Driveways · Reading, Berkshire
Driveways in Reading.
We design and build driveways for Reading families - the kind of work where the detail beneath the surface matters as much as the finish on top.
Workshop in GU15 - close to Reading
Same team on site every day
10+ years across Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire
Typical book-in is four to eight weeks; build one to three weeks on site.
What we mean by driveways
The bit beneath the surface.
Driveways are the only part of the garden that takes a car every day. The ones that sink at the wheel tracks or rut at the gates were almost always laid on a sub-base that was too shallow, or edged in courses that weren't haunched in concrete. The visible block is the easy bit.
Sub-base built for the load
Type 1 to 200mm minimum for cars, compacted in 100mm layers - not dumped in one go. Geotextile separation where the ground is soft or wet.
Edges haunched, not just laid
Perimeter and feature courses haunched in C20 concrete so the field doesn't migrate sideways at the kerbline within five years.
Pattern that suits the house
Herringbone for strength under traffic, stretcher for paths and edges, clay or concrete block chosen to read with the property. Feature courses in a contrast tone where the front asks for it.
Why this works in Reading
Locally tuned, not location-swapped.
Most of our driveways work in Reading comes from the same kind of conversation - a family that's been in the house long enough to know what they want it to do, and a garden that hasn't quite kept up.
Older Reading suburbs often have long, narrow gardens with original boundary walls. We design with the proportions in mind - wider terraces close to the house, planted zones, and a quiet end-of-garden destination.
- Long narrow proportions - Zoned layouts with planting screens make a long garden feel larger and more interesting than a single open run.
- Limited rear access - Barrowed materials, careful route protection through the house when needed, and a tidy site throughout.
- Mixed Victorian boundary walls - Protected during dig, repaired where they need it; the existing fabric is usually worth keeping.
Recent driveways
A few from in and around Reading.
Hand-picked from recent projects across Berkshire. Same approach, different gardens.
How we build it
The detail, in plain numbers.
Sub-base
Type 1 to 200mm under driveways, 100mm under paths
Laying course
30–50mm sharp sand, screeded level
Edges
Perimeter haunched in C20 concrete
Jointing
Kiln-dried sand brushed and vibrated, repeated after a week
BudgetMost block-paved driveways sit between £6,500 and £18,000 depending on size, pattern and drainage.
TimingTypical book-in is four to eight weeks; build one to three weeks on site.
Common questions
What Reading clients usually ask about driveways.
Will you handle drainage and the gully into the highway?+
Yes - falls set to your soakaway or to the existing gully, channel drains across openings where they're needed, all included in the quote.
Clay or concrete block - which is better?+
Clay blocks hold their colour for decades and read warmer; concrete blocks are cheaper up front and come in more contemporary tones. Both work when laid properly. We bring samples to the house so the choice is made against the property, not a brochure.
How long does a typical driveway take?+
Most domestic driveways run one to two weeks from break-out to final brushing. Larger drives with feature courses, kerbs and drainage can stretch to three.
Will the new driveway need planning permission?+
If it drains to a permeable area or includes a soakaway, no - under permitted development. If you're paving over to non-permeable surface without drainage, sometimes yes. We design with permeability or proper soakaway drainage in mind so it isn't an issue.
Other work in Reading
Same team, different parts of the garden.
Nearby
Driveways in nearby areas.
Reading · Berkshire
Send us a few photos of the Reading garden.
A short WhatsApp with a photo or two is the easiest way to start. Same-day reply, often within the hour.