Driveway Installers

So, you have resolved to to press ahead, but what sort of driveway is likely to be perfect for you? You'll doubtless already be aware that there are many different kinds of driveway available and not all of these will necessarily interest you. If you're working to a strict spending budget your options could be somewhat limited. Your final decision may also be affected by the dimensions and layout of your garden and the available space for the driveway.

While wandering around you'll likely have observed all the various different designs of driveway in other folk's gardens. The chances are that on your travels you'll see stone resin driveways, concrete driveways, patterned concrete driveways, tarmac driveways, natural flagstone driveways, permeable driveways, asphalt driveways, aggregate driveways, pebble driveways, block paved driveways, and if your garden area is suitable, you should be able to choose from just about any of these.

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?

While you might assume that you can simply stick a driveway anywhere you please on your property, this is not necessarily the case. There are UK-wide regulations pertaining to the the installment of driveways, not just local ones. However, at this moment in time, these regulations only affect driveways being laid in front gardens. This driveway legislation, which is called the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) has been in place since 2008, when it was first announced.

Driveways being laid in front gardens that have an area in excess of 5 sq metres are covered by the SuDS regulations. Porous materials like gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock are SuDS compliant, and allow any excess surface water to soak through without any issues. So, if you're building your driveway from one of these, you won't have to fret. Check here - SuDS - if you believe that the SuDS regulations might affect your planned driveway in TOWN.

Some folks could be tempted to have a stab at laying their own driveway, particularly if they don't have an issue with a bit of hard work and are fairly adept at DIY. However you should not imagine that installing driveways is a simple task, because besides the laying of the driveway there's a lot of excavating, rubbish removal and humping materials associated with this sort of project. That being said, it might be much better to call in an experienced driveway specialist, if you are in any doubt tackling it yourself.

With this kind of work, you've got to be cautious about who you pick, as you obviously need to find somebody who knows their stuff. Unfortunately, there are too many dishonest "cowboys" out there who will capitalize on your situation and pretend to be driveway experts. They will either produce inferior work, or just pocket your cash and disappear into the ether. It is well worth coughing up a bit more money to get a decent job, rather than take a chance on using a less than perfect worker purely to save a few pounds. The preferred choice will usually be a patio and driveway paver who has been been operating in and around your area for a good few years, and has a solid reputation locally.

When you're sorting through possible tradespeople to do your driveway you should 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).

There's no need to be too aggressive with this questioning, since what you're really aiming to do is get an idea about what kind of tradesman that you are potentially going to work with. Anybody who's prepared to respond to all your questions, and put your mind at rest about the standard of the work they will be doing, will likely also be genuine and reliable. If they act in a hesitant or confrontational way when asked these sorts of questions, you can assume that they are hiding something or being less than truthful - so steer well clear.

Once you've found a good driveway installer, you can have a chat about all the possible driveway choices including the best style, location and materials. And that is not all, because they'll also be on top of all the planning, preparation and design that is needed for your new driveway.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the styles, the ubiquitous gravel driveway is the easiest and most economical. Gravel driveways are particularly favoured in a rural location, and regardless of their simplicity they can be particularly pleasing. As there is such a wide array of gravel shades and sizes, you should have no difficulties locating one that you are happy with. A good robust base of hardcore is needed for a gravel drive to be effective, coupled with a firmly-bedded edging. The best gravel driveways are the result of applying 3 or 4 layers of stones, with each individual layer tamped and left to settle before laying the following layer. You won't need planning permission with a gravel driveway, as it will be SuDS compliant regardless of how large it is, or if it's in your front or back garden.

Asphalt Driveways

When you're looking for that extra touch of 'curb appeal' for your home in, an asphalt driveway, with its smooth continuous surface, is a good choice. When installed by a skilled contractor, an asphalt driveway will provide many years of reliable use with minimal maintenance. It is even possible to install permeable asphalt driveways so that rainwater is allowed to soak away into a sub-layer, instead of running off into highway drains, which are known to contribute to localised flooding.

Asphalt driveways are smartly designed to successfully withstand anything that typical winters can toss at them, and provide extremely good value for money. Asphalt is simple to repair and maintain, and is not too difficult to remove if your circumstances change. If you are concerned about the environmental impact of your driveway, you might be interested to learn that asphalt can even be removed and recycled for re-use elsewhere. (Tags: Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway Recycling, Asphalt Driveway).

Block Paved Driveways

Scores of driveways have sprung up in in recent years, built using the block-paving method, which can be extremely effective when carried out properly. These are created using specially designed block-paving bricks which are butted together to form attractive and sometimes intricate designs. The gaps that are left between the blocks are filled with kiln-dried sand which is brushed into the joints, resulting in a neat finish. It is preferable to have your block paving driveway sealed after five or six months with Thompson's sealant or something like that. This is vital to stop weed growth. There are many different patterns in which block paving is laid, including herringbone, fan, stretcher bond and basket weave.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: It is also possible to build a To comply with SuDS block paved driveway in, if that is what you need. By leaving wider spaces between the blocks and packing them with fine aggregate in place of the standard kiln-dried sand, you can achieve a porous paved surface that does not call for planning permission. (Tags: Block Paving Driveway, Block Paving, Block Paved Driveways).

Natural Stone Driveways

The characteristics of natural stone means it continually improves as it ages. The compact, dense material looks amazing on a driveway and will give a lifetime of use for any cars or vehicles you may own. It provides your house with a driveway that, because of the distinctive shades and colours of each individual stone, is totally bespoke to you. The natural stone gives a warm, soft look to any driveway, and is part of that valuable curb appeal.

A driveway made from natural stone is also much easier to maintain, and is less vulnerable to cracking and damage from weather than concrete materials. They're also simple to clean, and with narrower joints between the stones there is less potential for weed and seed germination on your new driveway. A professionally prepared and laid natural stone driveway is a sound investment which will add to the appeal and value to your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you already have a driveway, but it's starting to look a little tatty, you might be able to make it look nicer by giving it a clean. For lots of householders, it's not normally a priority to maintain the cleanliness of their driveway. Nonetheless, from both an aesthetic and maintenance viewpoint, cleaning a driveway is important, and this procedure ought to be done with a fair degree of regularity, not just every now and then. Your driveway's structure can be severely weakened as time passes, by weeds and other organic plant growth. An enlargement of existing driveway holes and cracks could ensue, and structural issues could develop if such harmful growth isn't eliminated.

The minute you discover dirt, weeds or stains on your driveway, it's recommended that you get rid of them as quickly as possible. However, most home owners wait around until the springtime and summer to jet or pressure wash their driveways, primarily because moss and weed growth is more obvious during this time. If oil, brake fluid and diesel leaks from your vehicle, the appeal of your driveway can be really ruined. It is therefore vital to clean them off quickly to avoid unsightly discolouration of your driveway's surface.

To get your driveway properly clean you'll need the use of a jet washing device, and additionally you'll need a few other tools and equipment, for instance a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. You could call in a professional driveway cleaning service, if you're not certain about cleaning it yourself, or don't have the correct gear.

Tarmac Driveways

Due to its strength and durability, tarmac is an extremely good choice for the surface of a driveway. When laid by a professional driveway company it requires almost no maintenance, offers superb weatherproof properties and looks terrific. Tarmac's strength and durability means that it can handle larger and heavier vehicles, such as vans and motor-homes, without damaging the surface.

Tarmac is also excellent value and comes in a wide range of colours to match your property and the surrounding areas. You don't have to have a drab, conventional looking drive; you can customise your driveway to any colour of your choosing. It is perfectly possible for a professional driveway contractor to install a new tarmac drive in less than a day. Many homeowners choose tarmac over other driveway materials because of its strength, low maintenance qualities, rapid installation and finish.

Resin Driveways

Among the most flexible and attractive forms of driveway that are available today, resin driveways are becoming increasingly more favoured and also comply with SuDS, if that's what you're in need of. Resin-bound driveways come in an array of patterns and designs that can be custom-made to your requirements. For faster, and simpler installation resin-bound driveways can be laid on top of a current concrete or asphalt base with less hassle and mess. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a great substitute for block paving, concrete, gravel or asphalt. A resin driveway should give many years of excellent service, and when laid by a trusted installer, come with an extended warranty. (Tags: Resin-Bonded Driveways, Resin Driveways, Resin-Bound Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

Strong, durable and needing hardly any maintenance, concrete is an ideal material for building driveways. Being more costly that tarmac or gravel, but considerably cheaper than some other options (i.e. block paving or resin), concrete is a straightforward choice for many home and business owners. Many would concur that concrete driveways, generally speaking, are quite dreary and boring. Yet this doesn't have to be the case, since it is possible to finish them off with a stamped or imprinted design which can be extremely attractive. (Tags: Patterned Concrete Driveway, Concreted Driveway, Concrete Driveway).

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.

Your Home's Curb Appeal - How To Make A Great First Impression

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.

Many people will start with painting their home. In fact, they may choose specific sections that face the street in order to improve the way it looks for passersby. Repainting your deck is a great way to show off your home, especially if you choose a brighter more prominent color that people will see. If your home has window casings, and shutters, you can give these a fresh coat of paint as well. Many people will just clean around their yard, spray down their house, and just improve their home with a thorough cleaning. Always remove mold and moss from the outside of your home as this will give the impression that no one cares for the house. There are products you can buy to remove these things, but if something like mold is a serious issue, you may want to hire a professional to get rid of it for you.

Improving your homes landscape enticement can happen with changes you weren't even aware were important. There are times that you view something daily for years on end, therefore you do not even understand how this stands out to other people. For instance, look intently at your garage door. This is something most people don't think of replacing unless it's broken. And yet, replacing a worn-out old one with a newer model would produce an absolute change. Similarly, another thing that is frequently forgotten is the box where you receive your mail. Acquiring a contemporary mailbox won't break your budget, still if the one you own now is decrepit and broken down, you will feel inspired when you put in a new one.

If you have a long walkway, or even a short one, it should look appealing to those passing by. Your walkway should definitely have a friendly appearance which may include adding plants, flowers, and other ornamental objects on either side. Similarly, a new driveway will impress everyone who drive up to your home. Aside from being appealing, the driveway should people a sense of security and spaciousness. If your driveway is very old, it may have potholes and it. If this is the case, do simple things like raking the lawn to make it look better all the way around. It is important to always provide people with a positive experience, even if they walked up to your house off of the street.

Many components can be involved in curb appeal, therefore it is wise to think about every angle of your residence. If there are many things that need attention, make a list and then set priorities. Then create a schedule for taking care of these issues, whether you're going to do the work yourself or hire someone. Proposals above can give you a starting point to a more captivating curb appeal, or possibly support you in gaining your own ideas.

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