Driveway Installers

If you've decided that a driveway is just the thing for you, and you have more than enough space to put one, you'll now need to determine what sort of driveway you are going to choose. There are of course numerous different types of driveway available, as I'm sure you will be aware, but these might not all be right for you. If you don't have a lot of cash to commit to such a project, your style and material options could be constrained by what you can afford. Your decision might also be affected by the dimensions and configuration of your property.

There are lots of different types and designs of driveway, as you will likely have seen whilst walking around. Subject to the terrain and layout of your garden you will be able to choose 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.

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?

Though you may assume that you can just stick a driveway wherever you please on your property, this isn't automatically true. Driveways are in fact governed by a raft of regulations and rules, and these apply on a national scale rather than just being locally binding. These regulations only affect driveways in FRONT gardens at this moment. The legislation that we're talking about here is the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), which was brought in by the government in 2008.

Driveways being built in front gardens which have an area higher than 5 sq metres are impacted by the SuDS regulations. Porous materials such as gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock are compliant with SuDS, and permit any excess surface water to drain through naturally without any issues. So, if you're building your driveway from one of these, you will not need to worry. You'll be able to find out more about the Sustainable Drainage Systems legislation by clicking here - SuDS

Some homeowners may be tempted to have a go at installing their own driveway, especially if they enjoy a bit of hard work and are good at do-it-yourself. But no-one should consider this as a simple task, as there's a whole lot of groundwork involved apart from actually laying the driveway, including doing waste removal, lugging materials and digging out. If you have any concerns about doing this, it might be much better to bring in an established driveway contractor to do the work for you.

With driveway contractors, as with various other building related trades, you have to be wary of who you pick to do the job. There are a lot of rogue traders and cowboys out there who will happily take your cash and do a crappy job. Even if that means spending a little more on the project, you may as well have it done to a decent standard by an expert. The preferred choice will typically be a patio and driveway paver who has been been offering their services in and around your area for several years, and has an excellent reputation locally.

When you're sifting through potential 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).

Don't go overboard with these questions, but just ask enough to get a reasonable impression of the kind of company you're considering, so that you can make a well informed choice before hiring someone. You can safely consider that they are reliable, if they are relaxed about answering all of your questions. If questions of this nature bring forth a hostile or hesitant response, you should have doubts about their integrity, and perhaps look someplace else.

Selecting a top notch tradesperson is important, as should you manage to find yourself a reputable driveway company, they will not just do a good job, but also give you guidance on the most suitable materials, location and style for your driveway. Having a specialist at hand will mean that all of the preparation, design and planning is addressed before any real physical work begins.

Gravel Driveways

When considering the various different types of driveway you may choose to opt for the ubiquitous least expensive and simplest, which is gravel. Despite their simplicity gravel driveways can be an exceptionally attractive alternative, especially in a rural setting. Because there's such a wide range of gravel sizes and colours, you should not have any problems locating one that you're satisfied with. For gravel driveways to be effective they need a solid layer of hardcore, and firmly-bedded, substantial edging. If you are looking for a really good quality gravel driveway, you should ensure that 3 or 4 separate layers are put down, with each and every one individually rolled and tamped and left to settle for a day or two before the next one is laid. Gravel driveways are of course SuDS compliant, therefore you will not need to apply for planning permission regardless of how big your driveway is.

Asphalt Driveways

An asphalt driveway, with its smooth, uninterrupted appearance adds immediate "curb appeal" to any home in. For the best outcome make certain you hire a proficient asphalt company that will install a driveway that lasts for many years and requires minimal maintenance and after care. It is even possible to install porous asphalt options so that rain is allowed to soak away into a sub-grade reservoir, rather than run off into highway drains, which can be attributed to localised flooding.

Asphalt driveways are very smartly designed to withstand anything the British winters can throw at them, and deliver excellent value. Due to how asphalt is produced, it is also cheap and simple to maintain, repair and when necessary, remove. The fact is, asphalt can even be recycled and used elsewhere, and can this be called the most environmentally friendly of the hard driveway products. (Tags: Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway, Asphalt Driveway Recycling).

Block Paved Driveways

Scores of driveways have sprung up in in recent times, created using the block-paved method, which can be very effective when done correctly. These are built using hundreds of purpose-made block-paving bricks which are butted together to form eye-catching and sometimes elaborate designs. After the blocks are laid and tamped down, the gaps are filled with kiln-dried sand which is brushed into the joints. After 5 or 6 months a good idea is to have your block paving driveway sealed with a premium quality sealant (such as Everbuild), this helps to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in numerous patterns, including herringbone, stretcher bond, basketweave and fan.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Compliant with SuDS block paving driveways are quite feasible by adjusting the traditional methodology. Bigger spaces than normal are left between the blocks and as opposed to the standard kiln-dried sand, these can then be packed with a fine aggregate material. (Tags: Block Paving, Block Paving Driveway, Block Paved Driveways).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone, as a driveway surface, never loses its wonderful appearance even as it gets older. The dense and compact material looks fabulous on a driveway and will give a lifetime of use for any motor vehicles you may own throughout the years. Owing to the distinctive depth of tone and colours of the stone, you'll finish up with a driveway that's bespoke to your house. When professionally installed, a natural stone driveway has that all important WOW factor that will complement any property.

Natural stone driveways not only look great, but they're low maintenance and less susceptible to damage than paved alternatives. The narrower joints in between the stones means there's less chance of weed growth, and the smooth surface is far easier to clean. A stone driveway installed by an experienced contractor should be thought of as a great investment which will bump up the value of your house.

Driveway Cleaning

If you are about to replace an existing driveway because your current one is looking scruffy, it would be substantially less costly to clean it, if you think that may help. For the majority of property owners, keeping their driveway clean isn't usually regarded as a priority. Nevertheless, for reasons of both appearance and maintenance, cleaning a driveway on a regular basis is important. If roots, weeds and other pernicious plant growth are allowed to establish themselves, as time passes they can weaken the structure of your driveway. If there are existing cracks or fractures, these can easily be widened which may eventually lead to structural complications.

If you discover that your drive has dirt, weed growth or stains, it's better to get rid of them before the situation worsens. It is not a good idea to hold out for the springtime or summer to jet wash your drive, despite the fact that these are the times when you most notice the appearance of moss and weeds. Petrol, oil and brake fluid spillages from your vehicle can ruin the appearance of your driveway. To avoid a permanent staining of the surface, it's therefore vital to remove them quickly.

If you're cleaning the driveway yourself, you'll require access to a power washing machine, and to accomplish it correctly you'll also need some other tools and equipment, including a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. If you haven't got the correct gear, or are not certain about doing it yourself, you should get in touch with a professional driveway cleaning service, or ask your local driveway installers if they do it.

Tarmac Driveways

Because of its strength and durability, tarmac is a perfect choice for driveway surfaces. When professionally laid it offers excellent weather resistant properties, looks terrific and requires very little maintenance. A tarmac driveway will be able to handle larger vehicles, such as trucks and camper vans, without damage to the surface or dimpling, and should remain looking pristine for many years to come.

Tarmac is also fantastic value for money and is available in a wide range of colours to fit in with your property and the surrounding areas. Tarmac permits you to go above and beyond a traditional black coloured surface and colour it to complement your home. The installation of a tarmac driveway is fairly simple and can frequently be accomplished by a skilled driveway contractor in a day. This straightforward installation, combined with its high durability and simple maintenance makes a tarmac driveway a good choice for any property.

Resin-Bound Driveways

There's very little doubt that in recent years resin-bound driveways have become one of the most popular forms of driveway. The added advantage that they are also SuDS compliant merely further increases their attraction. Resin-bound driveways can be tailor-made to your requirements and can be installed in an array of different designs and colours. For much less hassle and mess a new resin driveway can quickly be laid on top of a current tarmac or concrete surface. Resin-bound driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a terrific substitute for block paving, gravel, concrete or tarmac. Typically coming with an extended warranty when installed by a reputable contractor, a resin driveway should give excellent service for many years to come.

Concrete Driveways

Durable, strong and requiring very little maintenance, concrete is an excellent material for driveways. An automatic choice for many people, concrete is cheaper than resin or block paving, but if installed correctly is stronger. Most would concur that concrete driveways, generally speaking, are rather drab and uninspiring. But this doesn't have to be a problem, seeing as it's perfectly possible to finish them off with a stamped or patterned design which can be very attractive. (Tags: Concrete Driveway, Patterned Concrete Driveways, 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.

Suggestions on Ways to Give Your Home a Better Curb Look

Curb appeal is a phrase that real estate people will use when they are considering the points that could use improvement for a home that may be listed for sale. If you are tossing the idea of selling your home around or not; curb appeal is something that you may want to toss around in that discussion. Most of these projects are not big and are simple to upgrade, but they can make a huge positive change for the whole appearance of your home. Below we will offer you some methods you can apply for improved curb appeal.

Your widows provide a huge amount to the way your home appeals to people. Undoubtedly, you want to first be certain that your windows are not dirty. Dirty windows can detract from the beauty of a home like nothing else. This is imperative for your home's exterior and interior. Windowpanes that are broken, regardless of where they are, need to be restored hastily. Undoubtedly, the windows are imperative for energy efficiency in addition to the cosmetic value. If your windows aren't very energy efficient, it may be time to replace them. Consider getting shutters, provided you do not own them, since this is one thing that could truly add character to the way your home looks, particularly if you paint them the color that is perfect.

Front and back yards should be looked at well. Do they consist of tools, miscellaneous things and clutter, or are they welcoming and clean? A considerable influence to curb appeal is the look of your yards. Assuming backyard or front yard is cluttered, the endeavor to clean it up will be worthwhile. Obstacles that are creating a difficulty to stroll in your yard need to be removed. Provided you need to weed or have bushes that need to be cared for, these issues need to be taken care of. Provided your children walk away from their toys after playing with them in the yard, educate them in putting them where they belong when they are done.

When people look at a home, the walkway to the front door should look very inviting, something that you should improve on at your home. You might change your walkway a little bit by paving it replacing perhaps the cement that was there - it is totally up to you. It is always something to see when you observe a new driveway in front of a home - you might want to do this! The appearance and feel of your driveway, however it ends up looking, is very important to those that visit. 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. Whether people walk or drive to your home, make it a positive experience for them.

Anyone that is trying to update the outward appearance of their home in an enticing manner should definitely consider the aspects of curb appeal. Even though the purpose of this article was to show you how to add curb appeal to your residence, you might choose to do this just to impress your neighbors. If you do implement some of the curb appeal ideas we have suggested, anyone that sees your house will understand how much you appreciate it.

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

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• Driveway Services
• Gravel Driveways
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• Driveway Installation
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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