable in place
Lift and relay individual blocks if a service trench is dug. No patches, no colour mismatch.
Permeable options
Permeable block ranges drain on-site, keeping you inside permitted development.
Genuinely customisable
Marshalls, Tobermore and Brett ranges. Herringbone, stretcher, basket and circle patterns.
Adds real kerb appeal
A well-laid drive lifts the whole frontage, and buyers notice it.
Finishes & options
Block ranges, colours and patterns we install.
A selection of the block paving ranges Bristol homeowners ask us for most. Bring us a Pinterest board, a sample, or just a colour you like, and we'll match it.
How we install it
Our 5-stage block paving installation process.
No corners cut, no skipping the boring bits. The bits underneath are the ones that fail first, so we get them right and we show our working.
Site survey & quote
Free Bristol-wide visit. We measure up, discuss drainage and access, and put a fixed price in writing within 48 hours.
Excavation & prep
Existing surface lifted and removed. Dug down 200-250mm, geotextile membrane laid, edges set out to your design.
Sub-base & drainage
Type 1 MOT compacted in layers to engineering spec. ACO drains, soakaways or permeable detail installed as needed.
Laying & cutting
Sharp sand screeded, blocks hand-laid to pattern, edges and curves cut clean with a wet saw. Edge restraints haunched in concrete.
Finishing & sign-off
Kiln-dried sand swept in and compacted, area pressure-washed clean, walked round with you. Guarantee issued in writing.
Recent work
Our recent work
Before your survey
Choosing the right block paving construction
Compare conventional and permeable construction, the pattern and the edges. Ask your written quote to identify the foundation, drainage, waste removal and any work around covers or steps.
For front-garden paving, check the official guidance on permeable surfacing and any restrictions with your local planning authority.
FAQ
Common questions
How long does a block paving driveway take to install?
A standard Bristol driveway of 40-60m² takes 5 to 8 working days from arrival to sign-off, weather permitting. Day one is excavation, days two and three are sub-base and drainage, then laying, cutting and finishing run from day four onwards. Larger driveways or those needing significant groundworks may take longer. We'll always commit to a finish date in writing before any deposit is taken.
Do I need planning permission to pave my front garden in Bristol?
For most front gardens in Bristol, no. Under permitted development rules you're fine if either the area is under 5m² or the surface is permeable, so water drains on-site rather than into the road. Permeable block paving drains through the surface, which keeps a front garden inside permitted development. If your property is listed or in a conservation area we'll confirm with your local Bristol planning office before starting work.
How long does block paving last in the Bristol climate?
Properly installed block paving has a working life of 20 to 25 years, and the blocks themselves are rated for far longer. The British climate, including Bristol's wetter winters, is no problem when the sub-base is right and drainage has been thought through. We've returned to driveways we laid in the early 2000s that still look sharp. The only intervention has been a re-sand and a pressure wash.
Will weeds grow up between the blocks?
Far less than you'd expect. We use polymeric or kiln-dried jointing sand and a geotextile membrane underneath the sub-base. Together they stop weeds rooting from below, which is where they normally come from. Anything that does establish on the surface from airborne seed lifts out easily with a stiff brush or a yearly weedkiller treatment.
Can you lay block paving over an existing concrete driveway?
Almost never, and we'll always advise against it. Block paving relies on a properly compacted, well-drained sub-base directly underneath. Laying over concrete traps water, causes movement and shortens the life of the surface significantly. Resin bound or imprinted concrete are better options if you want to keep an existing concrete slab in place. We'll talk you through both at the site visit.
Get a free block paving quote in Bristol.
Arrange a free site survey to discuss the finish, preparation, drainage and access. Review the written scope and terms before agreeing to the work.