Paving Wiz lays driveways, patios and parking bays in Athlone, Belgravia, Crawford, Silvertown and Gatesville. Most of the housing stock here dates from the 1950s to the 1970s, which means short, narrow frontages and a driveway that has to work in one car-width. That constraint changes the build more than the brick does.
Narrow frontages change the build
Contents
An Athlone frontage is often 3 to 4 metres wide with a kerb crossing already in place. There is no room for a car to swing, so every entry is a tight turn onto the same two strips of paving. Turning a wheel while stationary grinds pavers sideways, and on a narrow driveway that happens in the same spot every single day.
We lay herringbone at 45 degrees through the turning zone rather than stretcher bond. Herringbone interlocks, so the load from a turning wheel is shared across several bricks instead of shoving one at a time. We also haunch both edges properly, because a narrow driveway has nowhere to spread except sideways into the garden.
Working with an existing kerb crossing
If the council crossing is already there, the new paving has to meet it at the right level. Paving laid proud of the crossing catches a bumper; laid low, it ponds water at the boundary. We set levels off the existing crossing first and work back to the house, not the other way round.
What we build here
| Job | Width we usually work to | Build-up |
|---|---|---|
| Single driveway strip | 3.0 – 3.5m | Compacted G5 sub-base, 60mm pavers, herringbone |
| Driveway plus parking bay | 5.5 – 6.0m | Same base, wider apron at the gate |
| Front stoep and path | 1.0 – 1.5m | Lighter base, 50mm pavers |
| Back yard and washing area | varies | 50mm pavers, laid to fall to an outlet |
What it costs in Athlone
Athlone jobs are small and edge-heavy, so the labour share of the rate sits higher than it does on an open plot. These are the areas we most often price here.
| Athlone job | Area | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway strip to the garage | ~20m² | R6,000 – R8,400 |
| Full front yard | ~35m² | R10,500 – R14,700 |
| Front stoep and path | ~12m² | R3,600 – R6,200 |
| Back yard, foot traffic | ~25m² | R7,500 – R10,500 |
Labour on its own is R100 to R200 per square metre. The full breakdown — pavers, labour and sub-base — with more worked examples is on our paving prices Cape Town page.
Athlone paving questions
How much does a driveway cost in Athlone?
A single-width driveway of about 35m² in standard grey brick is R10,500 to R14,700 installed. Most Athlone frontages come in under that area.
Can you work if there is no off-street access?
Yes. Where a truck cannot reach the front, sand, stone and pavers are barrowed in. That is labour time and we price it as a separate line so you can see it.
Do you have to break out the old crossing?
Usually not. If the council crossing is sound we tie the new paving into it and set our levels off it.
Get a written quote in Athlone
Tell us what you need paved in Athlone, roughly how big it is and what is on the ground now. We come out, measure it, check the fall and put a written figure to it. There is no charge for the visit.
We also cover the rest of the Cape Flats. Related guide: permeable paving in Cape Town.
Prefer to talk? Call 081 408 9946