Driveway paving in Sandton
Long drives, double garages and turning circles at the front door. A Sandton driveway is often the biggest paving job on the property, and it is the first thing a visitor sees.
What makes a Sandton driveway different
Size is the obvious difference. Many Sandton stands have driveways that run from a gate to a garage set well back, with a turning area or a visitors' bay along the way. More area means more base, more edging and more drainage to get right, and more room for a quote to leave something out.
The less obvious difference is the ground. Sandton is on the granite between Johannesburg and Pretoria, where a soil study found the soil changing in a regular sequence down each slope. A driveway that runs down a stand can cross more than one kind of ground on the way, and a contractor who digs one test hole at the gate has only seen part of it.
Scope to agree before work starts
- The full layout: gate apron, the drive itself, turning circle, visitors' parking and any paths leading off it.
- The paver and pattern for each area. Many owners use a hard-wearing interlocking paver for the drive and a feature paver at the entrance.
- Where every low point drains to, including in front of the garage and at the gate.
- Kerbs or haunching along every edge that faces a garden bed or a lawn.
- Who removes the old surface and how the spoil leaves the site.
Living with the slope
Rivonia sits on the Braamfontein Spruit, and much of the wider area falls towards the stream valleys. On a sloping drive, the summer storm water runs fastest exactly where the paving is most exposed, so the falls and the drains are part of the structure. A herringbone pattern and strong edge restraint also help resist the slow creep of blocks downhill under braking cars.
Sources: Braamfontein Spruit, Wikipedia
What drives the cost in Sandton
The contractor quotes you after measuring the job in Sandton. These are the things that move that quote:
- Total area, including the turning circle and any parking bays.
- Removal of an old driveway, which on a large stand can mean many truckloads of spoil.
- Different pavers for the drive and the entrance feature.
- Channel drains at the garage and the gate on a sloping stand.
- Any soft or wet ground found under the old surface.
Published Johannesburg price ranges, with their sources, are in our paving cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a large Sandton driveway take?
It depends on the area, the ground and the weather. Ask each contractor for a programme, and expect summer rain to cause delays.
Can I keep using the garage during the work?
Sometimes, if the work is phased. Ask how the contractor will keep access open, or plan to park outside for a while.
Will the contractor deal with my estate or security company?
Tell them about any access rules up front so their quote and programme allow for them.
Related pages
Driveway paving in Sandton: get quotes
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