Driveway Installers

If you believe a driveway is just the ticket for you, and you have sufficient space to put one, you will now have to establish what form of driveway you're going to construct. Driveways come in all styles and sizes and can be created from various different materials, some might be more appealing than others. If you haven't got a lot of money to commit to such a project, the style and material options will be constrained by what you can comfortably afford. The layout and size of your property may also have an affect on your decision.

There are various different designs and styles of driveway, as you will likely have observed when walking around. You will be able to select 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 every one of these will automatically be suitable for your garden landscape 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 presume that council planning permission is only needed for extensions, loft conversions and other similarly large assignments, but this isn't automatically true. Driveways are in fact covered by a number of regulations and rules, and these are applicable on a national scale rather than being just locally binding. These rules only affect FRONT gardens at this moment. The regulations that are currently in effect originate from a government act of 2008 - the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System).

The SuDS regulations apply to driveways installed in front gardens with an area of over 5 sq metres. For your driveway to be in compliance with it has to be made of a porous (permeable) material which allows the rainwater to drain through it. Materials that are SuDS compliant would include: gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock. It is possible to have a look at the SuDS legislation here - Sustainable Drainage Systems

Naturally it is perfectly feasible for you to lay your own driveway, if you're good at do-it-yourself and don't mind a touch of hard graft. However, do not be deceived, there's a great deal of hard work associated with building a driveway, in particular the preparatory work, which includes waste removal, humping materials and heavy digging. If you're in any doubt about this, it could be advisable to call in an experienced driveway installer to handle the work on your behalf.

Honest tradesmen are not always that easy to track down when it comes to doing this sort of project, so you need to take care and choose the right contractor or person. Cowboys and rogue traders are regularly taking advantage of people in the area, their work will be second-rate and some will even pocket your money and do a runner without accomplishing anything at all. If you want your finished driveway to endure, and look attractive for years to come, you might just as well have it done to a decent standard and by a tradesman with know-how. The preferred choice will normally be a patio and driveway company who's been been operating in the area for a number of years, and has a strong track record locally.

When assessing paving contractors for your driveway project, you need 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 too aggressive or pushy with this questioning, since what you are really aiming to achieve is get a perception of what sort of tradesman you are potentially going to work with. You can safely consider that they are reliable, if they are relaxed about answering all of these questions. You should give them a miss if they act in a hostile or uncertain way when asked these kinds of questions, because it's very likely they're less than honest or hiding something.

Identifying a top notch tradesman is crucial, as should you manage to get hold of a reputable driveway installer, they'll not only do a good job, but will also give you advice about the most suitable style, location and materials for your driveway. Having a specialist around means that all of the planning, preparation and design is addressed before any actual work starts.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the driveway styles, the ubiquitous gravel driveway is the simplest and least expensive. In a rural setting, gravel driveways are especially popular and can be extremely appealing regardless of their inherent simplicity. You shouldn't have any problem finding a type of gravel that looks good in your garden, given that there are a wide range of shades and sizes to choose from. A robust base of hardcore is required for a gravel drive to be efficient, along with a firmly-bedded edging. If you want a really good quality gravel driveway, you must make certain that 3 or 4 separate layers are put down, with each and every one individually rolled and left to settle for a day or so before the next one is laid. Properly laid gravel driveways are naturally SuDS compliant, so you'll not need planning permission no matter how big your driveway is. (Tags: Gravel Driveways, Aggregate Driveways, Shingle Driveways).

Asphalt Driveways

Any property in will benefit from the curb appeal of the smooth, uninterrupted appearance of an asphalt driveway. When laid by a skilled contractor, an asphalt driveway will provide years of reliable use with very little maintenance. In flood risk locations it might be necessary to have a porous drive, and there is an asphalt type, with sub-grade reservoir for rainwater drainage, which prevents surplus water from overwhelming road drains.

Asphalt is resistant to the freezing and thawing effects of TOWN winters, and is exceptional value for money in comparison to some other driveway options. Due to how asphalt is made, it is also easy and cheap to repair, maintain and when necessary, remove. If you are concerned about the environmental impact of your driveway installation, you might be interested to learn that asphalt can be removed and recycled for other uses.

Block Paving Driveways

Block-paving driveways are among the most favoured designs in at the moment, and dozens of these have appeared in recent years. These are fashioned using purpose-made block-paving bricks which butt together forming attractive and interesting patterns. After the blocks have been put down and firmly tamped down, the gaps are filled up with kiln-dried sand which is rigorously brushed into the joints. To get the best performance and longest life out of your new block paving driveway, you'll want to have it professionally sealed after several months to stop weed growth. There are many different patterns in which block paving is laid, including fan, stretcher bond, herringbone and basket weave.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Compliant with SuDS block paved driveways are quite achievable by adjusting the traditional technique. Bigger spaces than normal are allowed in between the bricks and rather than the standard kiln-dried sand, these can then be filled with fine shingle material. (Tags: Block Paving Driveway, Block Paved Driveways, Block Paving).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone is a driveway material that never loses its eye-catching appearance even as it ages. The natural stone option will give you a robust and stable driveway, for any vehicle, and will look great for a whole lifetime. The natural colouring and depth of tone gives a unique appearance to any stone driveway, and offers a bespoke and individual look to any property. It gives that that vital curb appeal and wow factor that every home owner longs for.

A natural stone driveway is also easy to maintain, and is less susceptible to weather damage than concrete based materials. They are much easier to clean, and with smaller gaps in between the stones there's significantly less possibility of weed and seed germination on your new driveway. You must look at an expertly prepared and installed natural stone driveway as an investment on your home's value.

Driveway Cleaning

If your property already has a driveway, and you are thinking of changing it because it's starting to look tatty - why not give it a good clean instead? For a lot of householders, it is not normally a priority to keep their driveway clean. Nonetheless, for both maintenance and aesthetic purposes, cleaning a driveway with a fair degree of regularity is really important. Weeds and pernicious plant growth can weaken the structure of your driveway over time. Existing holes and cracks can be enlarged which may eventually lead to structural issues in your driveway.

If you discover that your driveway has stains, weeds or dirt, it's better to get rid of them before things get worse. However, the spring and summer months is when you're most likely to notice the appearance of weeds and moss, you shouldn't wait until them to jet or pressure wash your driveway. Diesel, brake fluid and oil spills from your vehicle can spoil the look of your drive. You must remove these promptly, so that any a permanent staining of the driveway's surface is avoided.

You will need some tools and equipment such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, in conjunction with a jet washing device, so as to get your driveway properly clean. You should call on a specialist driveway cleaning service, if you're not certain about doing it yourself, or you don't have the proper gear.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac offers both a durable and strong surface which makes it a really good option for a driveway. When it is installed by a proficient driveway company, tarmac offers excellent weather resistant properties, requires hardly any maintenance and looks fantastic. A tarmac driveway can contend with heavier vehicles, such as camper vans, without dimpling or damage to the surface, and will look good for many years to come.

If want a coloured tarmac, that is also possible, and it offers great value for money when compared with alternative types of driveway. Tarmac makes it simple to move away from a traditional black surface and colour it to tie in with your home. The installation of a tarmac driveway is fairly straightforward and can frequently be achieved by a competent driveway contractor in one day. Tarmac really is a perfect material for virtually any driveway, because of its maintenance free properties, resilience and ease of installation.

Resin-Bound Driveways

Among the most attractive and flexible styles of driveway that are available at this time, resin-bound or resin driveways are becoming ever more favoured and are also SuDS compliant, if that is what you're interested in. Resin-bound driveways can be tailor-made to your exact requirements and come in a wide range of different designs and colours. For quicker, and simpler installation resin driveways can be laid over a pre-existing tarmac or concrete base with far less mess and hassle. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and the perfect substitute for block paving, concrete, gravel or asphalt. A resin-bound driveway should give you years of reliable service, and when installed by a trusted company, come with a long guarantee.

Concrete Driveways

Ideal for building driveways, and a much favoured material for years, concrete has got the advantage of being hard wearing, strong and largely maintenance-free. With regards to price, concrete is about average for driveways, being more expensive than tarmac or gravel, but less costly than resin or block paving. For many homeowners, the drawback of concrete is its rather boring and dreary visual appearance, but this can be easily resolved by asking for a patterned or stamped finish. (Tags: Imprinted 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.

Easy Ways To Impress People Using Your Home's Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is a term often used by real estate agents when discussing ways to make a home more appealing to potential buyers. Curb appeal is something to consider even if you have not made the decision to sell your home. These repairs or improvements are not necessarily a big deal, but generally will add to the overall appearance in a great way. Below we will offer you some methods you can apply for improved curb appeal.

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. Some people have a deck that surrounds the house; if you do repaint the deck, you might consider changing the color. When you paint your shutters and window casings, people will definitely notice your house more from the street. Many people will just clean around their yard, spray down their house, and just improve their home with a thorough cleaning. Finally, if there's any mildew, moss or mold around the outside of your house, make sure you remove it, as this definitely gives off the wrong impression. You really need to take this seriously, and if you have quite a bit of mold on your home, professional removal services are always recommended.

Your yards need to be looked at carefully. Do they consist of tools, miscellaneous things and clutter, or are they welcoming and clean? The appearance of your yard or yards is a major factor when it comes to curb appeal. Provided you have a big mess in your yard, the effort to clean it up will be worth it. Take away everything that is in your way as you meander through the yards. Tackle issues such as growing weeds and bush overgrowth, assuming you have these. When your kids play with their toys in the yard and then depart, advise them to place them in their proper places when they have completed their play time.

Curb appeal is just as important during the evening as it is in the daytime. When you have your home lit appropriately, your home will stand out. Make sure you have bright porch lights, with all the bulbs in good working order. Your can enhance your flower beds by installing showy lights that will give it a nice glow during the night. Exterior lights can be found in many styles, such as old fashioned lanterns or modern solar lights. Such lights are useful on foggy or rainy days as well as at night, and will give visitors, potential buyers, and your own family a more secure feeling when they step onto your property.

Getting your home curb appeal is actually quite an easy process. 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. It is important to simply consider what you have available, from front door to backdoor, to make your curb appeal really come alive.

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