Imprinted Concrete Driveway Cost: UK Price per m² and Extras

Imprinted concrete driveway cost per m²

An imprinted concrete driveway costs £75 to £90 per m², with an average of £80, excluding VAT, in Checkatrade’s imprinted concrete cost guide, whose ranges cover drives of 40m² to 100m².

Imprinted concrete driveway	Range	Average
Materials	£1,125 to £2,400	£1,762.50
Labour	£2,625 to £5,500	£4,062.50
Per m²	£75 to £90	£80

The average materials and labour costs add up to an average total of around £5,825, excluding VAT, Checkatrade says.

Labour is a large share of that total because of the preparation, pattern stamping and finishing, the same guide says. It adds that the price per m² generally includes removing the grass or the existing driveway, the excavation and sub-base, pouring, pattern imprinting and finishing treatments.

Imprinted, pattern imprinted and stamped concrete

Imprinted concrete is poured and then pressed with a pattern while it is wet, to look like brick, cobbles, slate, natural stone or wood-effect paving. The names “imprinted”, “pattern imprinted” and “stamped” concrete are used interchangeably, Checkatrade says.

So a stamped or pattern imprinted concrete driveway is the same surface, and its brick or cobbled look comes from the pressed pattern, where block paving gets its look from the blocks themselves.

Concrete driveways in general: prices, pros and cons

A concrete driveway in general, rather than imprinted concrete, costs £95 per m², made up of £50 for the material and £45 for installation, on Checkatrade’s figures, and the same figures price a concrete driveway at three sizes.

Concrete driveway in general	Price
Small single car, 20m²	£2,300
Medium 2 car, 50m²	£4,750
Large multiple car, 100m²	£7,500

Checkatrade’s driveway paving cost guide puts a concrete driveway, again in general rather than imprinted, at £70 to £110 per m², with an average of £90, excluding VAT.

When you weigh concrete against other driveway surfaces, its pros are that it is long-lasting, comes in patterns and colours and is usually cheaper than block paving, Checkatrade’s driveway cost guide says. Its cons are that it can crack, can fade and depends on the installer for its finish.

What changes the cost of imprinted concrete

Seven things change the price of an imprinted concrete driveway, Checkatrade’s imprinted concrete cost guide says.

• The size of the drive, with larger drives able to come out cheaper per m²
• How complex the pattern is
• The shape, since rectangles are quicker than curves
• Ground conditions
• The type of concrete mix
• Drainage
• Location

Extra costs to budget for

Checkatrade’s imprinted concrete cost guide lists eight extras to budget for.

• Drainage work
• Utility surveys
• Manhole cover adjustments
• Waste removal
• Decorative borders
• Resealing in future
• Planning permission, where it is required
• A contingency for unexpected groundworks, drainage or utility problems found during excavation

Removing the grass or the old driveway is generally part of the price per m², but waste removal is on that list of extras, so ask whether a quote covers taking the waste away.

Underground services, such as water and gas pipes, drains and cables, need checking for before excavation, the same guide says.

Drainage and planning permission

Imprinted concrete is non-permeable, Checkatrade says. A traditional impermeable driveway covering more than five square metres needs planning permission unless the water can run to a permeable area, and no permission is needed if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally, the Planning Portal says.

Water from a conventional concrete surface can be directed to a border, rain garden or soakaway, the government’s guidance on permeable front gardens says.

Laying time, drying and resealing

Most imprinted concrete driveways take around 5 to 7 days, through excavation and preparation, the sub-base, pouring and imprinting, and finishing, Checkatrade says. Drying time comes on top before you park on it, and the installer advises how long it needs to cure.

The sealant wears and normally needs reapplying every few years, the same guide says.

Getting a quote for imprinted concrete

A quote should explain each of these eight things, Checkatrade’s imprinted concrete cost guide says.

Checkatrade’s imprinted concrete prices exclude VAT, so check whether a quote’s total includes VAT before you set it against them.

A quote should also say whether drainage, decorative borders and resealing are included, the same guide says.

Among the Nottingham driveway companies we compare, ED Paving in Long Eaton lays imprinted concrete driveways as well as block paving, tarmac and gravel.