Driveway Installers

If you've decided that a driveway is right for you, and you've got enough space to install one, you will now need to establish what style of driveway you're going to build. Driveways come in all sizes and shapes and can be made out of numerous different materials, some might be more suitable than others. If you are on a tight budget you may be to some extent limited in your choices. The style and composition of your driveway might also be affected by the configuration and size of your garden area.

Whilst roaming around you'll probably have noticed all the different styles of driveway in other folk's gardens. There's a good chance that on your travels you will 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 property 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?

You may imagine that a driveway wouldn't normally be of any concern to the local council, and would not be affected by planning permission, however that presumption would in many cases be incorrect. There are UK-wide regulations covering the the installment of driveways, not just local ones. As we speak these only affect FRONT gardens. The regulations that are currently in force were set by a government act of 2008 - the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

If you are aiming to build a driveway with an area of more than 5 square metres and it is in your front garden, you will likely be affected by these SuDS legislation. This demands that your driveway is constructed from gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, so that excess water is able to drain away safely. It is possible to view the Sustainable Drainage Systems regulations here - Sustainable Drainage Systems

Some folks might be tempted to have a stab at installing their own driveway, particularly if they relish a bit of hard work and are fairly adept at DIY. However no-one should consider this as a simple task, given that there's a whole lot of groundwork involved apart from actually laying the driveway, including hauling materials, excavating and doing rubbish removal. If you're in any doubt about doing this, it may be much better to call in an established driveway installer to complete the work on your behalf.

With this sort of project, you've got to be wary about who you hire, given that you obviously need somebody who knows precisely what they're doing. Rogue traders and cowboys are always operating in the area, their workmanship will be poor quality and some of them will even take your cash and do a "runner" without accomplishing any work at all. If you would like your completed driveway to last, and to look attractive for the foreseeable future, you might as well have it done to a decent standard and by a tradesperson with experience. If a locally based driveway installer has been operating in and around your area for quite a few years, you can usually assume that they will be pretty trustworthy, and a good choice for your installation project.

When screening paving contractors for your driveway, you ought 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).

This doesn't need to be an inquisition, but this questioning should give you a feeling for the type of individual that you are dealing with. If they're relaxed about answering all of these questions, you can consider that they're reliable. If they seem confrontational or hesitant when asked these kinds of questions, you can presume that they are hiding something or being less than honest - so steer clear.

Selecting a decent tradesman is important, because if you manage to find yourself a capable driveway company, they won't only do a great job, but also give you advice on the most appropriate style, location and materials for your new driveway. Before any actual physical work starts your driveway paver will make sure all the required preparation, design and planning work is looked after.

Gravel Driveways

The most economical and easiest of all the driveway styles is the standard gravel driveway. Gravel driveways are particularly popular in a rural setting, and in spite of their simplicity they can be exceptionally attractive. Gravel can be acquired in a wide range of shades and sizes, so you should not have any trouble locating one that looks good in your garden. A successful gravel driveway will require a sturdy and clearly-defined edging, and a good substantial base layer of hardcore. The finest gravel driveways are the result of applying three or four layers of shingle, with every layer rolled and left to settle before laying the next. Irrespective of what size your driveway is, or if it's in your back or front garden, if it's built from gravel it won't need to apply for planning permission, because it will be SuDS compliant. (Tags: Shingle Driveways, Aggregate Driveways, Gravel Driveways).

Asphalt Driveways

When you are looking for 'curb appeal' for your home in, an asphalt driveway, with its smooth continuous surface, is the perfect choice. An experienced driveway company in will provide you with an asphalt drive which will give you many years of good service, with a bare minimum of maintenance required. There are even porous asphalt solutions so that rain can soak away into a sub-base, rather than run off into road drains, which can cause localised flooding.

Asphalt driveways offer excellent value and asphalt is a strong, durable material that is designed to withstand freezing and thawing effects of a typical British winter. It's also the simplest driveway material to repair or remove due to the process by which it is manufactured. It can be considered the most environmentally friendly of solid driveway surface types since it's even possible to recycle an asphalt drive for use in another location. (Tags: Asphalt Driveway, Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway Recycling).

Block Paved Driveways

Block-paved driveways are among the most popular designs in right now, and scores of these seem to have appeared in recent times. Forming a robust, hard-wearing driveway, many hundreds of purpose-made block paving bricks are butted together in attractive and elaborate designs that can be personalized to meet your own specifications. The gaps between these blocks are filled up with kiln-dried sand which is brushed into the exposed joints, producing a neat and tidy finish. After 4 or 5 months it might be a good idea to get your block paving driveway sealed with a high quality sealant (such as Everbuild), this helps to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in various patterns, including basketweave, herringbone, stretcher bond and fan.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Compliant with SuDS block paving driveways are quite feasible by adjusting the traditional methodology. Bigger gaps than normal are allowed between the bricks and rather than the usual kiln-dried sand, these are then filled with fine aggregate material. (Tags: Block Paving Driveway, Block Paving, Block Paved Driveways).

Natural Stone Driveways

The characteristics of natural stone means that it continually improves with age. The choice of natural stone will give you a strong and stable driveway, for any car or vehicle, and will look fantastic for a whole lifetime. The natural colouring and depth of tone gives a quintessential appearance to every stone driveway, and provides a bespoke look to any property. It gives that that crucial curb appeal and wow factor that every property owner longs for.

A natural stone driveway is also a lot easier to maintain, and is less vulnerable to cracking and damage from weather than concrete based materials. The smooth, solid surface of the natural stones means that they are much easier to keep clean, and weeds find it harder to take root in the smaller joints of a stone driveway. An expertly prepared and laid stone driveway is an investment which will only add value to your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you've already got a driveway, but it is starting to look a bit tatty, you may manage to make it look better by giving it a clean. For a lot of folks, it's not normally a priority to maintain the cleanliness of their driveway. However, cleaning a driveway is crucial from both an aesthetic and maintenance perspective, and this should really be performed fairly regularly. If weeds, roots and other unwanted plant growth are allowed to become established, over time they can weaken the composition of your driveway. An enlargement of existing holes or cracks could happen, and structural issues can develop if such growth isn't eradicated.

The minute you discover stains, weeds or dirt on your drive, it's better to get rid of them as soon as possible. Although, the spring and summertime is when you most notice the appearance of moss and weeds, you ought not wait until them to pressure wash your driveway. If brake fluid, diesel and oil leaks from your vehicle, the attractiveness of your drive can really be compromised. You should get these removed immediately, so that any unattractive discolouration of your driveway surface is prevented.

If you're cleaning your own driveway, you'll require access to a power washer, and to accomplish it properly you'll also need some additional tools and equipment, such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. If you haven't got the correct gear, or aren't certain about cleaning it yourself, you could call on a professional driveway cleaning service, or ask your local driveway installers if they do it.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac is a much loved surface for driveways because of its durability and strength. It looks good, needs very little maintenance and is weatherproof, when professionally laid. Tarmac's durability and strength means it can cope with bulkier vehicles, such as motor-homes, without damaging the surface.

Tarmac is also excellent value and comes in an assortment of colours to match your home and surrounding areas. Tarmac permits you to deviate from a dreary black coloured surface and have it coloured to complement your house. Tarmac driveways are amongst the most straightforward to lay, and a lot of driveway projects are finished in a day. This ease of installation, coupled with its simple maintenance and high strength makes a tarmac driveway a good alternative for almost any home or property.

Resin Driveways

There's very little doubt that in recent times resin driveways have become one of the most popular kinds of driveway. The added advantage that they're compliant with SuDS of course contributes to their appeal. Resin driveways can be tailor-made to your precise specifications and come in a wide range of different patterns and designs. For speedier, and simpler installation resin-bound driveways can be laid over a pre-existing concrete or tarmac base with less mess and hassle. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a fantastic substitute for asphalt, block paving, concrete or gravel. Usually coming with a long guarantee when installed by a reputable contractor, a resin driveway should give you excellent service for years to come.

Concrete Driveways

Suitable for driveways, and a much favoured material for many years, concrete has the advantage of being durable, strong and largely maintenance-free. A straightforward choice for many property owners, concrete is considerably cheaper than block paving or resin, but if laid properly is is more hard wearing. For many property owners, the negative aspect of concrete is its rather boring and drab visual appearance, but this can be remedied by adding a patterned or stamped finish. (Tags: Imprinted Concrete Driveways, Concrete Driveway, Concreted 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.

Positive Impacts Utilizing Your Home's Curb Appeal

Curb appeal refers to the appearance of your home, especially from the outside. If you are selling your house, external home improvement projects are definitely what you should be focusing upon. Yet, even if you want to stay where you are, improving the curb appeal will make you and anyone who visits feel better about your home. This article will show you several ways to improve your home's curb appeal in several ways.

Typically, the first idea when mulling over a curb appeal update; is adding a fresh new look with a few coats of paint. This might seem like the thing to start with, but you may want to reconsider. Power washing your home may be an alternative to putting on new paint if there are no signs like chipping or weathering and the color is one that appeals to you. By taking this route, you will be saving money, it will be simple and you will be pleasantly surprised how great it will look. You hardly realize the collection of dirt and residue that encrusts your home overtime. Power washers are available to rent at many stores and if you are unable to do it yourself, you can always hire the job out. Be thorough and make sure to wash all washable things outside; like decks, outbuildings and such.

Look long and hard at the yard in both the front and the back. Are children's toys, tools and hit-or-miss items all over the yards, or do they appear clean and alluring? A considerable influence to curb appeal is the look of your yards. If there is a lot of clutter in your yard, it's worth the effort to clean it up. Eliminate each barrier that makes walking in your yard challenging. Provided you need to weed or have bushes that need to be cared for, these issues need to be taken care of. If you have kids who leave toys around the yard, teach them to put them away when they're finished playing with them.

When thinking about curb appeal, you should consider how your home looks at night as well as during the day. Lighting can set the tone for your home, giving it character. Your porch needs to be properly lit with lights that will emanate enough light to look appealing. When you have a garden behind your house, you might think about putting in some nice lighting that will make your garden stand out when it is dark. The different types and styles of outdoor lights are many; you can find just about anything from lanterns to contemporary solar lights. Lights like these will be able to add brightness when the weather is dark and foreboding and will also add a secure atmosphere to all who may visit your residence.

So if you want to sell your home, curb appeal is something that you need to focus on to move your house on the market. After you read this, you may be inspired to impress family and friends by improving the curb appeal of your home using some of our suggestions. Curb appeal is all about the outward look of your home, and how others will perceive it once all of the modifications have been done.

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