Driveway Installers

If you do decide to forge ahead with having a driveway installed your next task will be to decide what type of driveway you prefer. You will no doubt be aware that there are lots of different driveway options available and not every one of these will be of interest to you. Your options could be to some extent limited if you are working to a strict budget. The configuration and dimensions of your available space might also have an affect on your decision.

You may just think "a driveway is a driveway", but that's simply not the case, because there are various different designs and types of driveway, and if you were to take a trip around, you will realise what I'm saying. There is a pretty good chance that on your travels you'll notice stone resin driveways, concrete driveways, patterned concrete driveways, tarmac driveways, natural flagstone driveways, permeable driveways, asphalt driveways, aggregate driveways, pebble driveways, block paved driveways, and if your garden area suits, you should be able to select from any of these.

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 may presume that you're entitled to stick a driveway anywhere you like on your property, this isn't necessarily the case. The regulations that cover driveways aren't just administered by the local council, but are in reality enforced by government guidelines. However, at this moment in time, these restrictions only affect driveways being laid in front gardens. The legislation that is currently in effect were set by a government act of 2008 - the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System).

Driveways being installed in front gardens that have an area in excess of 5 sq metres are impacted by the SuDS legislation. Porous materials such as gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock are compliant with SuDS, and allow the surface water to drain through naturally without any problems. Therefore, if you're making your driveway from one of these materials, you will not have to worry. You can find out more information on the SuDS regulations here - Sustainable Drainage Systems

Folks who don't have a problem with a bit of hard work and are fairly adept at do-it-yourself, may perhaps be tempted to build a driveway on their own. However you should not expect that installing a driveway is a simple task by any means, since apart from actually laying the driveway there is a lot of digging out, rubbish removal and lugging materials associated with this sort of project. In most instances it would be much wiser to contact an experienced driveway contractor, who will come armed with all the equipment, manpower and knowledge to complete the task properly.

Reputable tradespeople are not always that easy to get hold of with regards to conducting this kind of project, so you need to take care and choose the right contractor or person. Regrettably, there are too many unscrupulous individuals around who'll take advantage of your circumstances and purport to be experts in this field. They'll either produce unsatisfactory work, or just take your cash and vanish into the ether. Even if that means having to spend a bit more on the enterprise, you may as well have it done to a decent standard by a professional. It would be wise to look for locally based driveway contractors who have been offering their services in the area for a good few years.

When assessing these companies, 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).

You don't need to be excessively pushy with these questions, seeing that what you're really aiming to do is get an idea about the kind of person that you're planning to work with. If they are willing to answer all these questions, you can safely assume that they are honest. If questions of this sort produce a hesitant or antagonistic response, then you should have doubts about their credibility, and perhaps continue your search.

Choosing a top notch tradesperson is vital, as if you manage to hire a reputable driveway contractor, they will not only do a great job, but also give you advice and guidance about the most suitable materials, location and style for your new driveway. Before any actual work starts your driveway paver will make sure all the required preparation, design and planning work is taken care of.

Gravel Driveways

The easiest and least expensive of all the driveway styles is the standard gravel driveway. Gravel driveways are particularly favoured in a rural setting, and in spite of their simplicity they can be particularly pleasing. Gravel is available in a wide range of colours and sizes, so you should have no problem locating one that looks good in your garden. A effective gravel driveway will require a substantial and well-defined edging, and a good robust base of hardcore. The best quality gravel driveways are the result of putting down three or four layers of shingle, with each and every layer rolled and then left to settle before laying the next. Properly laid gravel driveways are of course SuDS compliant, consequently you will not need to apply for planning permission regardless of how large your driveway is.

Asphalt Driveways

When you're looking for that extra bit of 'curb appeal' for your property or home in, an asphalt driveway, with its smooth continuous surface, is a great choice. When put in by a professional company, an asphalt driveway will give you many years of good use with a bare minimum of maintenance. In high flood risk areas it might be required to have a porous driveway, and there's an asphalt type, with sub-layer for rain run-off, which prevents excess water from filling road drains.

Asphalt is resistant to the freezing and thawing impact of British winters, and is exceptional value for money when compared to several other driveway options. Asphalt is easily and cheaply repaired and maintained, and is not difficult to remove if your circumstances change. If you're concerned about the environmental impact of your driveway installation in, you might be interested to know that asphalt can even be taken out and recycled for other uses.

Block Paving Driveways

Over the last decade or so scores of driveways have sprung up in using the block-paved technique. Forming attractive and elaborate designs, many hundreds of purpose-made block paving bricks are butted together to produce a hard-wearing, durable driveway. After the blocks have been put in place, they're firmly tamped down, and kiln-dried sand is rigorously brushed into the joints. It is recommended to have your block-paved driveway sealed after a few months with Thompsons sealant or something like that. This is vital to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in a variety of patterns, including fan, basketweave, herringbone and stretcher bond.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Block paving driveways can also be made SuDS compliant, by leaving bigger than standard spaces between the blockwork, which can then be packed with very fine shingle rather than the traditional kiln-dried sand. (Tags: Block Paving Driveways, Block Paved Driveways, Block Paving).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone, as a driveway material, never loses its beautiful appearance even as it grows older. The dense and compact material looks magnificent on a driveway and will provide a whole lifetime of use for any motor vehicles you might own. Thanks to the unique depth of tone and colours in the stone, you'll wind up with a driveway that's bespoke to your property. When expertly installed, a natural stone driveway has that much desired wow factor that will complement any house.

Natural stone driveways not only look fantastic, but they are easy to maintain and less prone to being damaged than paved alternatives. The smaller joints between the stones means that there's considerably less chance of weed growth, and the smooth surface is far easier to clean. A stone driveway installed by a professional company should be thought of as a good investment which will improve the value of your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If your home already has a drive, and you are thinking of changing it because it is starting to look shabby - why not give it a clean instead? For a lot of homeowners, maintaining the cleanliness of their driveway isn't usually viewed as a priority. Nonetheless, cleaning your driveway is something that should be carried out with some regularity, and is vital from both a maintenance and visual perspective. With time, the structure of your driveway can be weakened by weeds, roots and other organic plant growth. An enlargement of existing driveway cracks or crevices could ensue, and structural problems may develop if such growth is not eliminated.

It is recommended that you remove stains, dirt or weed growth from your driveway the minute you discover them. However, moss and weeds are more visible on your drive during the spring and summertime, you ought not wait until then to clean it. Brake fluid, oil and diesel spills from your vehicle can spoil the appeal of your driveway. Therefore it's important to get them cleaned quickly to avoid unattractive stains on your driveway's surface.

To clean your driveway correctly you'll require the use of a power washing device, and additionally you'll need a few other tools and equipment, such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. If you're not certain about doing it yourself, or don't have the right gear, you can ask your driveway installers if they're willing to do it, or get in touch with a professional driveway cleaning service.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac is a popular sort of surface for driveways because of its durability and strength. When professionally laid it looks great, is weatherproof and requires little maintenance. Tarmac's durability and strength means that it can cope with heavier vehicles, such as carvans and camper vans, without causing any damage to the surface.

It offers excellent value, and tarmac can be coloured to fit in with the surroundings or your property. Tarmac permits you to get away from a traditional black coloured surface and colour it to blend in with your home. It is possible for a professional driveway company to install a brand new tarmac driveway in less than a day. Many people choose tarmac over other materials for their driveway due to its finish, rapid installation, durability and low maintenance requirements.

Resin Driveways

There's very little doubt that these days resin driveways (or resin-bound driveways) have become one of the most favoured sorts of driveway. The added advantage that they're compliant with SuDS merely increases their attraction. Resin-bound driveways come in a wide range of designs and patterns that can be customized to your specifications. If you've an existing concrete or tarmac driveway, a new resin-bound surface can be laid on top of your existing one. Resin-bound driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a great alternative to concrete, tarmac, gravel or block paving. When laid by a trusted installer, a resin driveway should come with a long guarantee and give years of reliable service. (Tags: Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin Driveways, Resin-Bonded Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

Ideal for building driveways, and a much favoured material for a long time, concrete has the advantage of being hard wearing, strong and relatively maintenance-free. With regards to cost, concrete is about middling for driveways, being more expensive than gravel or asphalt, but less costly than resin or block paving. For many property owners, the downside of concrete is its rather boring and dreary appearance, but this can be overcome by adding a patterned or stamped finish. (Tags: Patterned Concrete Driveways, Concrete Driveways, Concreted 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.

Simple And Inexpensive Ways To Upgrade Your Home's Curb Appeal

The curb appeal of your home is how a person passing by will perceive it from the road. If you are selling your house, external home improvement projects are definitely what you should be focusing upon. Regardless of your intentions, improving the outward appearance, the "curb appeal" of your home will make a huge difference to those that see it. This article will show you several ways to improve your home's curb appeal in several ways.

Your lawn is one of the first things that contribute to your home's curb appeal. Depending on the size of your lawn, keeping it looking as good as possible may take quite a bit of effort. It is important that your lawn is mowed and manicured weekly so that it appears beautiful and pristine at all times. It's essential to keep it well trimmed, weeded and frequently watered. New sod must be added to areas that are dry or barren to ensure that the consistency remains intact. If you do not have the time to do this, hire a local maintenance company that will take care of your lawn. This includes watering and repairs. Aside from this, keep any shrubs or trees on your property looking neat and well trimmed.

You really need to consider the outside of your home and what colors go with it. For instance, take a look at the outside cover of your home and then think of another color that you think would look much better. Once you know what color you would change the exterior to, you should also think about changing specific areas like the shutters around your windows and other smaller areas. Decorations can really liven up the outside of any house; you might want to add some flowers or plants that would go perfectly with the exterior of your home. Once you have decided on what color changes to make, you should consider how this will make you feel as well as how it will be perceived by those that come over to visit.

Oftentimes, the consideration of replacing an existing green lawn with something that is much easier to care for will cross the minds of homeowners. Traditional lawns are becoming less popular due to the amount of water that must be used and the amount of time that must be spent taking care of them. 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. Environmentally supportable, and extremely low maintenance, xeriscaping is an innovative kind of landscaping that is getting well-known. Even if you do not live in an area or region that is prone to droughts, you will definitely be impressed with xeriscaping on your property.

Getting your home curb appeal is actually quite an easy process. The cost of increasing your curb appeal will definitely be far less than a home improvement project that might not do as good of a job. Curb appeal for your home is as simple as tidying up a few things from your backyard to your front door - whatever you do is up to you!

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