Driveway Installers

If you've decided that a driveway is just the ticket for your home, and you have more than enough space to put one, you will now have to decide what kind of driveway you're going to construct. There are of course many different kinds of driveway available, as I am sure you will be aware, but these may not all be right for you. If you do not have a lot of cash to commit to such a project, the choice of style and materials could be limited to what you can afford. Other things that could have an affect on your choice will be the dimensions and layout of your garden, and how the driveway is going to fit in with the aesthetics of your home.

You might think "a driveway is just a driveway", but that simply isn't the truth, given that there are plenty of different styles and designs of driveway, and if you were to take a trip around, you'll realise what I mean. 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 permutations, and this should give you a perception of all the potential 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?

While you might presume that you are allowed to stick a driveway wherever you please on your land, this isn't necessarily true. There is actually legislation covering the laying of driveways, and these are UK-wide rules, not simply local ones. However, at this juncture, these laws only affect driveways which are being laid in front gardens. Ever since 2008 driveway installations in front gardens in Britain have come under the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System), which was brought in by the Labour government.

If you are intending to build a driveway having an area of more than 5m² and it is in your front garden, you will likely be impacted by these SuDS legislation. Materials like gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock are compliant with SuDS, and permit any excess rainwater to drain through naturally without any problems. Therefore, if you are building your driveway from one of these substances, you'll not need to worry. Check here - SuDS - if you're worried that the Sustainable Drainage Systems regulations may affect your planned driveway in TOWN.

To some property owners, laying a driveway might not seem to be that difficult a task, and for somebody who's adept at do-it-yourself, it is not at all impossible. But nobody should think of this as a simple task, because there's a whole lot of preparation work involved in addition to the actual laying of the driveway, including doing waste removal, digging out and hauling materials. If you are in any doubt about doing this, it could be much better to call in an experienced driveway specialist to carry out the work on your behalf.

With driveway installers, similar to a number of other building related occupations, you have to be mindful of exactly who you pick to let loose on your property. You should watch out for cowboys and rogue traders who are renowned for targeting this kind of project, and can easily take you by surprise. It's well worth shelling out a bit more cash to get a proper job, instead of taking a chance with a low quality worker merely to save a couple of pounds. Driveway companies and landscape gardeners who have been serving customers in the area for a good few years would be the best option.

When assessing tradespeople for your driveway, you ought 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).

Asking for such germane information should give you a feeling for the type of tradesperson you are planning to work with, but it doesn't have to be done in an aggressive manner. You can consider that they are fairly honest, if they're relaxed about answering all of your questions. If they act hesitant or hostile when asked these questions, you can deem that they are hiding something or being less than truthful - so steer clear.

Picking an experienced tradesperson is crucial, as should you manage to get hold of a reliable driveway contractor, they won't only do a great job, but also give you guidance on the most suitable materials, style and location for your driveway. They will also help you with all the planning, design and preparation, so that everything is covered prior to any actual physical work commencing on your driveway.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the driveway styles, the ubiquitous gravel driveway is the most economical and simplest. Despite their inherent simplicity gravel driveways can be an extremely attractive option, especially in a rural setting. Gravel can be found in an array of shades and sizes, so you should not have any problem finding one that looks great in your garden. A successful gravel driveway will need a well-defined and substantial edging, and a good solid layer of hardcore. If you apply three or four separate layers of stones, each individual one rolled and tamped and left to settle, you'll get the finest gravel driveway. You'll not need to apply for planning permission with a gravel driveway, since it will be SuDS compliant no matter how large it is, or if it is in your back or front garden.

Asphalt Driveways

Any house in will gain the benefit of the "curb appeal" of the smooth, consistent appearance of an asphalt driveway. When put in by an experienced contractor, an asphalt driveway will provide many years of good use with virtually no maintenance. If your local council imposes restrictions that stop non-porous materials being used on driveways, so as to prevent local flooding, a special permeable asphalt substrate enables rainwater to soak into a sub-layer.

Asphalt driveways offer exceptional value for money and asphalt is a strong, durable material that's designed to withstand the freezing and thawing effects of a typical winter. Because of how asphalt is produced, it's also cheap and easy to repair, maintain and when necessary, remove. Actually, asphalt can be recycled and used elsewhere, making this the most eco-friendly of hard driveway products.

Block Paved Driveways

Over the past ten years or so dozens of driveways have sprung up in constructed using the block-paved technique. These are built using specially designed block-paving bricks which butt together forming eye-catching and sometimes elaborate designs. When the blocks have been laid, they're tamped down firmly, and kiln-dried sand is rigorously brushed into the joints. It is recommended to have your block paving driveway sealed after four or five months with Everbuild sealant or similar. This is essential to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in a lot of designs, including fan, stretcher bond, basketweave and herringbone.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: SuDS compliant block paving driveways are perfectly achievable by adjusting the normal technique. Wider gaps than normal are left between the blockwork and as opposed to the usual kiln-dried sand, these are then packed with fine aggregate material. (Tags: Block Paved Driveways, Block Paving, Block Paving Driveways).

Natural Stone Driveways

The characteristics of natural stone means it only improves with age. Looking amazing from day 1 to year 50, a driveway built from natural stone will provide you with a lifetime of serviceable use for any car or vehicle. Due to the unique colours and depth of tones of the stone, you will end up with a driveway which is bespoke to your garden. The natural stone gives a warm, soft edge to any driveway, and provides that all important curb appeal.

Unlike some alternatives, driveways made from natural stone are less susceptible to being damaged and are a lot easier to maintain. They're far easier to clean, and with narrower joints between the stones there is considerably less possibility of seeds and weeds germinating on your new driveway. A properly prepared and installed natural stone driveway is an investment which will add to the appeal and value to your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you already have a driveway, but it's starting to look a bit scruffy, you may be able to improve it's appearance by cleaning it. For many home owners, it isn't usually a priority to maintain the cleanliness of their driveway. However, for reasons of both maintenance and looks, cleaning a driveway on a regular basis is important. Unwanted weeds and plant growth can weaken your driveway's structure as time passes. Existing cracks or crevices can be widened which might ultimately lead to structural problems in your driveway.

The minute you notice weed growth, dirt or stains on your driveway, it is recommended that you get rid of them as quickly as possible. It is not the best option to wait around for the spring and summer months to arrive to cleanse your driveway, even though that is the time when you're most likely to notice the appearance of moss and weed growth. Stains from your vehicle such as petrol, brake fluid and oil can ruin the appearance of your drive. It's therefore important to eliminate them quickly to prevent ugly staining of your driveway's surface.

Together with a jet washing device, you'll also need a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, and some other tools to clean your driveway thoroughly. If you haven't got the correct gear, or aren't confident in cleaning it yourself, you can contact a professional driveway cleaning service, or ask your driveway company if they do it.

Tarmac Driveways

On account of its strength and durability, tarmac is an ideal choice for surfacing a driveway. When laid professionally it requires little maintenance, is weatherproof and looks fantastic. Tarmac driveways can contend with heavier vehicles, such as carvans and motor-homes, without damage to the surface or dimpling, and should look good for many years to come.

If you wish to colour tarmac, it is incredibly easy to do so, and it offers exceptional value in comparison with other kinds of driveway. You are able to customise a tarmac drive to correspond to property, with many colours available. A tarmac drive is also one of the most straightforward to lay, and a lot of driveway projects are completed in a single day. This straightforward installation, coupled with its simple maintenance and high strength makes a tarmac driveway an ideal choice for virtually any property.

Resin Driveways

There is very little doubt that recently resin-bound driveways (or resin driveways) have become one of the most favoured forms of driveway. The added advantage that they are also compliant with SuDS of course further increases their attraction. Available in a wide variety of patterns and designs, resin-bound driveways can be custom-made to your requirements, and installed to complement any theme or concept. For a lot less mess and hassle a new resin driveway can soon be laid on top of a current concrete or tarmac surface. Resin-bound driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and an outstanding alternative to block paving, tarmac, gravel or concrete. Usually coming with an extended warranty when laid by a reputable installer, a resin driveway should give you excellent service for years to come. (Tags: Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin-Bonded Driveways, Resin Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

A very popular material for driveways, concrete is strong, durable and doesn't need much maintenance. Being more costly that asphalt or gravel, but significantly cheaper than some other options (i.e. block paving or resin), concrete is an automatic choice for many homeowners. Nearly everyone would acknowledge that concrete driveways, generally speaking, are rather boring and drab. However this doesn't have to be the case, as it's possible to finish them off with a stamped or imprinted design. (Tags: Imprinted Concrete Driveways, 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.

Your Home's Curb Appeal - How To Enhance It For Less

If you don't know what curb appeal is, it is a simple way to make the value of your home increase dramatically by improving the way your house looks. People that go into your home, or see it from the street, this perception is what curb appeal is all about. There are many reasons that people focus on curb appeal including showing off their home, trying to sell it, and, more simply, just wanting people to appreciate the house that they live in.

Something that adds to the curb appeal of your abode is the shape your windows are in. Certainly, the top priority is to ensure that the windows are immaculate. Filthy windows can minimize a home's appearance like little else. The aforementioned is valuable for both the inside and outside of your home. Provided there are cracked windowpanes any place, just the basement even, you need to replace them immediately. By all means, windows are crucial for not only their appearance but for insulation also. With the condition that your windows don't conserve energy well, it might be a good time to change 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.

Your yards need to be looked at carefully. Are children's toys, tools and hit-or-miss items all over the yards, or do they appear clean and alluring? The way your home appeals to people is greatly affected by the presentation of your yard or yards. Cleaning up your yards is worth the effort, assuming they are untidy. Remove any obstacles that make it difficult to walk through your yard. If you have weeds growing anywhere or bushes that need trimming, take care of these issues. 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.

Instead of putting paint on the outside of your house, a consideration might be to put new siding up. It is possible to give your house a whole new look with this, and there are a lot of options available. An improvement in your insulation is possible and additionally the improvement of your homes worth. Different options are stucco veneer or stone, these could provide your dwelling with the appearance of a stucco or stone house without having to pay for all of the real elements you would need. If you want to consider new siding, or something like stone veneer for the exterior of your home, you should look into all the different possibilities and decide which most appeals to you.

There are tons of things you could do to your house to give it more pizzazz. You might be considering remodeling a room in your home or fixing the floors; just remember the outside needs attention also. We have discussed some valuable ways to maximize your curb appeal; of course if you inspect your place you will see all sorts of projects.

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