Block paving, resin driveways and patios in Colchester
A free survey first, a written quote that doesn't change, and a written 10-year guarantee on block paving, resin and patios. Family-run, based in Colchester and covering Essex.
What are you looking to have done?
Two quick questions and you'll see a guide price.
Which surface for your driveway?
Not sure? Pick the closest; Tom talks through the options on the survey.
Block paving: roughly what size?
A typical two-car drive is 40 to 50 m². A guess is fine; the free survey measures it properly.
Guide price
Pick a surface
Guide range. Larger areas come in lower per m²; the free survey fixes the price in writing.
Our typical rates per square metre
- Block paving: around £130
- Tumbled paving: around £150
- Resin bound: around £200
- Tarmac: around £130
- Imprinted concrete: around £130
- Gravel: priced on the phone
- Indian sandstone: around £180
- Porcelain: around £200
Driveways, patios, landscaping and resealing across Essex
Eight services, one team. The three we do most are first. Every job starts with a free survey and a written quote, and every installation carries a written guarantee.
Block paving
10-year written guarantee
Herringbone, basketweave or stretcher bond on a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, with concrete-haunched edges and a soldier-course border. Standard or tumbled blocks.
Block paving
Resin driveways
10-year written guarantee
Resin bound only, never bonded. UV-stable resin and natural aggregate hand-trowelled to 18mm over a solid base. Walk on it after 24 hours, park on it after 48.
Resin driveways
Patios
10-year written guarantee
Indian sandstone, porcelain, tumbled block paving or granite setts on a compacted hardcore base and semi-dry mortar bed, with falls away from the house. Steps and raised beds too.
Patios
Tarmac driveways
5-year written guarantee
Hot-mix asphalt laid as a binder course then a wearing course over MOT Type 1, with drainage falls and a block paving border if you want one. Usually done in one to two days.
Tarmac driveways
Imprinted concrete
Written guarantee
Pattern-imprinted concrete driveways and paths, poured in one piece and stamped in your pattern and colour, then sealed. No joints for weeds to take hold in.
Imprinted concrete
Gravel driveways
5-year written guarantee
Gravel held in a cellular grid over a weed membrane, so it stays off the road and drains properly. Pea gravel, slate chips or Cotswold stone with timber, brick or granite edging.
Gravel driveways
Cleaning and resealing
Priced on the survey
Block paving and patios pressure cleaned, re-sanded and resealed. Tarmac drives recoloured and resealed. The cheap way to make an old drive look new again.
Cleaning and resealing
Landscaping
Project guarantee
Paths, walls, steps, drainage, turf, artificial grass, sleeper raised beds, planting, fencing and decking. One team from clearance to the finished garden.
Landscaping
Quality materials from names you know
The blocks, slabs and sealers on our drives and patios come from trusted UK brands.
A written guarantee on every installation
Every drive goes on a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base with proper edge restraints and drainage falls, which is why we can put the guarantee in writing.
- 10-year written guarantee on block paving, resin and patios
- 5-year written guarantee on tarmac and gravel
- Free survey, then a written quote that doesn't change
- Fully insured, with public liability cover
Before and after
Drag the handle. Three jobs photographed by our own team on the day, start and finish.
BeforeAfterBlock paving driveway
Cracked slabs and an overgrown front to charcoal herringbone with a buff chevron border.
BeforeAfterResin bound driveway
Lawn and a narrow concrete path to a silver-grey resin bound drive with charcoal edging.
BeforeAfterDriveway relay
Worn tarmac, a lawn and old brick edging to pink and brindle tumbled block paving with a drainage channel.
Recent work across Essex
Eight jobs from our own photos. Every one was laid by our team.
Block paving
Charcoal herringbone, buff chevron border
Resin driveways
Silver resin bound drive, charcoal edging
Patios
Grey block patio with steps
Block paving
Charcoal herringbone, curved border
Resin driveways
Golden resin, red brick border
Landscaping
Resin patio and artificial grass
Block paving
Interlocking diamond pattern in charcoal pavers
Block paving
Herringbone with drainage channel
Block paving, resin, tarmac, patios and landscaping, before and after.
What customers say
Verbatim from Google. Names as they appear on the review.
4.9 from 30 Google reviews5.0 from 90 on Yell5.0 from 16 on Facebook
Wendy Youngman
May 2025 · Resin driveway
We have just had our old driveway re-resined and are extremely pleased with the result. The men who laid the resin were super efficient and polite. They cleared everything away when finished and done an outstanding job
Richard Parker
December 2023 · Driveway
This was a big task on a long wide driveway. The team were careful in the extensive preparatory work, not rushing any part of the process, and working steadily each day. The team leader was responsive to questions and clarified what they were doing at each stage and why. They obviously were concerned to do the work to a high standard. We are delighted with the result.
Wayne Parker
December 2025 · Driveway and patio
Great job on my new driveway A great bunch of guys wouldn't hesitate to recommend Installed a new driveway and patio will have them around next time to do my pathway couldn't recommend them enough
Why Colchester homeowners choose First4Driveways
The things customers mention in their reviews and the things we put in writing.
A written guarantee on every job
Ten years on block paving, resin and patios. Five years on tarmac and gravel. In writing, with the quote.
Free survey, then a written quote
Tom comes out, measures up and talks through the options. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Family-run in Colchester
Working across Essex and into Hertfordshire. One team from the first visit to the sweep-up.
Rated 4.9 on Google
From 30 reviews. Customers mention polite, hard-working lads, tidy sites and finishing on time.
Built on a proper base
Compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, edge restraints and drainage falls under every drive, so it stays flat.
Fully insured
Public liability cover on every job, and we protect lawns, paths and the neighbours' side while we work.
How a new drive goes in
From the first visit to the day we sweep up. Every drive is built this way, which is why the guarantee is in writing.
Step 01 / 06
Free survey
We visit, measure up, look at drainage and access, and talk through surfaces and borders.
Step 02 / 06
Written quote
Materials named, guarantee stated, no hidden extras.
Step 03 / 06
Dig out and sub-base
Old surface out, compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base in to the right depth.
Step 04 / 06
Edges and drainage
Concrete-haunched edge restraints, with falls and channels for the water.
Step 05 / 06
The surface
Blocks in your pattern, resin trowelled to 18mm, or tarmac in two courses.
Step 06 / 06
Finish and hand over
Joints sanded, site swept, written guarantee handed over.
Driveways and patios across Essex and Hertfordshire
Based in Colchester, working across Essex and Hertfordshire. The towns below have their own pages.
Colchester
Our base. Every service, across the town and the villages around it.
Our base
Chelmsford
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across Chelmsford. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Chelmsford
Braintree
About 16 miles from our Colchester base. Driveways, patios and landscaping with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Braintree
Harlow
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across Harlow and Old Harlow. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Harlow
Hertford
Driveways, patios and landscaping across Hertford, Ware and the Hertfordshire villages around them.
Driveways in Hertford
St Albans
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across St Albans, Harpenden and the villages. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in St Albans
Bishop's Stortford
About 36 miles from our Colchester base along the A120. Driveways, patios and landscaping with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Bishop's Stortford
Southend
Block paving, resin driveways and patios from Leigh-on-Sea to Shoeburyness. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Southend
Brentwood
About 37 miles down the A12. Driveways and patios across Brentwood, Shenfield, Hutton and Ingatestone.
Driveways in Brentwood
Stevenage
Block paving, resin driveways and patios from the Old Town to Great Ashby. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Stevenage
Cambridge
Driveways, patios and landscaping across Cambridge and its villages, with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Cambridge
Also covering: Witham, Clacton-on-Sea, Maldon, Halstead, Basildon, Billericay, Wickford, Rayleigh, Saffron Walden, Burnham-on-Crouch and the villages between. Not listed? Call and ask.
Questions we get asked
Areas, quotes, guarantees, timing and the two kinds of resin.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based in Colchester and work across Essex: Chelmsford, Braintree, Harlow, Southend, Brentwood, Witham, Clacton, Maldon, Halstead and the towns between, into Hertfordshire around Hertford, St Albans, Bishop's Stortford and Stevenage, and up to Cambridge. Call if your town isn't listed and we'll tell you straight away.
Is the quote really free?
Yes. We come out, measure up and give you a written quote with no obligation. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Are you insured and is the work guaranteed?
We carry public liability insurance. Block paving, resin and patios come with a written 10-year workmanship guarantee; tarmac and gravel with a written 5-year guarantee.
How long will my new driveway take?
Tarmac is usually one to two days. Block paving and resin depend on the size and the dig-out; customers' reviews mention drives finished in two to three days. We tell you the timing with the quote.
What is the difference between resin bound and resin bonded?
Resin bound mixes the aggregate with the resin before it goes down, giving a smooth, permeable finish. Resin bonded sticks loose stone on top of a resin layer; it isn't permeable and can shed stones. We install resin bound only.
Do I need planning permission?
Not in most cases. Our block paving offers permeable options and resin bound is SuDS compliant, so water drains through rather than running off, which is what the rules are about.
How long does block paving last?
With a proper sub-base and occasional re-sanding and sealing, 25 to 30 years or more. Individual blocks can be lifted and replaced without disturbing the rest.
Can you work in winter?
Yes. Block paving, tarmac and patios go in all year. Resin needs a dry day above freezing to cure, so we plan resin jobs around the forecast.
Still got a question about your drive?
Call us or send the form below. A free survey and a written quote, no obligation.
Based in Colchester
47 Butt Road, Colchester, Essex CO3 3BZCovering Colchester, Chelmsford, Braintree and across Essex.
Get a free quote
Let's talk about your drive or patio
First4Driveways is a family-run business based in Colchester. Tom comes out to quote every job in person, talks through the options and materials, and puts the price in writing before anything is dug up. Block paving, resin and patios carry a written 10-year workmanship guarantee; tarmac and gravel carry five years.
- Free survey and a written quote
- Written guarantee on every job
- Fully insured, public liability cover
- Family-run, based in Colchester
Need to talk now?
Call Tom directly
Start your free quote
Tell us about the drive or garden and we'll arrange a free survey.