Driveway Installers

If you've decided that a driveway is just the thing for you, and you've got enough space to put one, you'll now need to decide what kind of driveway you're going to construct. Driveways come in all styles and sizes and can be made from a range of different materials, some may be more suitable than others. Your options could be somewhat limited if you are sticking to a tight budget. Your final decision might also be affected by the dimensions and layout of your garden and the available space for the driveway.

If you take a quick stroll around some nearby streets, you will see all the various types of driveway that other folks have put in, and possibly get a few ideas for what your own drive could look like. You will be able to see stone resin driveways, concrete driveways, patterned concrete driveways, tarmac driveways, natural flagstone driveways, permeable driveways, asphalt driveways, aggregate driveways, pebble driveways, block paved driveways, in different adaptions, yet this will give you a notion of all the possible alternatives.

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 a driveway would not be of interest to the local council, and would not be subject to planning permission, however that assumption would in many cases be wrong. There are UK-wide regulations covering the installation of driveways, not just local ones. These rules only apply to driveways in FRONT gardens at this time. Ever since 2008 driveway installations in front gardens in the UK have been covered by the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), which was brought in by the government at that time.

The SuDS legislation applies to driveways installed in front gardens with an area of over 5m². You don't need to worry about this if you build your driveway from a permeable (porous) material such as gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, which will allow the water to soak through and drain away naturally. You will be able to find out more information on the Sustainable Drainage Systems regulations here - SuDS

Clearly it is quite feasible to build your own driveway, if you are reasonably good at DIY and don't mind a bit of hard graft. However you shouldn't suppose that installing a driveway is a simple undertaking by any means, seeing that besides actually laying the driveway there is a lot of rubbish removal, heavy digging and carting materials required during this sort of project. If you have any uncertainties about this, it could be much better to bring in an established driveway specialist to handle the work for you.

With this kind of task, you've got to be careful about who you pick, since you naturally need to find someone who knows their stuff. Rogue traders and cowboys are regularly operating in the area, their workmanship will be substandard and some of them will even pocket your money and disappear into the ether without accomplishing anything at all. Even if it means spending a little more on the enterprise, you may as well get it done properly by a pro. Driveway and patio installers who've been working in and around your area for a good few years would be the best choice.

When screening these contractors, at the very least 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, simply ask enough to get a decent impression of the type of person you are considering, so that you can make a well informed choice before hiring someone. You can safely consider that they are for the most part genuine, if they are relaxed about answering all these questions. You should steer clear if they act in a hesitant or confrontational way when asked such questions, as it is likely that they're hiding something or being less than truthful.

Identifying a first rate tradesperson is vital, because if you manage to get hold of a reliable driveway installer, they won't just do a good job, but also give you advice about the most suitable materials, style and location for your driveway. Having a professional at hand will mean that all of the design, planning and preparation is taken care of before any actual physical work commences.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the driveway methods, the gravel driveway is the simplest and cheapest. In a rural setting, gravel driveways are especially favoured and can be extremely appealing despite their inherent simplicity. You shouldn't have any trouble locating a type of gravel that looks great in your garden, since there are a host of shades and sizes on the market. A effective gravel driveway will require a sturdy and clearly-defined edging, and a good robust base layer of hardcore. The finest gravel driveways result from applying 3 or 4 layers of shingle, with each individual layer tamped and rolled and left to settle before laying the following layer. Irrespective of what size your driveway is, or if it is in your front or back garden, if it is made from gravel it will not require planning permission, as it will automatically be SuDS compliant. (Tags: Shingle Driveways, Gravel Driveways, Aggregate Driveways).

Asphalt Driveways

When you are looking for 'curb appeal' for your home in, an asphalt driveway, with its smooth consistent surface, is an ideal choice. For optimum outcome ensure you employ a skilled asphalt company who will provide you with a driveway that lasts for many years and requires minimal maintenance. In flood risk locations it might be necessary to have a permeable driveway, and there is a type of asphalt sub-grade reservoir for rain run-off, which stops surplus water from over-filling highway drainage systems.

Asphalt driveways offer excellent value for money and asphalt is a durable, strong material that's designed to tolerate freezing and thawing effects of a typical winter. It is also the simplest driveway material to remove or repair due to the process by which it is manufactured. If you're worried about the environmental impact of your driveway installation, it's good to know that asphalt can be lifted and recycled for other uses. (Tags: Asphalt Driveway, Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway Recycling).

Block Paved Driveways

Over the past few years scores of driveways in have appeared constructed using the block-paving process. These are crafted using hundreds of purpose-made block-paving bricks which are butted together to form attractive and sometimes elaborate patterns. The gaps between the blocks are filled with kiln-dried sand which is brushed into the exposed joints, producing a neat and tidy finish. After several months it might be a good idea to have your block-paved driveway sealed with a premium quality sealant (like Thompson's), this should help to stop weed growth. There are many different patterns in which block paving is laid, including stretcher bond, fan, basket weave and herringbone.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Block paved driveways can even be made SuDS compliant, by leaving bigger than standard spaces between the blockwork, which can then be filled with very fine aggregate instead of the traditional kiln-dried sand.

Natural Stone Driveways

The attributes of natural stone means that it continually improves as it ages. This compact, dense material looks magnificent on any driveway and will give an entire lifetime of serviceable use for any cars or vehicles you may own. It can provide your garden with a driveway that, due to the distinctive shades and colours of the individual stones, is completely bespoke to you. When correctly installed, a natural stone driveway has that much desired curb appeal that will complement any property.

A driveway made from natural stone is also easier to maintain, and is less susceptible to cracking and damage from weather than concrete materials. They are simple to clean, and with narrower joints in between the stones there is significantly less potential for weeds and seeds germinating in your driveway. You should class a properly laid stone driveway as an investment towards your property's overall value.

Driveway Cleaning

If your home has already got a driveway, and you are thinking about changing it because it's looking shabby - why not give it a clean instead? The process of cleaning a driveway, is something that many property owners postpone, or neglect altogether. Nevertheless, for reasons of both aesthetics and maintenance, cleaning a driveway with a fair degree of regularity is essential. The structure of your driveway can be weakened as time passes, by weeds and unwanted plant growth. An enlargement of existing driveway cracks or crevices could happen, and structural issues can arise if such growth isn't eradicated.

It is advisable to remove stains, weed growth or dirt from your driveway the minute you discover them. However, the spring and summer months is when you are most likely to notice the appearance of weeds and moss, you should not wait till them to jet or pressure wash your driveway. Spots from your vehicle such as petrol, brake fluid and oil can ruin the appearance of your driveway. Therefore it's crucial to get rid of them immediately to prevent unsightly stains on your driveway's surface.

You'll need a few tools such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, in conjunction with a power washing device, in order to get your driveway totally clean. If you are not certain about doing it yourself, or you don't have the correct gear, you should ask your driveway company if they are prepared to do this, or get in touch with a professional driveway cleaning service.

Tarmac Driveways

On account of its strength and durability, tarmac is a really good choice for surfacing a driveway. When it is installed by a professional driveway company, tarmac requires almost no maintenance, offers exceptional weatherproof properties and looks good. Tarmac driveways are able to handle heavier vehicles, like camper vans, without dimpling or damage to the surface, and will look pristine for many years.

It offers fantastic value, and tarmac can be coloured to complement the surroundings or your requirements. You're able to customise a tarmac driveway to complement your home or property, with many colours on offer. Tarmac driveways are amongst the simplest to lay, and the vast majority of driveway projects are finished in a day. Tarmac is truly an ideal material for virtually any driveway, due to its strength, maintenance free properties and straightforward installation.

Resin-Bound Driveways

Among the most flexible and attractive styles of driveway that are available right now, resin-bound driveways (or resin driveways) are becoming more and more popular and also comply with SuDS, if that is what you're in need of. Resin driveways can be custom-made to your exact requirements and come in a whole host of different colours and designs. For far less mess and hassle a new resin driveway can quickly be laid on top of a current tarmac or concrete surface. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and an awesome substitute for gravel, tarmac, concrete or block paving. When laid by an approved installer, a resin driveway will come with a long warranty and give many years of excellent service. (Tags: Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin Driveways, Resin-Bonded Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

Ideal for driveways, and a very popular material for many years, concrete has got the advantage of being strong, durable and relatively maintenance-free. A straightforward choice for many homeowners, concrete is cheaper than block paving or resin, but if installed properly is more durable and stronger. If you find concrete driveways to be somewhat dreary and boring, it's possible to administer a patterned or imprinted surface finish to make them look like pebbles or stones. (Tags: Concreted Driveways, Concrete Driveways, Stamped 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.

Quality Ideas to Enhance Curb Appeal for Your Home

When a person references the curb appeal of a home, they are talking about the outside of the house and how it looks. When considering home improvement projects, this is always something to think about, especially if you're trying to sell your home. Staying at home, or selling your home, it's totally up to you; however, it is a great idea to improve your curb appeal to enhance the way your house looks if you're able to. Hopefully, this article will help you decide on ways to improve your home's curb appeal.

Something that adds to the curb appeal of your abode is the shape your windows are in. Undoubtedly, you want to first be certain that your windows are not dirty. There isn't anything else that can take away from the appearance of a home like filthy windows. This is important for both the interior and exterior of your home. If there are any broken panes anywhere, even in the basement, these should be replaced as soon as possible. By all means, windows are crucial for not only their appearance but for insulation also. In case the windows you have are not truly energy efficient, it could be the time to restore 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.

You really need to consider the outside of your home and what colors go with it. If you're thinking about giving it a paint job, try to come up with the color that will be most flattering, which may not be the same color it presently is. Now, once you have the new cover in mind, you might want to consider changing the color of other exterior things including your doors and shutters. Many people will do simple things such as add color by adding a plant here and there instead of painting their entire home for the effect. You need to go with little further and completely visualize how all of these changes will look from your perspective and the perspective of others visiting your home.

If you want to give your home an appealing feature, consider adding a more attractive path or walkway from the street to your front door. A paved path, perhaps with flowers or other plants on either side can make the approach to your home more interesting. People that drive-by will definitely be impressed if you put in a new driveway over the old one. The appearance and feel of your driveway, however it ends up looking, is very important to those that visit. In case you don't have the money to put in a new driveway, you might want to improve the surrounding area to make it look as if you have installed something new. It is important to always provide people with a positive experience, even if they walked up to your house off of the street.

As we've seen, giving your home more curb appeal can be quite simple. This is not a home improvement project - you are simply making your house look better by doing a couple different things. The impact that your home will have, specifically in regard to curb appeal, is a result of your efforts. You know what to do now - go do 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