Driveways · Shinfield, Berkshire
Driveways in Shinfield.
We design and build driveways for Shinfield families - the kind of work where the detail beneath the surface matters as much as the finish on top.
Workshop in GU15 - close to Shinfield
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 Shinfield
Locally tuned, not location-swapped.
Most of our driveways work in Shinfield 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.
Some Shinfield plots pick up clay below the topsoil - we test it before we quote so the build-up matches what's actually under the lawn.
Recent driveways
A few from in and around Shinfield.
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 Shinfield clients usually ask about driveways.
Can we keep our existing kerb line and just replace the surface?+
Sometimes - if the kerbs are sound and properly haunched. We check on the first visit and only rebuild what genuinely needs it.
How do we stop the joints going green or weedy?+
Proper kiln-dried sand jointing, brushed and vibrated, repeated a week later as the sand settles. A polymeric joint compound is an option on shaded drives where moss is a persistent problem. We give you care notes for the first year.
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.
Other work in Shinfield
Same team, different parts of the garden.
Nearby
Driveways in nearby areas.
Shinfield · Berkshire
Send us a few photos of the Shinfield garden.
A short WhatsApp with a photo or two is the easiest way to start. Same-day reply, often within the hour.