Building Question - Making Front Drive More Presentable.

[pollys13]

What could be done to make this drivewave more presentable? If various options, then amount of work involved and possible costs? Ideally keeping work involved and costs to a minimum.
At some stage scalpings have been put down.
Cheers.

 

[pollys13]

Cheers.

 

[ColeyS1]

Some nice new windows might spruce the front view up ;@)

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[Noel]

Personally I'd do much what the neighbour has done. Parking area bottom half, bit of a garden top half. Obviously depends on your plans for the future (sell, live etc) and budget. You could get away with round gravel and anti weed barrier with a fence separating the two areas, a bit of top soil and seed it, maybe a bed or two.

 

[pollys13]

Some nice new windows might spruce the front view up ;@)

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I'm working on it

 

[pollys13]

Personally I'd do much what the neighbour has done. Parking area bottom half, bit of a garden top half. Obviously depends on your plans for the future (sell, live etc) and budget. You could get away with round gravel and anti weed barrier with a fence separating the two areas, a bit of top soil and seed it, maybe a bed or two.

OK thanks.

 

[Woody2Shoes]

Hi,

I second the option of splitting the area between garden and parking, like the neighbour on the right.

Whatever you decide to do, any new hardstanding ought to be permeable - to minimse run-off - "SuDS" is a key phrase. http://www.pavingexpert.com/drain12.htm

Cheers, W2S

 

[ScaredyCat]

Gravel is the spawn of Satan.


.

 

[pollys13]

OK thanks Woody2Shoes and ScaredyCat

 

[will1983]

Gravel is the spawn of Satan.
.

Seconded.. Half of my drive is gravel and I am forever sweeping it back to where it is supposed to be.

 

[John15]

Apply Roundup and give the existing gravel a good raking. This will tidy things up quite a bit and fairly cheap to do.

John

 

[pollys13]

Apply Roundup and give the existing gravel a good raking. This will tidy things up quite a bit and fairly cheap to do.

John

OK thanks I have tried glyphosate based weedkillers in the past but after a while all grew back. Also quite expensive for several watering cans full. This summer I swallowed the sales blurb for one of those paraffin powered flame guns, trolley and hood. Cost a fair bit, quite peeved it didn't work, great fun though, as it roars away, spitting out flames..... just have to make sure don't set the fence on fire

 

[pollys13]

Apply Roundup and give the existing gravel a good raking. This will tidy things up quite a bit and fairly cheap to do.

John

I've heard can get a resin type product can mix in, keeps it all in place, preventing going out into road.

 

[ColeyS1]

Get your yourself something like https://www.screwfix.com/p/sx-cs5-white ... lsrc=aw.ds
I use one for spraying weeds and it seems to last forever. I've also had nothing but success using tescos concentrated weedkiller.

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[ColeyS1]

I call it the death wand. Everything it sprays a fine mist over dies. Might take a week or two but it slowly cooks everything.

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[pollys13]

Ah, righty-ho Coley, cheers

 

[lurker]

Flame guns do actually work but not how most people assume.

Give the weeds a quickish blast which kills/damages them, but does not obliterate them.
Wait a few days*
Burn away the remains + repeat step one for the ones you missed first time
Repeat

*at this time of the year, this takes longer as they have not dried to a crisp by the sun.

Incidentally, weedkiller seems to take forever at this time of the year due to poor/no growth conditions.

 

[pollys13]

OK thanks.

 

[treeturner123]

Here's what not to do as related by a good friend and unlike so many 'Friend of a friend' tales it is true.

One of his colleagues was approached by the traditional Tarmac Gang. As he was a building, he insisted on it being done right with proper base course, wearing course etc. Just before the top was going on, the foreman asked if he would like some of those nice white chippings; yes came the reply, so there was a well finished drive with nice white chippings. A month or so later, he was looking at the drive and thought that there were rather fewer chippings than before. He bent down for a closer look, sniffed and realised that they were crushed strong mints!!

Good luck and by the way I would endorse the flame-thrower idea, great fun AND it works, but needs a bit of persistence with those deep rooted weeds

Phil

 

[MikeG.]

Gravel is the spawn of Satan...

You're probably used to "pea shingle" (usually 10mm shingle). You need 18mm stuff (3/4" stone) instead. It doesn't walk in on your shoes, or out on your car tyres.