Driveway Installers

If you believe a driveway is right for your property, and you have sufficient space to install one, you'll now have to establish what kind of driveway you are going to choose. Driveways come in all sizes and shapes and can be created from numerous different materials, some may be more appealing than others. Prices will fluctuate considerably across these various styles of driveway, so your options could become more limited if you've only got a certain amount of capital to use. The design and composition of your driveway could additionally be affected by the configuration and dimensions of your garden area.

If you have a quick walk around some nearby streets, you will notice all the various designs of driveway that other people have installed, and possibly get some inspiration for your own drive. You can make a choice from stone resin driveways, concrete driveways, patterned concrete driveways, tarmac driveways, natural flagstone driveways, permeable driveways, asphalt driveways, aggregate driveways, pebble driveways, block paved driveways, though not all of these will necessarily be appropriate for your garden geography and layout.

What Type of Driveway is Best? Before deciding what type of driveway is right for your property, there are a few things that you will have to take into account. A few details that you would be sensible to think about - 1. Local authority planning permission - is planning permission needed for your driveway? 2. How the land lies - is the area level or sloped? 3. How successfully does your garden drain - does water collect where you're wanting to build your driveway?

You might assume that council planning permission is only required for significant projects like extensions and loft conversions, but that isn't automatically the case. There is in fact legislation covering the laying of driveways, and these are UK-wide rules, not just local ones. These regulations only affect driveways in front gardens at this time. This legislation, which is known as the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) has been in force since 2008, when it was first brought in.

The SuDS legislation applies to driveways installed in front gardens with an area of over 5m2. This requires that your drive is built from gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, so that excess water can easily soak away safely without causing floods. Check here - Sustainable Drainage Systems - if you're concerned that the Sustainable Drainage Systems regulations might affect your new driveway in TOWN.

Some property owners could be tempted to have a bash at laying their own driveway, especially if they relish a bit of hard work and are reasonably good at DIY. But, do not be deceived, there is a great deal of hard work involved with laying a driveway, particularly the preparation work, which involves lugging materials, excavation and rubbish removal. If you have any concerns about doing this, it could be a good idea to bring in an experienced driveway contractor to handle the work for you.

Honest tradesmen aren't always that easy to get hold of when it comes to conducting this sort of work, so you need to take care in choosing the right company or person. Cowboys and rogue traders are always lurking around in the area, their standard of workmanship will be unsatisfactory and some could even take your money and vanish into the ether without doing any work at all. It is worth spending a bit more money to get a proper job, instead of taking a risk with a less than perfect workman merely to save a few quid. If a local driveway contractor has been running a business in and around your area for the last few years, it's logical to assume that they will be fairly reliable, and a good choice for your driveway installation project.

When searching for suitable paving contractors, it is advisable to ask to see a portfolio of earlier projects, ask for some references from previous clients, check that they've got adequate insurance, ascertain how long they've been in business, find out what warranties they offer on their workmanship, ask if they are affiliated with a trade association like ANTSCA (the surfacing trade association).

You don't need to be excessively aggressive with this questioning, as what you're really aiming to achieve is get an idea about the type of tradesperson you're going to be working with. You can safely consider that they are for the most part honest, if they're willing to answer all your questions. You can conclude that they are hiding something or being less than truthful if they sound hesitant or hostile when asked such questions. If that occurs you would be wise to steer well clear and try a different company.

When you've found a decent driveway specialist, you can ask for guidance about all of the potential driveway options including the best location, style and materials. Before any real physical work starts your driveway expert will make certain that all the required planning, design and preparation work is looked after.

Gravel Driveways

The easiest and least expensive of all the available styles is the ubiquitous gravel driveway. In spite of their inherent simplicity gravel driveways can be quite an attractive alternative, particularly in rural settings. You should not have any problem locating a kind of gravel that looks amazing in your garden, as there are a whole host of sizes and colours on the market. For gravel driveways to be efficient they need a good robust layer of hardcore, and substantial, firmly-bedded edging. The best quality gravel driveways result from putting down three or four layers of shingle, with each individual layer tamped and rolled and then left to settle before laying the following layer. Regardless of what size your driveway is, or if it is in your front or back garden, if it's constructed from gravel it won't need planning permission, as it will automatically be SuDS compliant.

Asphalt Driveways

An asphalt driveway, with its smooth, uninterrupted appearance gives instant curb appeal to any home or property in. When put in by a skilled company, an asphalt driveway will give you years of reliable use with a bare minimum of maintenance. It is even possible to get permeable asphalt driveways so that rain is allowed to drain away into a sub-layer, rather than run off into road drainage systems, which are known to trigger localised flood risks.

Asphalt driveways are exceptionally well designed to successfully withstand anything the British winters can toss at them, and offer outstanding value. Due to how asphalt is made, it's also easy and cheap to maintain, repair and if required, remove. If you're concerned about the environmental impact of your driveway installation, you might be interested to know that asphalt can even be lifted and recycled for re-use elsewhere. (Tags: Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway, Asphalt Driveway Recycling).

Block Paved Driveways

Dozens of driveways have popped up in in recent years, created using the block-paved technique, which can be very successful when carried out properly. Forming eye-catching and elaborate designs, many hundreds of specially designed block paving bricks are butted together to create a hard wearing and sturdy driveway. As soon as the blocks have been put in place, they are tamped down firmly, and kiln-dried sand is rigorously brushed into the exposed joints. It might be a good idea to have your block paving driveway sealed after several months with Thompson's sealant or something like that. This is important to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in several designs, including fan, stretcher bond, herringbone and basket weave.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: SuDS compliant block paving driveways are perfectly feasible by adjusting the traditional technique. Bigger gaps than normal are left between the bricks and instead of the standard kiln-dried sand, these can then be packed with a very fine aggregate material.

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone is a driveway material that never loses its outstanding appearance even as it gets older. Picking a natural stone finish on your driveway will give you a whole lifetime of use for any car or vehicle and will be the envy of your neighbours from day 1 to year 50. Because of the individual colours and depth of tones of the stone, you will finish up with a driveway that's bespoke to your garden. It gives that curb appeal and WOW factor that every householder wants.

In contrast to paving alternatives, driveways made from natural stone are less liable to damage and are much easier to maintain. The smaller gaps between the stones means that there is significantly less likelihood of weed growth, and the smooth surface is much easier to clean. A professionally prepared and laid natural stone driveway is a sound investment which will add considerable value to your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you already have a driveway, but it's starting to look rather scruffy, you may be able to make it look nicer by cleaning it. Keeping a driveway clean is not usually a priority for most TOWN property owners. Nevertheless, for reasons of both maintenance and aesthetics, cleaning a driveway on a regular basis is essential. If roots, weeds and other organic plant growth are allowed to become established, as time passes they can weaken your driveway's structure and composition. An enlargement of existing cracks and crevices could ensue, and structural problems could develop if such growth isn't removed.

When you discover that your drive has dirt, weed growth or stains, it is better to get rid of them before things get worse. Although, most householders hold out for the spring or summertime to cleanse their drives, merely because moss and weed growth is more noticeable during this time. Stains from your car such as oil, brake fluid and petrol can impair the appeal of your driveway. You must remove these immediately, so that any a permanent staining of the driveway surface is avoided.

To get your driveway thoroughly clean you'll require the use of a jet washer, and additionally you'll need a few other tools and equipment, such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. You should bring in a specialist driveway cleaning service, if you aren't certain about cleaning it yourself, or you haven't got the right gear.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac offers a strong and durable surface making it a perfect choice for a driveway. When laid professionally it needs very little maintenance, looks terrific and is weather resistant. A tarmac driveway can cope with larger vehicles, like motor-homes, without dimpling or damage to the surface, and will look pristine for many years to come.

Tarmac is also fantastic value for money and comes in a whole host of colours to match your property and the surrounding area. You can custom-build a tarmac drive to correspond to property, with countless colours on offer. A tarmac drive is also one of the simplest to lay, and a lot of driveway projects are completed in a single day. This simplicity of installation, coupled with its simple maintenance and high strength makes a tarmac driveway a great choice for virtually any property or home.

Resin Driveways

There's little doubt that in recent years resin-bound or resin driveways have become one of the most favoured kinds of driveway. The added advantage that they're SuDS compliant of course increases their appeal. Resin driveways can be installed in a whole host of colours and patterns that can be customized to your requirements. For less mess and hassle a new resin driveway can easily be laid on top of an existing concrete or asphalt surface. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and the perfect alternative to concrete, block paving, asphalt or gravel. Generally coming with a long warranty when laid by an experienced installer, a resin-bound driveway should give reliable service for many years to come. (Tags: Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin Driveways, Resin-Bonded Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

A very popular material for driveways, concrete is durable, strong and requires very little maintenance. With regards to cost, concrete is about average for driveway construction, being more expensive than gravel or tarmac, but less costly than resin or block paving. Nearly everyone would concur that concrete driveways in general are rather dreary and boring. However this doesn't have to be a problem, since it is possible to finish off the surface with a stamped or imprinted design which can be very attractive. (Tags: Concreted Driveway, Patterned Concrete Driveway, Concrete Driveways).

Driveway Tasks

Local driveway installers will likely help with the maintenance of concrete driveways, stone resin driveway installation, the repair of gravel driveways, cheap driveway ideas, grass driveway installation, driveway repair, driveway ideas, driveway replacement, garden patio installations, the building of flagstone driveways, Indian stone driveways, the building of brick driveways, bonded gravel driveways, driveway removal, coloured tarmac driveways, concrete driveway repairs, tar driveways, driveway sealing, shingle driveways, driveway lights, driveway bollards, gated driveways, the laying of aggregate driveways, gravel driveway laying, the maintenance of block paving driveways, driveway maintenance, the laying of concrete driveways, cobbled driveways, stone driveway installation, driveway resurfacing. Driveway providers will be happy to inform you of their whole range of services

Driveway Questions

In the past week or so I've been having a close look at the popular questions folks ask in relation to driveways in Gillingham. Quite a few of our visitors posted some noteworthy enquiries which are relevant to this discussion. The ones I picked out were, "How much weight can driveway hold?" "Does driveway sealer go bad?" "Where can I buy driveway gravel?" "What are driveway markers used for?" "How much does a driveway cost?" "What are the benefits of a concrete driveway?" The majority of these questions will have hopefully been answered on this page, if there are any left to be answered we'll be including a driveway "Q&A" section before long. Our gratitude goes out to Nolan Macdonald, Caroline Welsh, Oliver Beattie and Sheila Southern from Gillingham, for taking time out to send in these questions. It was also awesome to get offerings from Sawyer Tucker in Wouldham, April Exley in Rainham and Reginald Dwyer in Frindsbury.

How To Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal

How your home looks, and it's perceived market value, can skyrocket if you have the proper curb appeal. Anyone walking by, that actually looks over at your home, their first impression is what we call curb appeal. You can improve the overall appearance of your home without spending too much money; the reason you want to do this is to improve its outward appearance dramatically for others.

Your widows provide a huge amount to the way your home appeals to people. Certainly, the top priority is to ensure that the windows are immaculate. Very little can lessen the way a home appears to people than windows that are unclean. The above mentioned is crucial for the exterior and interior home alike. If there are any broken panes anywhere, even in the basement, these should be replaced as soon as possible. Windows, of course, are important for insulation as well as appearance. If your windows aren't very energy efficient, it may be time to replace them. If shutters are not part of your homes aesthetic, contemplate obtaining some since this can seriously add individuality to your dwelling place, specifically if they are painted the greatest color.

One crucial element of your home that is very significant is your roof; this reflects a great deal to your curb appeal and needs to be sound for your protection. When roof maintenance is needed, it should become your main concern. One thing that can make your roof look a lot more impressive are architectural roofing shingles. These can be made from a variety of materials, including synthetic slate, which is one of the newer varieties of attractive and very durable roofing materials now popular. Regardless of the state of your roof; you could use this new roofing material and can have it look like many of the standard styles and your house will be that much smarter and unique.

To endeavor to do a comprehensive job of escalating the curb appeal a dwelling, one may have to seek out the assessment of others. Enlist the estimation of how your home appears to your companions or family whose opinions you value. One more strategy individuals could endeavor is to walk around your dwelling place and get some great pictures. Take a look at these pictures when you are done taking them and act like you are examining a home other than yours to visualize what amendments you would do. You may need to look at your home in a new way to really figure out how to improve its curb appeal.

Hopefully you can see how easy it is to provide almost instant curb appeal to your residence. The cost of increasing your curb appeal will definitely be far less than a home improvement project that might not do as good of a job. Many elements, from your driveway to your backyard to your front door has an impact on your home's curb appeal.

Searching Online For a Driveway Installer

When looking for any kind of tradesmen these days, the vast majority of householders are inclined to head straight online to simply "Google it". Logic would say that you're seeing this webpage at this moment after you pinpointed it by typing a search phrase into Google, Yahoo or Bing and it appeared on the first page. From time to time the page 1 listings provided aren't exactly what you'd expected when making use of these particular search engines. The majority of householders, when trying to find a driveway expert will visit Google or bing and type "driveways", "Gillingham driveways", "driveway pavers near me" or "driveways". Nevertheless, most of the resulting page one listings on these search engines, as you will shortly discover, are either going to be "pay per click" results or listings for major lead creation sites like TrustaTrader, My Hammer, Checkatrade, Rated People, My Builder or Bark or directories such as Yell, Gumtree, Yelp or Hotfrog. You'll very likely discover the sites of bona fide driveway pavers hidden on page 2 or 3 of the results, outsmarted by the wealthier corporations who can more easily afford SEO. When you are endeavouring to find the most effective person to complete your driveway installation work, it's sensible to explore every technique open to you, so everything supplied by the search process should be reviewed so that you will be able to uncover the ideal driveway installer.

Driveway Installer Services

Find Driveway Pavers in the UK Here

• Driveway Services
• Gravel Driveways
• Driveway Pavers
• Driveway Estimates
• Concrete Driveways
• Tarmac Driveways
• Commercial Driveway Installation
• Driveways
• Asphalt Driveways
• Brick Driveways
• Driveway Installation
• Stone Driveways
• Block Paving Driveways
• Resin Driveways

More Tradespeople: Whilst you may just be looking for someone who can do driveway installation in the UK, you can also find garden clearance in the UK, a builder in the UK, a landscape gardener in the UK, a bricklayer in the UK, SKIP HIRE in the UK, a decking specialist in the UK, a garden designer in the UK, pressure washing in the UK, a fencing contractor in the UK, a gardener in the UK, an electrician in the UK, a carpenter in the UK, driveway cleaning in the UK, a tiler in the UK, a lawn care specialist in the UK, patio laying in the UK, waste removal in the UK, property extension in the UK.

Resin Driveways - Gravel Driveways - Residential Driveway Installation - Cheap Driveways - Concrete Driveways - Commercial Driveway Installation - Driveway Pavers - Driveway Services - Tarmac Driveways