The driveway at the front of a property is often the entrance to the home and so making a welcoming impression is important to add to the overall effect of the garden. More often than not it is an unappealing concrete scar at the front. To transform an uninteresting concrete driveway you could spend between $8,000 to $10,000 removing the concrete and laying paving. However, an alternative that would be a fraction of the cost was recently constructed by honing the concrete and adding bands of cobblestone-like pavers of porphyry stone in bands across the driveway.
Driveway makeover
Step One – A concrete mower was used to grind down the surface of the concrete and expose the aggregate. Concrete mowers, which are petrol driven and have a diamond head, are available from Kennards Hire for $385 a day. They are readily available from Kennards in Melbourne but there are only a few in Sydney with more on order. The concrete mower is suitable for a home handyman to use. Safety equipment: ear muffs and strong shoes. (The concrete mower is usually for levelling concrete if it has been damaged in the drying process, to smooth it out or for taking ‘lips’ off pavements if adjoining slabs are uneven.)
Step Two – An angle grinder was used to make cuts in the driveway and a kanga hammer was used to chop out the bits of concrete that were going to be replaced with porphyry stone. Three bands were cut out across the driveway. A 9″ angle grinder with a carborundum blade is available from Kennards Hire for $35 a day plus $10 per blade. Safety equipment: Essential to wear goggles, dust mask and ear muffs.
Step Three – Porphyry stone (a volcanic stone) setts were inserted into the bands across the driveway using sand/cement mix. Four rows of porphyry stone setts were put across each band which by coincidence matches the aggregate colours of the concrete. The porphyry stone setts or cobblestones 90 x 90mm cost about $100-$120 per square metre. To enhance the colour of the driveway, the surface was sealed with two coats of Feast & Watson Slate and Pebble Sealer ($131.70 for 10 litres from BBC).
Cost
The driveway transformation cost less than $1,000 excluding labour and with labour it would cost about $2,000. Alternatives to replace an existing driveway, including labour: stencilcrete costs $7,000-$8,000, clay pavers cost $10,500, large stone-look pavers cost $11,800 and Sandstone costs $19,000.
Further information
The driveway makeover was designed by David Garrett of Art In Green Landscapes. Phone: (02) 9453 3341 or 0418 411 549 for more information.
For more information on Porphyry Stone contact:
NSW
JML International Pty Ltd,
Phone: (02) 9956 3859
Fax: (02) 9437 4060
NT
Darwin Slate Shop Pty Ltd
Phone: (08) 8947 1173
Fax: (08) 8947 5050
QLD
Porphyry Stone Products Pty Ltd,
Phone: (02) 9956 3859
Fax: (02) 9437 4060
SA
Stonecraft Pty Ltd
Phone: (08) 8352 6337
Fax: (08) 8352 2918
VIC
Alan Patrick Pty Ltd
Phone: (03) 9654 8288
Fax: (03) 9650 5650
WA
Meteor Stone
Phone: (08) 9309 4577
Fax: (08) 9309 4725
