Block Paving Driveway in Norwich
Block paving is a driveway surface made from individual clay or concrete blocks laid over a compacted sub-base. In Norwich, a professionally installed block paved driveway lasts 20 years or more, and individual blocks can be lifted and replaced without redoing the surface. Expert Paving and Landscaping installs block paving across Norwich and Norfolk.
What is block paving, and how long does it last in Norfolk?
When you’re looking for block paving driveways in Norwich, you’re not just choosing a surface, you’re making a long-term investment in your home’s appearance and strength, which can last 20 years or more.
We have installed hundreds of block paving driveways in Norwich, Thorpe St Andrew, and Sprowston, and we understand what makes a driveway last compared to one that may start to sink or crack after just a few years.
Your driveway is exposed to the changing weather conditions in Norwich, which include freezing and thawing temperatures during the winter, consistent heavy rainfall throughout the year, and the naturally clay-rich soil that is common in Norfolk.
Many homeowners are not aware that the visible part of the driveway is only part of the story. The actual performance and longevity of your driveway depend on the sub-base, how the blocks are laid, and the quality of the joint sand used.
Block Paving vs Tarmac vs Resin for a Norwich Home
Expert Paving and Landscaping worked with residents in Costessey, Hellesdon, and Wymondham who made the switch from asphalt to block paving, and the results have been impressive.
Durability: A properly installed block paving driveway lasts 20 years or more. Tarmac cracks in winter and softens in summer. Asphalt needs resurfacing every five to seven years. Block paving just sits there and does its job. If one block does crack, you only need to replace that one block.
Aesthetic preference: We lay Marshalls block paving, one of the UK’s largest manufacturers, which gives an authentic choice for every property. Our range includes classic brick-style designs in earthy tones and warm reds for traditional homes and natural stone effects that mimic granite or slate. We also stock permeable blocks to enhance water drainage, essential for Norfolk’s clay soil.
Maintenance: Unlike tarmac or asphalt, block paving won’t absorb oil. An oil spill is easy to handle, simply rinse it away or give it a quick scrub with soapy water, and it won’t leave a permanent stain. This means your driveway maintains its appearance without constant pressure washing.
Brickweave Driveways in Norwich
Brickweave is the Norfolk name for block paving. If you have been quoted for a “brickweave driveway” in Norwich, you have been quoted for the same thing: individual clay or concrete blocks laid in an interlocking pattern over a compacted sub-base. The words are used interchangeably across Norwich, Wymondham and the surrounding villages, and some local builders write it as “brick weave”, two words.
We install brickweave driveways throughout Norwich and Norfolk using Marshalls blocks, laid in stretcher bond or herringbone depending on the traffic the driveway will carry. Herringbone interlocks more tightly and is the better choice where vehicles turn on the drive rather than simply driving straight in.
You may also see it written as blockweave, or as brick weave in two words. All of them describe the same surface, so a quote for one should be directly comparable with a quote for another. Where two quotes differ significantly, the difference is almost always in the depth of the sub-base, not the blocks on top.
How much does Block Paving cost in Norwich?
There is no honest single figure, because two driveways of the same size on the same street can cost very differently. Four things decide it:
1. What the ground needs. Much of the Norwich area sits on boulder clay, which holds water. Clay usually needs a deeper sub-base than a sandy or chalky site. This is the single biggest reason two quotes for the same driveway differ — and the cheaper one is not always a saving.
2. What is there now. Lifting and disposing of an old concrete slab costs more than lifting gravel. Roughly a third of a properly built driveway is groundwork you will never see.
3. Drainage. More than 5m² of impermeable surface in a front garden needs either planning permission or a drainage solution — permeable blocks, a soakaway or a channel drain. All three cost less than a planning application.
4. The block. Standard concrete blocks sit at one end of the range; clay pavers and natural-stone-effect ranges at the other.
What to ask for. An itemised quote that states the sub-base depth in writing. That one line explains most of the price difference between contractors.
Our quotes are free, fixed and itemised. Call 01603 858680.
How we build a Block Paving Driveway: our Four-Layer System
We follow a 4-layer structural system to prevent damage to your driveway.What we do in these steps is explained below:
Layer 1
Subgrade Preparation
Layer 2
Hardcore Base (100-150mm)
Layer 3
Sand Bed (50mm)
Layer 4
The Blocks and Joint Sand
Why Block Paving sinks, and how we prevent it
Sinking is the most common problem homeowners face with block paving, but it only happens when it’s not installed properly. In Thorpe St Andrew, we recently worked on a driveway that was 12 years old and had settled by up to 40mm on one side. The original installer had not done proper compaction and used too little sub-base material.
When we rebuild it, we did more than just place new blocks on the same base.
We:
- Removed the entire surface and old sub-base
- Dug down to remove the clay soil, which expands and contracts with moisture
- Installed a proper 150mm crushed stone base, compacting it in 50mm layers
- Added a 50mm sand bed with edge restraints
- Installed Marshalls pavers using a stretcher bond pattern, which spreads weight more evenly than other patterns
Block Paving FAQs
How much should I pay for block paving?
There is no single figure — it depends on the ground, what is there now, the drainage and the block you choose. Ask any contractor for an itemised quote that states the sub-base depth in writing. That one line explains most of the price difference between quotes, and a shallow sub-base is the most common cause of a driveway sinking within five years.
Do I need a membrane under block paving?
Yes. A geotextile membrane sits between the subgrade and the hardcore base and stops the two layers mixing. Without it, the stone base gradually works down into the soil and the driveway settles unevenly. On Norfolk’s clay soils a membrane is not optional, it is what allows the sub-base to keep doing its job.
Is it cheaper to have block paving or slabs?
Slabs are usually cheaper to lay because there are fewer units and less cutting. Block paving costs more upfront but carries vehicle weight far better, and a single damaged block can be lifted and replaced for a few pounds. For a driveway, block paving is the more economical choice over its lifetime; for a patio, slabs often make more sense.
What are the disadvantages of block paving driveways?
Block paving needs occasional maintenance: joint sand washes out over time and needs topping up, and weeds can establish in the joints if the driveway is neglected. It also costs more to install than tarmac. The trade-off is a surface that lasts 20 years or more and can be repaired block by block rather than resurfaced
How long does a block paving driveway last in Norwich?
A properly built block paving driveway in Norwich lasts 20 years or more. What decides it is the sub-base, not the blocks. On Norfolk’s clay soils a shallow or poorly compacted base is what causes a driveway to sink within five years, while a correctly built one outlasts two tarmac resurfaces. Individual blocks can be lifted and replaced at any point without redoing the surface.
Can you lay block paving over an existing concrete or tarmac driveway?
Not reliably. Laying blocks over an existing hard surface skips the sub-base, and the driveway will move as the surface beneath it moves. We excavate the old surface and build the base properly. If a contractor offers to lay straight over your existing drive, ask what happens to the drainage.
Is brickweave the same as block paving?
Yes. Brickweave is the Norfolk and East Anglian name for block paving — the same clay or concrete blocks laid over a compacted sub-base. Some local contractors write it as “brick weave”. A brickweave quote and a block paving quote should be directly comparable.