How much does imprinted concrete cost in Bath?

£85 to £140/m² supplied and laid, so a typical two-car drive totals £4,000 to £7,000. It costs more than block paving but less than genuine stone setts.

Does imprinted concrete crack?

All concrete can crack; control joints and proper reinforcement manage it. The real question is the sub-base: most PIC failures trace back to inadequate groundworks.

The sealed surface can be in wet or icy weather, especially on slopes. An anti-slip additive in the sealer largely solves it, ask for it on any inclined drive.

Does it need planning permission?

It is non-permeable, so more than 5m² of front garden needs planning permission unless rainwater drains to a lawn, border or soakaway.

Pattern imprinted concrete driveways in Bath

Pattern imprinted concrete (PIC) gives the look of stone setts, cobbles or slate in a single continuous slab: £85 to £140/m² installed in Bath, virtually maintenance-free, no weeds, no loose stone, lasting 20 to 30 years.

Get Quote Call 07426 793938 From £85/m² supplied & laid

Ashlar slate pattern imprinted concrete driveway in muted grey buff

What is pattern imprinted concrete?

PIC is a poured concrete slab that is coloured, then stamped with textured mats while still wet, reproducing the look of stone setts, cobbles, slate or brick in one continuous surface. A colour hardener and release agent give the two-tone, aged-stone effect, and the slab is sealed for protection. The result mimics premium paving but has no joints, which is the entire point.

What it costs in Bath

£85 to £140/m² supplied and laid, so a 50m² two-car drive runs £4,000 to £7,000. It prices above block paving because of the materials and the skill involved, but below natural stone setts, the look it most often imitates.

Where PIC makes sense in Bath

The sett or cobble look at slab prices, popular where a traditional finish is wanted without sett-laying costs.
Low-maintenance households, no joints means no weeds, no sand top-ups and nothing for ants to mine.
Driveways that must stay pristine, the sealed surface resists oil staining better than unsealed block paving and pressure-washes clean.

The honest trade-offs

PIC is a single slab, and that cuts both ways. Repairs are harder than with block paving: a cracked or damaged section cannot be lifted and relaid invisibly, and patching usually shows. Control joints are cut in to manage shrinkage cracking, and on Bath's sloping plots the sealed surface can be slippery in ice, an anti-slip additive in the sealer is worth specifying. It is also non-permeable, so the 5m² front-garden planning rule applies unless drainage is designed in.

What to insist on

A properly compacted sub-base (the same 150 to 200mm of Type 1 as any other surface), a minimum 100mm slab thickness, fibre or mesh reinforcement, and two coats of quality sealer. The pattern and colour choice is worth time too: ashlar slate and cobble patterns in muted greys and buffs sit best with Bath stone; very red or very uniform colours date fastest.

Lifespan

20 to 30 years. Re-sealing every three to five years keeps the colour and the stain resistance; it is a quick, cheap job that most installers offer.