Lee HunterGranite sett driveway aprons: what they are and why they last
A driveway apron is where your drive meets the road. Here is why granite setts are such a good choice for it, and what goes into laying one.
What a driveway apron is
The apron is the section of driveway where it meets the road or pavement. It takes the most punishment on the whole drive: cars turning, braking and climbing on and off it, plus water running off the road.
Why granite setts suit it
Granite setts are small, very hard blocks of natural stone. Laid tight on a proper base, they spread the load of a car, give grip in the wet, and do not crumble at the edge the way gravel or a thin layer of tarmac does. They also look right in Cornwall, against granite walls and hedges.
What goes into laying one
The old surface is dug out, a sub-base is built up and compacted to take vehicle weight, the edges are kerbed so the setts cannot creep, and the setts are bedded and jointed. Falls are set so water runs off the drive rather than pooling or running towards the house.
Buying setts yourself
If you are laying setts yourself or your builder is, we sell natural split grey granite setts, 200 x 100 x 50mm, by the 1 tonne pallet with free kerbside delivery through our eBay listing. One pallet covers roughly 8.5 square metres.
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