Driveway Installers

If you believe a driveway is just the ticket for you, and you have more than enough space to put one, you will now have to determine what kind of driveway you are going to build. Driveways come in all sizes and shapes and can be created from a range of different materials, some might be more suitable than others. Your options may be limited somewhat if you're sticking to a strict spending budget. Other considerations that may have an impact on your choice will be the configuration and size of your available space, and how the driveway will sit with the appearance of your house.

You may say "a driveway is just a driveway", but that's simply not true, seeing as there are lots of different styles and designs of driveway, and if you take a trip around, you will soon realise what I mean. You can 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, even though not all of these will necessarily be suitable for your garden terrain 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 may feel that planning permission is only needed for extensions, loft conversions and other similarly large projects, but this isn't automatically true. The legislation that address driveways aren't just laid down by your local council, but are in fact enforced by government guidelines. These regulations only affect FRONT gardens at this time. This driveway legislation, which is called the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System) has been in force since 2008, when it was first brought in.

A driveway of over 5 sq metres, that is being built in a front garden is going to be impacted by the SuDS regulations. You won't have to worry about this if you build your driveway from a porous (permeable) material such as gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, which will enable any excess water to pass through and subsequently drain away. You'll be able to find out more about the SuDS regulations here - Sustainable Drainage Systems

Clearly it is perfectly possible to build your own driveway, if you are pretty good at do-it-yourself and don't mind a bit of hard work. However no-one should think of this as a simple task, as there is a whole lot of groundwork involved aside from actually laying the driveway, including humping materials, digging out and doing waste removal. In most cases it would be much more sensible to hire an established driveway contractor, who'll have all the knowledge, manpower and equipment to complete the task effectively.

With driveway pavers, much like some other building related occupations, you have to be wary about exactly who you choose to do the job. You should keep an eye out for cowboys and rogue trader types who are well known for targeting this kind of project, and can can soon catch you by surprise if you're not careful. If you want your completed driveway to endure, and to look great for years to come, you may as well get it done to a decent standard and by somebody with know-how. The best choice will generally be a driveway and patio paver who's been been offering their services in the area for several years, and has a solid reputation locally.

When searching for suitable paving contractors, it's best 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).

It is not necessary to be too aggressive or pushy with these questions, since what you are really endeavouring to do is get a notion of the sort of tradesperson that you're dealing with. If they are relaxed about answering all your questions, you can consider that they're honest. You should give them a miss if they appear hostile or uncertain when asked these questions, because it's very likely they are hiding something or being less than truthful.

If you choose your driveway company intelligently you will realise that they can provide you with lots of useful advice and guidance about the best materials to employ and the most suitable kind of driveway for your location. They'll also help you with the design, preparation and planning, so that all aspects is in hand before any actual physical work starts on your driveway.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the types, the gravel driveway is the most economical and easiest. In rural settings, gravel driveways are especially favoured and can be very attractive regardless of their simplicity. Gravel is available in a wide array of sizes and colours, so you should not have any problem locating one that looks good in your garden. A robust base layer of hardcore is needed for a gravel drive to be efficient, as well as a well-bedded edging. If you put down three or four separate layers of stones, each individual one tamped and rolled and left to settle down, you will get the very best gravel driveway. Regardless of what size your driveway is, or whether it's in your front or back garden, if it's constructed from gravel it will not need to apply for planning permission, since it will automatically be SuDS compliant. (Tags: Aggregate Driveways, Shingle Driveways, Gravel Driveways).

Asphalt Driveways

An asphalt driveway, with its smooth, uninterrupted appearance offers instantaneous "curb appeal" to any home or property in. When laid by a skilled contractor, an asphalt driveway will provide years of trouble free use with very little maintenance. There are even permeable asphalt solutions whereby rain can soak away into a sub-base, rather than run off into highway drains, which are known to lead to localised flooding.

Asphalt driveways offer exceptional value and asphalt is a durable, strong material which is perfect for withstanding freezing and thawing effects of a typical British winter. It's also the easiest driveway material to repair or remove because of its manufacturing process. If you are worried about the environmental impact of your driveway, you might be interested to know that asphalt can be removed and recycled for re-use elsewhere.

Block Paved Driveways

Scores of driveways have appeared in in recent years, constructed using the block-paving technique, which can be very successful when carried out correctly. These are built using hundreds of purpose-made block-paving bricks which butt together forming attractive and elaborate designs. The gaps between the blocks are filled up using kiln-dried sand which is rigorously brushed into the joints, resulting in a pleasing finish. To get the best performance and longest life out of your new block paving driveway, it is best to have it professionally sealed after a few months to stop weed growth. Block paving can be made very attractive and can be laid a number of patterns, including fan, herringbone, stretcher bond and basket weave.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: It's also possible to install a Compliant with SuDS block paved driveway in, if that's what you need. By simply leaving wider spaces between the bricks and filling them with a very fine aggregate instead of the traditional kiln-dried sand, you can accomplish a porous paved surface that doesn't need planning permission. (Tags: Block Paving Driveways, Block Paving, Block Paved Driveways).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone is a material that improves with age. The compact and dense material looks terrific on any driveway and will give an entire lifetime of use for any vehicles you may have. It can provide your house with a driveway that, owing to the distinctive shades and colours of the individual stones, is completely bespoke to you. The natural stone gives a warm, soft look to any driveway, and contributes to that all important curb appeal.

Driveways made from natural stone don't just look breathtaking, but they are easy to maintain and less prone to being damaged than some alternatives. The smaller joints in between the stones means there's less potential for weed growth, and the smooth, hard surface is simple to clean. A properly prepared and installed stone driveway is an investment that will only add value to your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If your property has already got a drive, and you are thinking of changing it because it's starting to look shabby - why not clean it instead? For many folks, maintaining the cleanliness of their driveway isn't often considered a priority. Yet, cleaning a driveway is something that should be undertaken on a regular basis, and is crucial from both a maintenance and cosmetic perspective. Weeds and other organic plant growth can weaken your driveway's structure as time passes. An enlargement of existing driveway holes or cracks could ensue, and structural issues can appear if this harmful growth isn't removed.

If you notice that your driveway has stains, dirt or weeds, it is preferable to get rid of them before they get any worse. Even so, most householders hold out for the spring and summertime to power or pressure wash their driveways, merely because moss and weed growth is more apparent during these periods. Brake fluid, oil and petrol spots from your vehicle can spoil the attractiveness of your drive. Thus it's essential to quickly clean them off to avoid your driveway's surface being stained too seriously.

To clean your driveway thoroughly you will need to use a pressure washing device, and additionally you'll need some other tools, for example a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. If you don't have the right gear, or aren't clear about doing it yourself, you could call on a professional driveway cleaning service, or ask your driveway installers if they do it.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac is a much favoured sort of surface for driveways because of its durability and strength. When it is installed by a competent driveway company, tarmac requires little or no maintenance, looks amazing and offers outstanding weather resistant properties. The strength of a tarmac driveway means it is able to withstand the daily use of larger and heavier vehicles, like motor-homes and lorries, with no ridges or damage being inflicted on the surface.

Tarmac is also excellent value and is available in a whole host of colours to fit in with your home and the surrounding area. You can custom-build a tarmac driveway to blend in with your property or home, with numerous colours available. It's entirely possible for an experienced driveway contractor to install a brand new tarmac drive in one day. This straightforward installation, along with its high durability and simple maintenance makes a tarmac driveway a good choice for just about any home or property.

Resin Driveways

There is little doubt that nowadays resin-bound driveways (or resin driveways) have become one of the most popular sorts of driveway. The added advantage that they're compliant with SuDS plainly increases their attraction. Resin driveways can be installed in a host of designs and colours that can be custom-made to your exact requirements. For quicker, and easier installation resin-bound driveways can be laid over a current asphalt or concrete base with far less hassle and mess. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and the perfect alternative to gravel, concrete, tarmac or block paving. When laid by an authorised installer, a resin driveway should come with an extended warranty and give you many years of reliable service.

Concrete Driveways

Strong, hard wearing and requiring very little maintenance, concrete is an ideal material for driveways. With regards to cost, concrete is about middling for driveways, being costlier than gravel or asphalt, but less costly than block paving and resin. If you find concrete driveways to be quite drab and uninspiring, it is possible to add a patterned or imprinted surface finish to make them look more desirable.

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.

How to Simply Make the Outside of Your Dwelling Prettier

The curb appeal of your home is how a person passing by will perceive it from the road. To make your home look better, especially if it is something you are trying to sell, you should do external home improvement work to enhance its appeal. Regardless of your intentions, improving the outward appearance, the "curb appeal" of your home will make a huge difference to those that see it. The following paragraphs will detail several ways that your home's curb appeal can be dramatically improved.

The way your windows look carries a lot of weight in terms of your homes attraction. By all means, cleanliness of the windows is the first thing to make sure of. Dirty windows can detract from the beauty of a home like nothing else. The above mentioned is crucial for the exterior and interior home alike. 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. The one element that can really give a home some pizazz is shutters, notably if they are painted in the right color, so if you don't already have them, consider acquiring some.

Look long and hard at the yard in both the front and the back. Are they neat and inviting, or are they cluttered with toys, tools and random objects? As it pertains to curb appeal, your yards appearance is an enormous component. 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. Unwanted vegetation or small trees that should be cut are problems that you need to deal with. 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.

If you have a lawn that needs a lot of work and which never seems to be worth the effort or expense you put into it, consider an alternative. Anybody that has a lawn understands that it would be very beneficial to save all of that time and effort by replacing it with something that wasn't so high maintenance. Green grass is very beautiful, but it is also a good idea to change up the look of your home by choosing landscaping that requires less upkeep. One such alternative is called xeriscaping, which is a low maintenance, environmentally sustainable type of landscaping. Regardless of your location in the world, xeriscaping is apropos for most areas across the globe.

Curb appeal can involve many factors, so it's a good idea to consider your home from every angle. Create a list then follow it up with priorities, provided there are multiple things that need your attention. Next, design a calendar for working on these dilemmas, even if you are going to commission someone to do the work or do it yourself. The instruction above for designing a home with greater attraction on the outside might help you to begin, and then you can possibly figure out numerous ideas yourself.

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