Driveway Installers

If you do decide to press ahead with having a driveway installed the next step will be to figure out what sort of driveway you prefer. There are of course many types of driveway available, as I'm sure you'll be well aware, but these may not all be right for you. Costs will vary noticeably across these various styles of driveway, thus your possible choices could be more limited if you only have a certain amount of capital to spend. The size and configuration of your property could also have an affect on your final decision.

You might just believe "a driveway is a driveway", but that simply isn't the case, seeing as there are various different designs and types of driveway, and if you take a stroll around, you'll soon realise what I mean. Contingent upon the layout and geography of your garden you'll be able to choose between stone resin driveways, concrete driveways, patterned concrete driveways, tarmac driveways, natural flagstone driveways, permeable driveways, asphalt driveways, aggregate driveways, pebble driveways, block paved driveways.

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 think that a driveway would not be of interest to the local council, and would not be subject to planning permission, however that notion would quite often be incorrect. The legislation that pertain to driveways are not only administered by the local authority, but are actually enforced by government guidelines. As we speak these only affect FRONT gardens. This legislation, which is called the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) has been in force since 2008, when it was first announced as part of the Permitted Development Rights.

If you're planning a driveway having an area of more than five square metres and it is in your front garden, you will likely be affected by these SuDS regulations. In order for your driveway to be SuDS compliant it has to be made of a porous (permeable) material that permits the rainwater to soak through it. SuDS compliant materials would include: gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock. You can find out more information on the SuDS regulations here - SuDS

To some folks, installing a driveway may appear to be a fairly straightforward task, and for someone who is good at DIY, it is not at all impossible. However, don't be fooled, there's a lot of hard work associated with building a driveway, in particular with regards to the preparation work, which will involve excavation, humping materials and garden clearance. If you're in any doubt about this, it may be wise to call in an established driveway contractor to carry out the work for you.

Reliable tradespeople aren't always that easy to track down when it comes to conducting this sort of task, therefore you need to take care and choose the right company or person. You should keep an eye out for cowboys and rogue traders who are renowned for doing this sort of work, and can easily catch you unawares. Even if this means shelling out a little more on the project, you might as well have it done properly by an expert. If a locally based driveway contractor has been running a business in the area for a good few years, it's logical to assume that they'll be trustworthy, and a good choice for your driveway installation assignment.

When searching for suitable contractors, it's 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).

Don't get carried away with these questions, but just ask enough to get a good impression of the type of company you are dealing with, so you can make a well informed choice before hiring someone. Any driveway specialist in TOWN who is ready to respond to all your questions, and give assurances about the standard of the work they'll be doing, will very likely also be honest and trustworthy. If they act in a confrontational or uncertain way when asked these questions, you can deduce that they're hiding something or being less than truthful - so avoid them like the plague.

If you take care and pick an excellent driveway company, they will be able to help you make all of the most important decisions with regards to your forthcoming project, including the preferred location, the ideal driveway technique and the best materials. They will also help you with all of the preparation, design and planning, so all aspects is in hand before any real work starts on your driveway.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the available styles, the standard gravel driveway is the simplest and cheapest. In rural settings, gravel driveways are especially favoured and can be very attractive in spite of their inherent simplicity. You shouldn't have any problem locating a type of gravel that looks great in your garden, as there are a host of sizes and shades available. For gravel driveways to be efficient they need a good robust layer of hardcore, and firmly-bedded, substantial edging. If you would like a really good quality gravel driveway, you must make sure that 3 or 4 separate layers are applied, with each and every one individually rolled and left to settle for a day or two before the next one is laid. You'll not require planning permission for a gravel driveway, seeing that it will be SuDS compliant regardless of how large it is, or whether it's in your back or front garden. (Tags: Shingle Driveways, Aggregate Driveways, Gravel Driveways).

Asphalt Driveways

When you're looking for that extra touch of 'curb appeal' for your home or property in, an asphalt driveway, with its smooth consistent surface, is a good choice. When laid by a reputable company, an asphalt driveway will give you many years of good service with very little maintenance. It is even possible to install porous asphalt options whereby rain can soak away into a sub-grade reservoir, instead of running off into highway drains, which are known to trigger localised flood risks.

Asphalt driveways are well designed to successfully withstand anything the British winters can chuck at them, and provide extremely good value. Due to how asphalt is produced, it is also cheap and easy to maintain, repair and when necessary, remove. It could be seen to be the most eco-friendly of hard driveway surface types because it's even possible for an asphalt drive to be recycled and used in another location.

Block Paving Driveways

Over the last ten years or so dozens of driveways in have sprung up built with the block-paving process. These are built using hundreds of specially designed block-paving bricks which butt together forming attractive and sometimes intricate patterns. The gaps that are left between the blocks are filled up with kiln-dried sand which is brushed into the joints, producing a neat and tidy finish. It might be a good idea to have your block-paved driveway sealed after several months with Thompsons sealant or something similar. This is essential to stop weed growth. Block paving can be made very attractive and can be laid a variety of different patterns, including herringbone, stretcher bond, fan and basket weave.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: It's even possible to install a Compliant with SuDS block paved driveway in, if that is what you require. By leaving bigger spaces between the bricks and filling them with fine aggregate rather than the traditional kiln-dried sand, you can achieve a permeable surface that doesn't need planning permission. (Tags: Block Paved Driveway, Block Paving Driveways, Block Paving).

Natural Stone Driveways

The features of natural stone means that it only improves as it ages. The choice of natural stone will give you a robust and sturdy driveway, for any vehicle, and will look amazing for a whole lifetime. It provides your property with a driveway that, owing to the unique tones and colours of each individual stone, is wholly bespoke to you. It gives that curb appeal and wow factor that every property owner desires.

A natural stone driveway is also a lot easier to maintain, and is less vulnerable to cracking and damage from weather than concrete materials. They're easy to clean, and with narrower joints between the stones there's considerably less potential for seeds and weeds germinating on your new driveway. A properly prepared and laid stone driveway is an investment which will add considerable value to your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you do not have a driveway at this point in time, then obviously cleaning will not be necessary, however this is definitely something that you'll need to consider in the coming weeks and months. For many home owners, maintaining the cleanliness of their driveway is not necessarily perceived as a priority. Yet, from both an aesthetic and maintenance perspective, cleaning your driveway is crucial, and this process should be carried out on a regular basis, not just once in a while. Unwanted weeds and other plant growth can weaken the structure of your driveway as time passes. A widening of existing driveway cracks or holes can ensue, and structural complications may occur if this growth isn't eradicated.

It is better to remove stains, weed growth or dirt from your driveway the instant you discover them. Although, the spring and summer season is when you most notice the growth of moss and weeds, you should not wait until them to power wash your drive. Oil, diesel and brake fluid stains from your vehicle can ruin the appearance of your drive. To avoid unsightly discolouration of your driveway's surface, it is therefore essential to clean them off immediately.

You'll need a few tools such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, along with a pressure washing machine, in order to get your driveway totally clean. You should call in a specialist driveway cleaning service, if you are not confident in cleaning it yourself, or you don't have the correct gear.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac is a popular type of surface for driveways due to its durability and strength. When installed by a proficient driveway company, tarmac offers exceptional weather resistant properties, requires almost no maintenance and looks great. The sturdiness of a tarmac driveway means it is able to withstand daily wear and tear from heavier and larger vehicles, such as camper vans, with no damage or ridges being inflicted on the surface.

It offers excellent value, and tarmac can be coloured to fit in with the surroundings or your home. Tarmac enables you to deviate from a conventional black coloured surface and colour it to match your house. Tarmac driveways are among the most straightforward to install, and the majority of driveway projects are finished in a single day. This straightforward installation, coupled with its simple maintenance and high durability makes a tarmac driveway a great alternative for almost any home.

Resin Driveways

Among the most flexible and attractive types of driveway that are available right now, resin driveways are becoming more and more popular and also comply with SuDS, if that is what you are in need of. Resin driveways can be customized to your exact specifications and can be installed in a wide range of different patterns and designs. For less mess and hassle a new resin driveway could be easily laid over a pre-existing concrete or asphalt surface. Resin-bound driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a fantastic substitute for concrete, tarmac, gravel or block paving. A resin driveway will give you many years of good service, and when installed by a reputable contractor, come with a long warranty.

Concrete Driveways

Well suited for driveways, and a very popular material for many years, concrete has got the advantage of being hard wearing, strong and relatively maintenance-free. An automatic choice for many home and business owners, concrete is less expensive than resin or block paving, but if laid properly is stronger and harder wearing. For many folks, the drawback of concrete is its rather drab and uninspiring visual appearance, but this can be addressed by adding a stamped or patterned surface finish.

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.

Curb Appeal - Improving The Way Your Home Appears Outside

Provided you desire to have your house look as beautiful as it can be, you have to pay attention to what it looks like on the outside. Although the above mentioned is exceptionally essential as you are displaying your house to possible buyers, it is important to give credence to whether you have a buyer looking at it or not. During the time you peer at your residence with how appealing it looks from the curb, you are visualizing it through eyes that are fresh and many times you can see the blemishes or patches that have a necessity for improvements that you didn't otherwise note.

The initial thought when you are thinking about improving your curb appeal is to give it a paint job. This might seem like the thing to start with, but you may want to reconsider. Take a close look at the paint, and if it is not too weathered looking or chipping away, and you do not mind the color; you could always get a power washer and give it a thorough cleaning. You will be amazed at the difference it will make and it will be a lot easier on you pocketbook. You may not even realize how much dirt has accumulated since your home was last washed or painted. You have the option to rent a power washer to do the job or you can pay someone to do it for you. Be careful not to miss any of the outer structures, like garage doors, fences, etc.

The most important component of your home is your roof; it has high priority for both curb appeal and for the obvious structural reasons. Your roof should take priority over any other home enhancing schemes; so if it needs attention, start there. Architectural roofing shingles will add style to any roof. Synthetic slate is what the newest roofing materials are being made of; this product is sound and is distinguishing. Whether your roof needs fixing or not; these shingles can imitate most standard types of architecture and will add another dimension to your home.

Although there may be alternatives to having green grass out front, it would definitely be a good change, especially in regard to upkeep, to have something other than a lawn to mow. People that lack the time and resources to tend to a lawn are looking for other landscaping ideas that require less work and effort. These can also give your home a more interesting look, and you won't have to always be thinking about mowing or watering your lawn. Environmentally supportable, and extremely low maintenance, xeriscaping is an innovative kind of landscaping that is getting well-known. This is especially appropriate in areas that are prone to droughts, but you can use the principles of xeriscaping anywhere that you live.

Multiple elements are possibly included in the appeal of your curb, as a result looking at your abode from every angle is a good thought. Make an account of anything that requires your consideration if there are a lot, then put them in the order of importance. Afterward, make a time frame of working on these problems, regardless of whether you hire someone or do the work yourself. The above suggestions for giving your home more curb appeal can get you started in the right direction, and perhaps help you come up with more ideas of your own.

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