Stays flat under vehicles
Correct excavation depth and compacted sub-base stop the rutting that ruins cheap driveways.
Block Paved DrivewaysBuilt From the Sub-Base Upin Cardiff & Newport
A driveway is 90% the ground you never see. We excavate to depth, compact a proper sub-base and lay blocks that stay flat and level years after a surface-dressed job has rutted and sunk.
Fixed-price quotes · 10-year workmanship guarantee · fully insured
15 years
in the trade, trading as MB Construction since 2019
10-year guarantee
workmanship guarantee on completed work
Fully insured
public liability & employer's liability
Fixed-price quotes
free, in writing, never a day rate
24/7 emergencies
emergency roof repairs, day or night
Block Paving, What's Involved
Block paving is a driveway, path or patio surface built from individual concrete or clay blocks laid on a compacted sub-base and a screeded laying course, then vibrated in and jointed with kiln-dried sand.
Done properly it carries vehicles without rutting, drains rather than pooling, and can be lifted and relaid in one section if you ever need access to a drain or service below it.
Done badly, thin sub-base, no edge restraint, no drainage plan, it sinks in wheel tracks within a couple of winters. The difference is entirely in the groundwork, which is why we excavate rather than dress over what is already there.
- Who it's for
- Homeowners replacing cracked concrete or tarmac, adding off-street parking, or turning a tired front garden into a usable driveway.
- When it's needed
- When the existing surface is rutted, weedy, pooling water or breaking up, or when you need a second parking space or a wider access.
- Why a professional job matters
- Excavation depth, sub-base compaction, falls, edge restraints and surface water disposal all have to be right before the first block is laid. None of them can be corrected afterwards without lifting the lot.
What Happens If It's Left
Nothing outside a house gets cheaper to fix by waiting. Here is how this one escalates.
A shallow base always shows
Skimp on excavation and the first winter of car weight and rain leaves ruts, dips and rocking blocks along the wheel lines.
Water goes somewhere
A drive laid without falls or drainage pushes rainwater towards your house. Standing water against a wall means damp inside it.
Weeds and ants take the joints
Poorly compacted, badly jointed paving opens up. Once weed roots and ants are in the joints, blocks start to move.
Rework costs more than doing it once
Relaying a failed driveway means paying twice for excavation, disposal and materials. The sub-base is where the savings are never worth it.
Common mistakes we're called in to undo
- Laying new blocks straight over old concrete or tarmac to save excavation.
- Leaving out edge restraints, so the outer courses spread and the whole field loosens.
- Ignoring surface water rules and draining a new drive straight onto the pavement or towards the house.
- Accepting a day rate, so the cost climbs with every load of muck taken away.
- Choosing the cheapest block rather than one rated for vehicle traffic.
Our Process
The same five steps on every job, so you always know what happens next.
01
Site visit and measure
We look at levels, access, existing surfaces, where water currently goes and where it needs to go.
02
Fixed price in writing
A free, no-obligation quote covering excavation, disposal, sub-base, edgings, blocks, drainage and finishing.
03
Excavation and preparation
The old surface is broken out and removed, the ground dug to depth, and a compacted MOT sub-base laid in layers to the correct falls.
04
Edgings, laying and drainage
Edge courses are haunched in concrete, drainage channels and any soakaway are set, then blocks are laid to pattern on a screeded laying course.
05
Compaction, jointing and completion
The surface is vibrated in, jointed with kiln-dried sand, swept down and checked for level. Site cleared, guarantee handed over.
What You Get
Drains properly
Falls, channels and permeable detailing take water away from the house rather than towards it.
Repairable in sections
Individual blocks can be lifted and relaid; a real advantage over poured surfaces if a service needs digging up.
Instant kerb appeal
A crisp block drive changes the front of a house more than almost any other outside job.
Fixed price
Excavation, disposal and materials all included in one figure agreed before we start.
Guaranteed workmanship
Backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee and full insurance.
Block Paving in Detail
Materials, methods and the variations we cover across Cardiff, Newport and the wider South Wales area.
Block types and laying patterns
Concrete block paving for hard-wearing driveways, clay pavers where a traditional look suits the house, and larger-format blocks for contemporary frontages. Herringbone at 45 or 90 degrees interlocks best under vehicle loads; stretcher bond suits paths and patios where traffic is light.
Sub-base construction
Excavation depth is set by use, deeper for a drive that carries cars than for a footpath, with compacted granular sub-base built up in layers and a screeded sharp sand or grit laying course on top.
Drainage and permeable paving
Surface water from a new front driveway must not simply run onto the highway. Depending on the site we use falls to a linear channel, a soakaway, or permeable block paving with an open-graded sub-base that lets water through the joints.
Edgings, kerbs and steps
Every field of paving needs restraint. We set kerbs, edging blocks or soldier courses on a concrete haunch, and form steps, thresholds and level changes as part of the same groundwork.
Existing levels and thresholds
Door thresholds, air bricks and damp-proof courses set the maximum finished height. Getting this wrong bridges the DPC and pushes damp into the wall, so levels are worked out before we dig.
Finishing and maintenance
Kiln-dried sand jointing, optional sealing, and a jet wash and re-sand every few years keeps the colour and stops weeds establishing, a service we also carry out.
Where we carry out this work
We work from Crumlin Drive in St Mellons across Cardiff, Newport, St Mellons, Vale of Glamorgan, Caerphilly, Penarth and the surrounding South Wales area. See the areas we cover, browse all of our services or head back to the MB Construction homepage.
Block Paving, Common Questions
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Cardiff?
It depends on the area, how much excavation and disposal is involved, drainage requirements and the block you choose. We measure on site and give you a free fixed price in writing.
How long does a block paving job take?
A typical domestic driveway runs over several days from excavation to final sweep. Your quote sets out the expected timescale before we start.
Can I park on it straight away?
The surface is vibrated in and jointed before we leave, and we will tell you on the day when it is ready to take vehicles.
Do I need planning permission?
Most front driveways are permitted development provided surface water is dealt with on site rather than run onto the road, which is why drainage is part of every quote.
Will weeds grow through it?
A compacted base, correct jointing and the occasional re-sand keep joints tight. Weeds that do appear are surface-seeded and clear with a wash down.
How long does block paving last?
Built on a proper base it is a long-life surface; the workmanship carries our 10-year guarantee and individual blocks can be replaced if one is ever damaged.
Can you lay it over my existing concrete?
We do not recommend it. Old surfaces hide voids, hold water and rarely sit at the right level. We excavate and build up properly instead.
Are your quotes really free?
Yes. We come out, look at the job properly and put a fixed price in writing. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation to go ahead.
Do you charge a day rate?
No. Every job is quoted as a fixed price. The figure you agree is the figure you pay, whether the work runs quicker or slower than we expected.
Is the work guaranteed and are you insured?
All of our work carries a 10-year workmanship guarantee, and we hold both public liability and employer's liability insurance. Ask to see the documents before work starts and you will get them.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based on Crumlin Drive in St Mellons and work across Cardiff, Newport, the Vale of Glamorgan, Caerphilly, Penarth and the surrounding South Wales area.
Related Services
Resin Driveways
A smooth, seamless, weed-free surface that looks finished from the day it cures, laid on a base we have built ourselves, so it does not crack along the joints of whatever was there before.
View Resin Driveways →Patios
Turn an unused corner of garden into a space you actually sit in: full groundworks, correct falls, steps and edging finished neatly, priced as one fixed figure.
View Patios →Jet Washing
The cheapest way to transform the front of a house: algae, moss and ingrained dirt stripped off, joints re-sanded, and the surface left looking new, for a fraction of replacing it.
View Jet Washing →Get a fixed price for your block paved driveway
Free site visit, proper levels and drainage worked out first, and a written price that does not move once we start.
- Free, no-obligation site visit and fixed price in writing
- 10-year workmanship guarantee on completed work
- Public liability & employer's liability insured