Surfacing in Esher

A lot of the residential streets in Hinchley Wood and parts of Claygate were built in the 1930s, and the houses were designed with small front gardens rather than driveways. Over the decades, those gardens have been converted to parking in varying degrees — some well, some poorly. Where the conversion was done cheaply, the drainage has never been properly addressed and the surface has been laid on top of old topsoil rather than a real sub-base. We see the results regularly: drives that have settled unevenly, water running back towards the house, or surfaces that have heaved along the edges.

Getting that right is straightforward if it is done from scratch: excavate to formation, geotextile, Type 1 sub-base, proper edging, then the finished surface. On these properties, block paving in a traditional-format paver tends to suit the era of the house better than a very contemporary finish, though resin in a natural aggregate can also work well on a 1930s semi if the colour is kept warm and understated. We will share a view at the site visit.

The older and larger properties around Esher village and the roads towards Moore Place often have longer driveways with more surface area to manage. On drives of this size, getting the falls right across the whole area — not just in front of the garage — matters for drainage performance. We design the levels at the outset and discuss with the owner where surface water is intended to go, whether that is a soakaway, a channel drain to the road, or dispersal to a planted border.

Where existing tarmac has been in place for many years and is still structurally sound, we sometimes recommend a resurfacing rather than a full rebuild, which saves time and cost. The honest answer on whether that is appropriate depends on the condition of what is already there — a drive with a good base and a tired surface is a very different job from one that has failed all the way through. We will give a clear recommendation either way when we visit.