A Complete Guide on Professional Driveway Installation

Driveway installation at your home is one of the best and first things that you and your guests see when they first arrive at your house. A nice and aesthetic driveway can literally transform the outside appearance of your home, and can turn it into a welcoming space for everyone. 

In other words, it is more than just a functional part of a home that serves several purposes like enhancing your property's beauty, and usability. Moreover, a new installed driveway can increase up to 10% to the value of your property.

We can also have a general idea about the most expensive and cheapest driveway material options depending on the people’s choices.

The most costly driveway material is resin bound and coloured resins which is not even an easy opinion to install. Its complexity of installing it can make it more overpriced as compared to other driveway options.  

On the contrary, installing expensive driveway options are not everyone’s piece of cake, so there are other and most cost-efficient driveway options available for them. Gravel driveways and stone driveways which are least costly material and are used to pave much larger driveways. They come in several sizes, colours, types, and textures. Therefore, if they are maintained properly, gravel driveways can last up to 100 years. In addition, gravel is very quick to lay and you can even lay it all by yourself.

Now, you have learned enough about affordable and expensive driveway material options. But what if you already installed a driveway at your home and you just want to extend it?

In this case, let’s consider an example, if you have a single car driveway and want to extend it to fit two cars. Doing this will cost you more than installing a new driveway as an expert has to overlay the whole space, in order to avoid joints. However, a standard driveway extension can cost you between £150 and £250 per m2, depending on the material you choose for your existing driveway.

DIY Vs Hiring a Professional Driveway Installer

There are two approaches to having a new driveway installed - you can hire an expert, or can do the project all by yourself. We’ll go through the pros and cons of each to understand their differences in detail. So, let’s dive in:

Professional Driveway Installation

DIY Driveway Installation

Reckoning Cost of Installing Various Types of Driveways in 2025

Different Types of Driveway – Costs

Factors influencing the cost of constructing a driveway

• Site clearance and preparation

• Excavation

• Type of edging sub-base layers and any relevant planning applications. 

• Materials

• Labour cost

• Size of driveway 

• Type of driveway

• Removing already existing driveway

• Location

  
  

Generally, the additional construction and installation of driveway cost in London ranges between £1,350 and £3,700 depending on the project. 

You can find and hire installing driveway specialists from Urban Gaffa depending on your construction needs, thus enhancing your driveway’s aesthetics, property value and ensuring it lasts long.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

Q: What is the most affordable and cheapest driveway type that every homeowner can afford to install?

A: If you are seeking the most economical option for the installation of a driveway, professionals recommend considering resurfacing. In this case, experts add a new layer of concrete or asphalt over the existing surface that can cost you around £8 - £11 per m2. Moreover, Tarmac is another affordable choice that costs you approximately £25 - £45 per m2. 

Q: What is the cost of removing an existing driveway?

A: The price to remove an already existing driveway at your home completely depends upon a few situations such as the materials used and the size of the existing driveway. Therefore, the estimated cost of removing it can range between £350 for a small gravel driveway to over £1,000 for a large tarmac driveway. 

Q: How much approximate time does an expert take to install a driveway?

A: Usually, installing a driveway takes up to 3-4 days. However, it solely depends on certain factors such as the complexity and size of the job,  the type of driveway material used, weather conditions, and drainage requirements. 

Q: Does installation of a new driveway require planning permission?

A: You might need a permit to install a new driveway if: 

• If planning to install a new driveway is larger than 5 square meters 

• Made of an impermeable material such as clay, concrete, or asphalt

• It is located between a highway and your house

• It is in an area of outstanding natural beauty, a conservation area, or on a listed building 

• The driveway may affect access for surrounding properties 

However, you can apply for planning permission from your LPA (local planning authority)or local council. You just need to submit planning statements, drawings, and any supporting evidence.

Q: What are the ways to get rid of the weeds that often grow on your driveways?

A: Several methods that you can use:

• Commercial herbicides

• Vinegar

• Boiling water

• Saltwater 

• Or can generally pull the weeds out with hands or using tools