Planning a new driveway and a new patio at the same time? This guide shows you how to combine both projects into one job. It also explains why that choice often saves Staffordshire homeowners real money. Right Choice Surfacing works across Stafford, Lichfield, Cannock, and the wider county. We hear this question a lot. Should you book the driveway now and the patio next year? Or get it all done together? The short answer is combining usually costs less. It also causes less mess and gives your home a more joined-up finish. Here’s exactly how, and what to check before you start.
Why Combine Your Driveway and Patio Into One Project?
Two separate projects almost always cost more than one combined project of the same size. That’s because a lot of the price you pay isn’t for materials. It’s for the visit itself.
When a contractor comes to your home, they bring a team, tools, and a skip for waste. Setting all that up costs money, no matter how small the job is. Book your driveway and patio together, and you only pay for that setup once.
Here’s what you save by combining the two jobs:
- One site visit and one call-out fee instead of two
- Better prices on resin, stone, or block paving when you order more material at once
- One round of groundwork, since digging and base-laying happen together
- One skip hire and one waste run instead of two
There’s also a design perk. A matching driveway and patio simply look more planned than two separate jobs done a year apart.
How Much Can You Save?
Real numbers help more than percentages, so let’s look at typical Staffordshire pricing. A resin bound driveway usually costs £60 to £95 per square metre. Resin patios cost about the same, often £70 to £100 per square metre. Book these as two separate jobs, and you’ll likely pay two call-out fees and two lots of groundwork prep.
Combine a 40m² driveway with a 20m² patio, and you cut most of those extra costs straight away. Many Staffordshire homeowners save between 10% and 20% on labour and prep alone. That said, the exact figure depends on your site and the materials you pick.
Three simple ways to keep the combined price down:
- Ask for one written quote covering both areas, not two separate estimates
- Choose the same base material for both spaces where you can
- Book during quieter months, since installers often have more room to move on price
Choosing Materials That Work for Both Spaces
Your driveway takes daily traffic. Your patio takes garden chairs and the odd barbecue. So, the two spaces don’t need to match exactly, but they can still share a style.
Resin bound surfacing works well for this. You can use the same stone blend on your driveway and patio, so the two areas flow into each other. Right Choice Surfacing’s patios page shows several examples of this kind of matched finish.
Block paving offers another option. Instead, pick one paving style, then vary the pattern slightly between the drive and the patio. This marks out each zone without breaking the overall look. Right Choice Surfacing’s block paving service covers this kind of joined-up design across Staffordshire and Shropshire.
If money is tight, mix materials instead. A tarmac driveway paired with a slabbed or resin patio still works well. Just make sure the colours don’t clash.
Planning Permission: What You Need to Know
Most driveway and patio projects in Staffordshire don’t need planning permission. However, that depends on the surface you pick and how it drains.
Choose a permeable surface, one that lets rainwater soak through naturally, and permitted development rights usually cover you. Resin bound surfacing and some block paving systems qualify. Choose a solid, non-permeable surface instead, and you’ll need proper drainage, such as a soakaway. You might also need planning permission.
Combining your driveway and patio actually makes this part easier. You can plan drainage for the whole site in one go, rather than sorting it twice. That said, always check with your local council before work starts. This matters most if you’re changing access with a dropped kerb.
Groundworks and Drainage: Where the Real Savings Hide
Groundwork rarely crosses a homeowner’s mind, yet this is where combining saves the most. Digging, base-laying, and drainage work take up a large slice of any driveway or patio budget.
Do this work once across a bigger area, and your installer moves faster per square metre. Two smaller, separate jobs simply take more time overall. Plus, one connected drainage system often costs less than two standalone ones, and it works better long-term too.
This stage is also where mistakes get expensive. Get the levels wrong here, and you’ll pay for it later through puddles or a sunken patio. So, plan this stage with your installer from day one, not as an afterthought.
Timing Your Project for Maximum Savings
Weather matters more than most homeowners expect, especially for resin. You can’t lay resin below 5°C or in wet weather. That rules out a fair chunk of the Staffordshire winter.
Spring and early autumn usually offer the best mix of decent weather and installer availability. That said, booking a quieter month, like late autumn for block paving or tarmac, can sometimes land you a better price. Demand simply drops off then.
A combined driveway and patio project usually takes longer than a driveway alone. Expect five to ten days, depending on size. Ask your installer for a realistic timeline before you commit, so you can plan around it properly.
Common Mistakes That Cancel Out the Savings
Combining projects saves money, but only if you dodge a few common traps.
- Booking two different contractors instead of getting one combined quote
- Skipping a written, itemised estimate, which hides extra costs until the invoice lands
- Picking materials that need two separate specialist teams, wiping out your labour savings
- Rushing the drainage plan, which often means costly rework later
Avoid these mistakes, and the combined approach pays off every time.
Driveway and Patio Ideas for Staffordshire Homes
Need some inspiration? Here are combinations that work well across Staffordshire homes:
- A resin driveway at the front, paired with a matching resin patio out back
- Block paving on the drive, with matching edging carried through to the patio
- A tarmac driveway for durability, finished with a natural stone or porcelain patio for contrast
Right Choice Surfacing’s project gallery, linked from our homepage, shows real examples of these combinations across Stafford, Lichfield, and Cannock.
Combining Your Project Locally: Staffordshire Coverage
Right Choice Surfacing covers Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Lichfield, Cannock, Rugeley, Tamworth, and the surrounding Staffordshire area. We also cover neighbouring Shropshire towns. Choosing a local installer keeps your savings intact, since you’re not paying for long-distance travel or overnight crew stays.
We also carry £2,000,000 liability insurance, which protects you throughout the project. Check our full service area on our location page to see if we cover your postcode.
Final Thoughts: Combine, Save, and Get a Free Quote
Combining your driveway and patio project saves money on labour, materials, and groundwork. It also gives your home a more finished, joined-up look, and it makes planning permission and drainage simpler to sort in one go. The main things to get right are these: pick matching materials, plan your groundwork together, and get one written quote for both spaces.
Ready to see what you could save? Right Choice Surfacing offers a free, no-obligation survey across Staffordshire. We’ll visit your home, measure both spaces, and show you samples, all in about half an hour. There’s no pressure and no chasing. Contact us today to get your combined quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to do a driveway and patio at the same time?
Usually, yes. Combining both projects cuts extra costs like site visits, skip hire, and groundwork setup. Most Staffordshire homeowners save 10% to 20% on labour and prep compared with booking two separate jobs.
Do I need planning permission for a combined driveway and patio project?
Often not, as long as you choose a permeable surface, such as resin bound paving or permeable block paving. Solid, non-permeable surfaces may need extra drainage or planning permission, so check with your local council first.
How much does a resin driveway and patio cost in Staffordshire?
Expect £60 to £95 per square metre for a resin driveway, and £70 to £100 per square metre for a resin patio. Combining both projects usually brings the overall price down through shared labour and groundwork.
Can I mix materials, like a tarmac driveway with a resin patio?
Yes, in fact, plenty of homeowners do this well. Just pick colours and finishes that suit each other, and make sure your installer plans the groundwork and drainage for both areas together.
How long does a combined driveway and patio installation take?
Most combined projects take five to ten days, depending on size and material. Ask your installer for a clear timeline before you book, especially with weather-sensitive materials like resin.
What’s the best low-maintenance option for both spaces?
Resin bound surfacing works well for both driveways and patios. It doesn’t need sanded joints, it resists weeds, and it only needs an occasional sweep and a light jet wash to stay looking sharp.