Driveway Installers

So, you have made the decision to have a driveway installed, but what kind of driveway is likely to be the best for your requirements? You will doubtless be aware that there are lots of different driveway options available and not all of these will necessarily appeal to you. Your choices may be limited to some degree if you are working to a strict budget. Your final decision might also be impacted by the size and configuration of your property.

While walking around you will likely have observed all the various types of driveway in other people's gardens. You should 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, although not all of these will actually be suited to your garden layout and ground conditions.

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 planning permission is only necessary for significant initiatives like extensions and loft conversions, but that is not always true. The legislation that pertain to driveways aren't only set by your local council, but are in reality imposed by government law. However, at this juncture, this legislation only affects driveways which are being installed in front gardens. This driveway legislation, which is known as the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) has been in force since 2008, when it was first introduced.

A driveway of over 5m2, which is being built in a front garden is going to be impacted by the SuDS regulations. This demands that your drive is made from gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, so that surface water can easily drain away safely and not cause flooding. Check here - SuDS - if you're worried that the Sustainable Drainage Systems regulations will affect your new driveway in TOWN.

To some people, building a driveway might seem to be a pretty straightforward undertaking, and for someone who's a good do-it-yourselfer, it's not at all impossible. But, don't be fooled, there's a good deal of hard graft involved with building a driveway, especially with regards to the preparatory work, which involves garden clearance, lugging materials and heavy digging. When push comes to shove, it might be wise to call in a professional driveway installer, if you're in any doubt tackling it yourself.

Due to the nature of this type of project, it's not necessarily that easy to identify genuine tradespeople who you can be confident will do a good job. Cowboys and rogue traders are always lurking in the area, their standard of workmanship will be second-rate and some of them could even pocket your cash and do a "runner" without completing any work at all. If you're going to invest in a driveway you may as well get it done properly, even if that means having to spend a little more on the enterprise. The smartest choice will generally be a driveway and patio company who's been been serving customers in and around your area for a good few years, and has a strong track record locally.

When searching for suitable companies, 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).

It is not necessary to be excessively pushy or aggressive with this questioning, since what you are really aiming to achieve is get an idea about what type of tradesperson you are going to be dealing with. It is safe to assume that they are genuine and honest if they are quite relaxed about answering all of your questions and discuss your concerns. You can presume that they are hiding something or being less than truthful if they act in a confrontational or hesitant way when asked these kinds of questions. If that happens you would be wise to give them a miss and try somebody else.

If you choose your driveway installer wisely you will discover that they can offer you lots of practical guidance and advice regarding the perfect materials to use and the recommended type of driveway for your property. Before any actual physical work begins your driveway expert will make certain that all the necessary design, preparation and planning work is in hand.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the available types, the ubiquitous gravel driveway is the easiest and most economical. In rural locations, gravel driveways are particularly favoured and can be extremely attractive despite their inherent simplicity. As there is such a wide range of gravel sizes and colours, you should have no issues locating one that you're happy with. A effective gravel driveway will need a substantial and well-defined edging, and a good robust layer of hardcore. The best gravel driveways are the result of applying three or four layers of aggregate, with each and every layer tamped and then left to settle down before laying the next. You will not need to apply for planning permission with a gravel driveway, as it will be SuDS compliant no matter how large it is, or if it is in your back or front garden. (Tags: Shingle Driveways, Aggregate Driveways, Gravel Driveways).

Asphalt Driveways

An asphalt driveway, with its smooth, continuous appearance adds instant "curb appeal" to any house in. An experienced driveway contractor in will provide you with an asphalt drive which will give you many years of pleasure, with very little maintenance required. If your local authority has restrictions that prevent non-porous materials being used, in order to prevent local flooding, a special porous asphalt substrate allows rain to drain away into a sub-base.

Asphalt driveways offer very good value for money and asphalt is a strong, durable material that is designed to withstand freezing and thawing effects of a typical British winter. Because of how asphalt is manufactured, it's also easy and cheap to repair, maintain and where necessary, remove. Actually, asphalt can be recycled for use elsewhere, and can this be called the most environmentally friendly of the solid driveway products. (Tags: Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway Recycling, Asphalt Driveway).

Block Paving Driveways

Block-paved driveways are among the most favoured styles in at the moment, and scores of these seem to have appeared in recent times. These are fashioned using purpose-made block-paving bricks which are butted together to form eye-catching and elaborate designs. As soon as the blocks have been put in place, they are tamped down firmly, and kiln-dried sand is brushed into the joints. After a few months a good idea is to have your block paving driveway sealed with a good quality sealant (like Everbuild), this helps to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in a variety of patterns, including stretcher bond, fan, basket weave and herringbone.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Block paving driveways can also be made to comply with SuDS, by simply leaving wider than normal spaces between the blocks, which can then be packed with very fine shingle in place of the usual kiln-dried sand. (Tags: Block Paving Driveway, Block Paved Driveway, Block Paving).

Natural Stone Driveways

The attributes of natural stone means that it continually improves with age. The choice of natural stone will give you a robust, stable driveway, for any motor vehicle, and will look great for the foreseeable future. Owing to the distinctive depth of tone and colours of the stone, you'll end up with a driveway that's bespoke to your property. It offers that all important wow factor and curb appeal that every householder wants.

Driveways made from natural stone don't just look great, but they are virtually maintenance-free and less susceptible to being damaged than some alternatives. The smaller gaps between the stones means that there's considerably less likelihood of weed growth, and the smooth surface is simple to clean. An expertly prepared and installed natural stone driveway is an investment which will add considerable value to your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you already have a driveway, but it's starting to look rather tatty, you may be able to make it look nicer by giving it a clean. For a lot of home owners, keeping their driveway clean is not often perceived as a priority. However, cleaning a driveway is essential from both an aesthetic and maintenance perspective, and this should be undertaken with some regularity. Your driveway's structure can be weakened over the years, by unwanted weeds and plant growth. An enlargement of existing driveway holes or cracks could ensue, and structural problems could occur if such growth isn't eradicated.

When you discover that your drive has weed growth, stains or dirt, it's better to remove them before they get any worse. It isn't a good idea to hold out for the spring and summertime to power wash your driveway, despite the fact that that is the period when you most notice the appearance of moss and weed growth. Oil, diesel and brake fluid spills from your car can compromise the appeal of your driveway. Therefore it is vital to eliminate them promptly to avoid unsightly stains on your driveway's surface.

You'll need some tools and equipment such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, along with a pressure washer, so as to get your driveway completely clean. If you are not clear about doing it yourself, or you haven't got the proper equipment, you can ask your driveway company if they are prepared to do it, or call in a specialist driveway cleaning service.

Tarmac Driveways

Because of its strength and durability, tarmac is a perfect choice for surfacing driveways. When laid by a reputable driveway contractor it is weatherproof, requires very little maintenance and looks superb. Tarmac's durability and strength means that it can handle heavier vehicles, like vans and camper vans, without damaging the surface.

Tarmac is also fantastic value and comes in a whole host of colours to match your home and the surrounding area. You are able to custom-build a tarmac drive to suit your property, with a wide range of colours available. It's perfectly possible for an experienced driveway contractor to lay a brand new tarmac driveway in a single day. Tarmac really is a great material for virtually any driveway, because of its ease of installation, durability and low maintenance properties.

Resin Driveways

Among the most flexible and attractive kinds of driveway that are available right now, resin-bound or resin driveways are becoming ever more favoured and are also SuDS compliant, if that's what you're looking for. Resin-bound driveways can be tailor-made to your precise requirements and can be installed in a wide range of different colours and designs. For faster, more convenient installation resin-bound driveways can be laid on top of a current tarmac or concrete base with less mess and hassle. Resin-bound driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and an awesome alternative to block paving, concrete, tarmac or gravel. When laid by a trustworthy installer, a resin-bound driveway should come with a long warranty and give you many years of good service. (Tags: Resin-Bonded Driveways, Resin Driveways, Resin-Bound Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

A very popular material for driveways, concrete is hard wearing, strong and doesn't need much maintenance. Being more costly that asphalt or gravel, but significantly cheaper than some of the other options (i.e. resin or block paving), concrete is an easy choice for many householders. For many homeowners, the drawback of concrete is its rather drab and uninspiring visual appearance, but this can be remedied by requesting a stamped or imprinted surface finish. (Tags: Stamped Concrete Driveway, 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.

Maximizing the Curb Appeal of Your Home

Focusing on the curb appeal of your home is what it takes to have your home look as attractive as it can, provided that is what you desire. During the time one is trying to present their home to potential purchasers this is especially vital, yet whether or not they are selling their home this is something they ought to be focusing on. One can generally spot the defects on their house and parts that need some enhancements when they think about their dwellings curb appeal as they are seeing it through new eyes.

When considering ways to give a home more curb appeal, the first thing many people think of is painting it. This is often a good idea, but it may not be necessary. You should inspect the existing paint for cracking, or blistering and if the color is satisfactory; you ought to simply power wash it. As effortless as pressure washing us, it can certainly save you a bundle of money and your house appearance will shine. You hardly realize the collection of dirt and residue that encrusts your home overtime. You can find people that will do the job for you for a reasonable amount, or you can really save and do the job yourself by renting the unit. Be careful not to miss any of the outer structures, like garage doors, fences, etc.

You really need to consider the outside of your home and what colors go with it. One way to increase the curb appeal of any home is to change the color that it currently is; to begin this process, you need to think of another color that you would find more appealing. Aside from the house itself, you may want to use different colors for certain spots, such as your front door, shutters, the deck or any other structures on your property. You can also make use of color when it comes to any plants or flowers in your front or back yard, along with any decorations you may have. Walk around the outside of your house, from front to back and consider how you could make better use of colors and what changes might make it more appealing.

Rather than painting the exterior of your home, you may want to consider putting new siding on it. It may make an individuals residence appear more youthful, and there are numerous alternatives for this. It is a possibility that the value of your house is increased by this and the insulation is improved. You could give your dwelling the look of typical stone or stucco without the cost of it, with stone or stucco veneer. If something like stone veneer or new siding is under consideration, individuals would be wise to examine all of the various choices in order to choose what pleases you best.

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. Aside from this, the type of improvements discussed in this article will give you and anyone who visits a better feeling about your household. 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

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