Driveway Installers

So, you have resolved to have a driveway installed, but what sort of driveway is likely to be the best for your requirements? Driveways come in all shapes and sizes and can be made from a range of different materials, some may be more suitable than others. If you haven't got a lot of cash to commit to such a project, the choice of style and materials will be limited to what you can comfortably afford. Other considerations that might have an impact on your choice will be the configuration and dimensions of your available space, and precisely how the driveway is going to blend in with the appearance of your home.

You may think "a driveway is just a driveway", but that simply isn't the truth, seeing as there are plenty of different designs and styles of driveway, and if you take a walk around, you will soon realise what I mean. Contingent on the landscape and layout of your garden 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.

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?

Even though you might feel that you're entitled to plonk a driveway wherever you like on your property, this is not necessarily true. There are nationally binding regulations pertaining to the installation of driveways, not just local ones. You will only have to worry about these rules if you happen to be laying a driveway in your front garden. The law that we are talking about here is the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System), which was introduced by the government in 2008.

The SuDS regulations apply to driveways in front gardens with an area of over 5m2. You won't need to worry about this if you build your driveway from a permeable (porous) substance like gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, which allow the rainwater to pass through and drain away naturally. If you suspect that the Sustainable Drainage Systems regulations will affect your new driveway in TOWN, you can see full details here - SuDS

To some homeowners, building a driveway might not seem to be that difficult a task, and for somebody who's a good DIYer, it's not at all unthinkable. However nobody should think of this as a simple process, seeing as there's a great deal of groundwork involved besides the actual laying of the driveway, including digging out, doing rubbish removal and humping materials. In most instances it would be much more sensible to contact an established driveway installer, who will have all the manpower, equipment and knowledge to accomplish the task effectively.

With this kind of work, you've got to be cautious about exactly who you pick, seeing that you obviously need to find somebody who knows their stuff. Regrettably, there are a lot of deceitful "cowboys" out there who'll take advantage of your position and claim to be driveway "experts". They'll either produce second-rate work, or pocket your cash and do a runner. It is worth paying out a bit more money to get a proper job done, instead of taking a chance with a substandard workman simply to save yourself a few pounds. If a locally based driveway paving company has been operating in and around your area for several years, it is reasonable to assume that they'll be reliable, and a decent choice for your assignment.

When you are sorting through possible companies to build your driveway you must 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 this questioning, simply ask enough to get a good sense of the type of company you're dealing with, so you are able to make a well informed choice. If they're relaxed about answering all of these questions, you can consider that they're genuine. You should avoid them like the plague if they appear hesitant or confrontational when asked these kinds of questions, because it is very likely that they are less than honest or hiding something.

Once you have located a decent driveway specialist, you can have a chat about all the available driveway choices including the most appropriate materials, location and style. Before any real physical work commences your driveway expert will make sure that all the required preparation, design and planning work is looked after.

Gravel Driveways

When considering the various sorts of driveway you might choose to plump for the ubiquitous easiest and cheapest, which is gravel. Gravel driveways are particularly favoured in a rural setting, and regardless of their inherent simplicity they can be extremely pleasing. You shouldn't have any trouble locating a kind of gravel that looks great in your garden, given that there are an array of shades and sizes to choose from. A good solid layer of hardcore is needed for a gravel drive to be efficient, together with a firmly-bedded edging. The most effective gravel driveways result from applying three or four layers of stones, with each individual layer rolled and tamped and then left to settle before laying the next. Irrespective of what size your driveway is, or whether it is in your back or front garden, if it is constructed from gravel it won't need to apply for planning permission, since it will be SuDS compliant.

Asphalt Driveways

Any property in will gain the benefit of the "curb appeal" of the smooth, continuous appearance of a newly installed asphalt driveway. For the optimal results ensure you employ a professional asphalt company that will provide you with a driveway that lasts a lifetime and requires a bare minimum of maintenance and after care. If the local authority imposes restrictions that stop non-permeable materials being used, in order to prevent local flooding, a special porous asphalt substrate enables rain to drain away into a sub-grade reservoir.

Asphalt driveways offer excellent value for money and asphalt is a durable, strong material that is perfect for tolerating freezing and thawing effects of a typical British winter. It's also the simplest driveway material to repair or remove because of the process by which it is manufactured. If you are worried about the ecological impact of your driveway, it's good to know that asphalt can even be lifted and recycled for other uses.

Block Paving Driveways

Dozens of driveways have appeared in in recent times, created using the block-paved process, which can be very effective when carried out correctly. Forming attractive and intricate designs, many hundreds of purpose-made block paving bricks are butted together to create a robust, hard-wearing driveway. When the blocks have been put down, they're firmly tamped down, and kiln-dried sand is rigorously brushed into the joints. After 5 or 6 months it is recommended to have your block-paved driveway sealed with a premium quality sealant (like Everbuild), this should help to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in a number of designs, including fan, herringbone, basket weave and stretcher bond.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: It is also possible to build a SuDS compliant block paved driveway in, if that is what you need. By leaving bigger gaps between the blockwork and packing them with a fine aggregate in place of the traditional kiln-dried sand, you can create a permeable paved surface that doesn't call for planning permission. (Tags: Block Paving Driveways, Block Paved Driveway, Block Paving).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone is a driveway material that never loses its eye-catching appearance even as it grows older. This dense, compact material looks fantastic on a driveway and will give a whole lifetime of good service for any vehicles you may park on it. The depth of tone and natural colouring gives a quintessential appearance to a stone driveway, and offers a bespoke and individual look to any property. The natural stone gives a warm, soft edge to any driveway, and is part of that much desired WOW factor.

In contrast to some driveway alternatives, driveways made from natural stone are less at risk of being damaged and are a lot easier to look after and maintain. They are much easier to clean, and with smaller gaps in between the stones there is significantly less chance of weed and seed germination on your drive. A natural stone driveway installed by an experienced company should be looked at as an investment which will increase the value of your property.

Driveway Cleaning

If you do not currently have a driveway in your garden, then of course cleaning won't be necessary, however this is certainly something you'll need to plan for at some point. The process of keeping a driveway clean, is something that the majority of homeowners postpone, or overlook altogether. Nonetheless, cleaning a driveway is important from both an aesthetic and maintenance viewpoint, and this should really be done fairly frequently. The structure of your driveway can be severely weakened as time passes, by weeds and unwanted plant growth. Existing cracks or crevices can be enlarged which might ultimately lead to structural complications in your driveway.

It's recommended that you remove weeds, stains or dirt from your driveway the instant you notice them. However, moss and weed growth is certainly more noticeable on your drive during the spring and summer, you should not wait till then power wash it. The appearance of your drive can be really ruined by diesel, oil and brake fluid spills from your vehicle. You must remove these promptly, so that any unattractive staining of the driveway surface is averted.

You will need some tools and equipment such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, in conjunction with a pressure washing machine, so as to get your driveway suitably clean. A specialist driveway cleaning service might be necessary if you haven't got the right equipment, or don't have the confidence to clean it yourself. You might even find that your driveway installer will offer this sort of service.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac is a favourite kind of surface for driveways on account of its strength and durability. When professionally laid it looks amazing, requires hardly any maintenance and offers excellent weatherproof properties. Tarmac's strength and durability means that it can contend with larger and heavier vehicles, such as motor-homes, without damaging the surface.

Tarmac is also great value and comes in a wide range of colours to match your property and surrounding area. You can customise a tarmac drive to suit your property, with a wide range of colours on offer. Tarmac driveways are amongst the easiest to install, and many driveway projects are completed in a single day. This simplicity of installation, along with its high durability and simple maintenance makes a tarmac driveway a perfect choice for just about any home or property.

Resin Driveways

There is no doubt that in recent times resin-bound or resin driveways have become one of the most popular sorts of driveway. The added advantage that they are also SuDS compliant of course further increases their attraction. Available in a whole host of designs and patterns, resin driveways can be custom-made to your requirements, and laid to match any theme or concept. For far less hassle and mess a new resin driveway can soon be laid over an existing concrete or asphalt surface. Resin-bound driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a good alternative to concrete, block paving, asphalt or gravel. Typically coming with an extended warranty when laid by a trustworthy installer, a resin-bound driveway should give you good service for years to come. (Tags: Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin Driveways, Resin-Bonded Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

Hard wearing, strong and needing hardly any maintenance, concrete is an ideal material for driveways. Being more expensive that tarmac or gravel, but significantly cheaper than some other alternatives (i.e. block paving or resin), concrete is an easy choice for many homeowners. Nearly everybody would concur that concrete driveways in general are rather dreary and boring. However this does not have to be the case, seeing that it's possible to finish them off with a stamped or patterned design which can be extremely attractive.

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

What is curb appeal? It is the way you can increase your home's value by making it look outstanding to any passersby. People that go into your home, or see it from the street, this perception is what curb appeal is all about. The reason this is important is that, if you are actually trying to sell your home, the first things that people notice when they see your house may actually cause them to buy it.

Contributing to the appeal of your homes curb, are how your windows appear. By all means, cleanliness of the windows is the first thing to make sure of. There isn't anything else that can take away from the appearance of a home like filthy windows. The above mentioned is crucial for the exterior and interior home alike. If there are any broken panes anywhere, even in the basement, these should be replaced as soon as possible. Undoubtedly, the windows are imperative for energy efficiency in addition to the cosmetic value. 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.

Improving your homes landscape enticement can happen with changes you weren't even aware were important. There are times that you view something daily for years on end, therefore you do not even understand how this stands out to other people. Look long and hard at your garage entryway, for instance. Replacing the door is something that most people do not meditate on unless it no longer works. Yet if it has an old and worn out look, replacing it with a nice new modern one would make a big difference. One other thing that can again and again be overlooked, is the mailbox. Replacing your mailbox will make you feel a whole lot better if the current one is rusty and aging, and a new one isn't too expensive.

Another thing you can do is to improve the walkway that leads up to your front door from the street. You might change your walkway a little bit by paving it replacing perhaps the cement that was there - it is totally up to you. You might even want to put in a new driveway which is always an eye-catching feature. The driveway should not only be visually appealing, but give people the feeling that they are safe when they park there. Many times, all you need to do is get a rake out and remove the excess leaves that have built up on the sides. It really depends on the condition of the driveway. And when visitors come, just make them feel at home especially when they arrive in the driveway.

Your home could look more interesting by taking on any number of home face lifts. While you may be focused on interior plans such as your kitchen or floors, you shouldn't neglect the outside either. We've looked at just a few ways to improve your home's curb appeal, but if you take a look at your property with a critical eye, you can probably find lots more.

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