The surface
The surface is the part you see and the easiest to compare. Gravel is usually the lowest-cost option, tarmac and block paving sit in the middle, and resin-bound is usually the dearest. Price is quoted by area, so a 20m² single and a 40m² double are very different jobs even in the same material, and small drives cost more per square metre because the set-up is the same.
We would rather not print national averages: they ignore the groundwork, and that is where Stockton jobs differ most.
The extras that change the price
| Extra | Why it adds cost |
|---|---|
| Breaking out old concrete or tarmac | Labour, machine hire and skip loads |
| Deeper digging on soft clay | More excavation and more sub-base stone |
| Drainage | Channel drains, soakaways or permeable bases |
| Edging and borders | Kerbs, setts or contrasting blocks |
| Steps and walls | Extra materials and skilled time |
| New or wider dropped kerb | Quoted by the council or a licensed contractor |
| Moving lamp posts or covers | Charged by the council or utility |
On Stockton's slow-draining boulder clay, drainage and sub-base depth matter more than on sandy ground, and a quote that skimps on them may look cheaper but fail sooner.
Dropped kerb costs in Stockton
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council does not publish a fixed fee for driveway crossings. The owner applies, and the council gives a site-specific quote. Alternatively, a contractor holding the council's Opening Up licence can do the work. See dropped kerbs and council or private dropped kerb?.
Comparing quotes fairly
Ask everyone who quotes to put these in writing:
- The area in square metres.
- Excavation depth and sub-base type and depth.
- The surface specification, such as block type and thickness, tarmac layers, or resin depth and aggregate.
- Edging and how the drive meets lawns, walls and the footway.
- How water will be dealt with.
- Waste removal, and whether skips are included.
- Guarantee length and what it covers.
If one quote is far below the others, it is usually missing something on this list.
Repair instead of replace
If the base under your drive is still sound, a repair such as re-laying a sunken area or resurfacing worn tarmac can cost far less than a new drive. See driveway repairs for how to tell the difference.
Common questions
What is the cheapest driveway surface?
Gravel is usually the lowest-cost surface, and it drains, so it avoids the front-garden planning rule.
What goes into a block-paved double drive in Stockton?
About 40m² of blocks on a compacted stone sub-base, edge restraints and a drainage plan, plus any dropped kerb or concrete removal. We price it after measuring up.
Is resin more expensive than block paving?
Usually, yes, and it needs a porous base, which adds to the groundwork.
Does a dropped kerb come on top of the drive price?
Yes. It is separate, and in Stockton it is quoted by the council or done by a licensed contractor.
Why do quotes vary so much?
Mostly because of the groundwork: excavation depth, sub-base, drainage and waste removal.