Driveway Installers

If you do elect to forge ahead with your driveway installation your next task will be to decide what sort of driveway you prefer. For various reasons, not every kind of driveway will be right for you, and there are clearly lots to pick from. Costs will vary considerably across these various driveway styles, therefore your choices could be more limited if you've only got a certain amount of money to spend. The configuration and size of your available space might also have an affect on your final decision.

You may think "a driveway is just a driveway", but that simply isn't the truth, seeing as there are lots of different styles and designs of driveway, and if you were to take a walk around, you'll realise what I mean. You should be able to make a choice from stone resin driveways, concrete driveways, patterned concrete driveways, tarmac driveways, natural flagstone driveways, permeable driveways, asphalt driveways, aggregate driveways, pebble driveways, block paved driveways, though not every one of these will automatically be appropriate for your garden layout and landscape.

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 wouldn't be a concern to the local council, and wouldn't be subject to planning permission requirements, but that assumption would quite often be wrong. There are UK-wide regulations addressing the laying of driveways, not just local ones. These regulations only affect driveways in FRONT gardens at this time. This driveway legislation, which is known as the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) has been in place since 2008, when it was first introduced as part of the Permitted Development Rights.

A driveway in excess of 5m², that is being built in a front garden is going to be subject to the SuDS legislation. You will not need to stress about this if you make your driveway from a porous (permeable) substance such as gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, which will allow the rainwater to soak through and subsequently drain away. It is possible to have a look at the Sustainable Drainage Systems legislation here - SuDS

To some people, laying a driveway may appear to be a pretty straightforward undertaking, and for someone who's a good do-it-yourselfer, it is not at all impossible. With such a lot of hard work involved including digging out, doing rubbish removal and lugging materials, no-one should consider this to be a simple task. All things considered, it may be much better to contact an experienced driveway installer, if you have any doubts tackling it yourself.

Due to the nature of this kind of work, it's not necessarily that easy to uncover dependable tradespeople who you can be confident will do a decent job. There are a lot of rogue traders and cowboys out there who'll gladly take your money and do an poor quality job (or no work at all quite frequently!). Even if that means having to spend a little more on the enterprise, you might as well have it done properly by a pro. It is a good idea to search for locally based driveway pavers and landscape gardeners who have been serving customers in the area for a good few years.

When you are sorting through prospective paving contractors to do your driveway 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).

Asking for this relevant information should give you an idea of the type of individual you are planning to work with, but it doesn't have to be done in an aggressive manner. Anybody who is prepared to answer all your questions, and give assurances about the calibre of work they do, will most likely also be trustworthy and honest. If they act in a confrontational or uncertain way when asked such questions, you can presume that they are hiding something or being less than honest - so steer well clear.

Choosing a quality tradesman is vital, because if you manage to find yourself a reliable driveway contractor, they won't just do an excellent job, but will also give you guidance about the best style, materials and location for your new driveway. And that's not all, because they'll also be on top of all the design, preparation and planning that's required for your new driveway installation to go swimmingly.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the driveway styles, the standard gravel driveway is the easiest and cheapest. Despite their simplicity gravel driveways can be an exceptionally attractive option, particularly in rural settings where they are the most popular. You should not have any problem finding a kind of gravel that looks good in your garden, given that there are a wide selection of sizes and shades available. A effective gravel driveway will require a substantial and well-defined edging, and a good robust base of hardcore. The best gravel driveways result from applying three or four layers of stones, with each layer tamped and then left to settle before laying the following layer. You will not require planning permission with a gravel driveway, because it will be SuDS compliant regardless of 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 a newly installed asphalt driveway. For optimum outcome ensure that you employ a professional asphalt company who will install a driveway that lasts for many years and requires virtually no maintenance and after care. In flood risk locations it might be necessary to have a permeable drive, and there is a type of asphalt sub-grade reservoir for rain run-off, which prevents excess water from filling highway drainage systems.

Asphalt driveways are smartly designed to successfully hold up against anything the British winters can chuck at them, and provide very good value. It's also the simplest driveway substance to remove or repair due to the process by which it is manufactured. Actually, asphalt can be recycled for use elsewhere, making this the most environmentally friendly of the hard driveway materials. (Tags: Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway Recycling, Asphalt Driveway).

Block Paving Driveways

Over the past decade or so dozens of driveways have appeared in built using the block-paved technique. These are created using hundreds of purpose-made block-paving bricks which are butted together to form eye-catching and intricate patterns. The gaps that are left between the blocks are filled using kiln-dried sand which is rigorously brushed into the exposed joints, producing a neat and tidy finish. It might be a good idea to have your block-paved driveway sealed after 4 or 5 months with Everbuild sealant or something like that. This is crucial 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: It's also possible to build a Compliant with SuDS block paving driveway in, if that's what you require. By leaving wider spaces between the bricks and packing them with fine aggregate rather than the standard kiln-dried sand, you can achieve a porous surface that doesn't require planning permission. (Tags: Block Paving Driveways, Block Paved Driveway, Block Paving).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone is a driveway material that never loses its outstanding appearance even as it gets older. Selecting natural stone for your driveway will provide you with a lifetime of serviceable use for any car or vehicle and will look amazing from the first day until 50 years in the future. The natural colouring and depth of tone gives a quintessential appearance to every stone driveway, and delivers a bespoke and individual look to any garden. When expertly installed, a natural stone driveway has that much desired WOW factor that will complement any home or business premises.

A natural stone driveway is also easy to maintain, and is less susceptible to damage and cracking from weather than concrete based materials. The smooth surface of the stones makes them a lot easier to clean, and unwanted weeds find it harder to take root in the smaller joints of a natural stone driveway. You must look at a professionally laid stone driveway as an investment on your home's value.

Driveway Cleaning

If you are about to upgrade an existing driveway because your old one is starting to look scruffy, it will be significantly cheaper to clean it rather than change it. For many property owners, keeping their driveway clean isn't usually viewed as a priority. Nonetheless, cleaning a driveway is a process that should be performed on a regular basis, and is vital from both an aesthetic and maintenance viewpoint. If weeds, roots and other destructive plant growth are allowed to establish themselves, over the years they can severely weaken your driveway's composition and structure. A widening of existing holes or cracks can happen, and structural issues may develop if this harmful growth isn't eliminated.

When you notice that your driveway has stains, dirt or weed growth, it is better to get rid of them before the situation worsens. It is not a great idea to wait around for the spring or summer months to pressure wash your drive, although these are the periods when you're most likely to notice weed and moss growth. Stains from your car such as petrol, brake fluid and oil can ruin the look of your drive. You must clean these off immediately, so that any ugly staining of the driveway surface is averted.

To get your driveway thoroughly clean you will require the use of a power washer, and you will also need some other tools, for instance a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. If you're not clear about cleaning it yourself, or you haven't got the proper equipment, you could ask your driveway company if they're prepared to do it, or call in a specialist driveway cleaning service.

Tarmac Driveways

Due to its strength and durability, tarmac is a great choice for driveway surfaces. When installed by a competent driveway company, tarmac offers excellent weather resistant properties, looks great and does not need a lot of maintenance. A tarmac driveway can cope with larger vehicles, such as motor-homes and lorries, without dimpling or damage to the surface, and will look pristine for many years.

It offers fantastic value for money, and tarmac can be coloured to suit the surroundings or your property. You can custom-build a tarmac drive to suit your property or home, with numerous colours on offer. It's perfectly possible for a competent driveway contractor to lay a new tarmac driveway in a single day. A lot of homeowners opt for tarmac over other driveway materials because of its surface finish, durability, low maintenance qualities and quick installation.

Resin Driveways

One of the most popular sorts of driveway these days, resin or resin-bound driveways are permeable and compliant with SuDS. Resin-bound driveways can be tailor-made to your requirements and can be installed in a wide variety of different colours and patterns. If you've a pre-existing concrete or tarmac driveway, a brand new resin-bound surface can be laid over your existing surface. Resin-bound driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and the perfect substitute for concrete, tarmac, block paving or gravel. A resin driveway should give many years of excellent service, and when installed by a reputable contractor, come with a long guarantee.

Concrete Driveways

A much favoured material for driveways, concrete is durable, strong and needs very little maintenance. A straightforward choice for many householders, concrete costs less than block paving or resin, but if installed correctly is stronger and harder wearing. Most would acknowledge that concrete driveways in general are rather uninspiring and drab. But this does not have to be a problem, since it is possible to finish them off with a stamped or imprinted design.

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.

Easy Ways To Enhance Your Home's Curb Appeal

What is curb appeal? It is the way you can increase your home's value by making it look outstanding to any passersby. Basically, anyone going by your house is going to perceive it in a certain way. Many of the actions you can take in this area are simple and inexpensive, yet they are still very important because they are among the first things anyone notices when they see your home.

Something that adds to the curb appeal of your abode is the shape your windows are in. By all means, cleanliness of the windows is the first thing to make sure of. Nothing can detract from the look of a house than dirty windows. The above mentioned is crucial for the exterior and interior home alike. Glass that is destroyed in the windows should be taken care of as soon as possible, no matter where they are located, even in the basement. By all means, windows are crucial for not only their appearance but for insulation also. Provided your windows do not conserve energy well, replacing them might be what is needed. Assuming your home does not have shutters, contemplate getting them, because this is one attribute that is truly distinctive to a home's presentation, painting them the best color in particular.

It's possible that one could boost their residence curb appeal in the manner of making a few alterations that they didn't even realize were crucial. When one peers at something all day for a long time, sometimes they aren't aware of what it looks like to someone else. For instance, look intently at your garage door. Replacing the door is something that most people do not meditate on unless it no longer works. However, provided it is outdated and shabby, putting in a updated new one could produce a huge difference. The postal box is another item that is overlooked on a regular basis. 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.

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. Options include adding colorful flowers on either side that people will see as they walk toward your home. Similarly, a new driveway will impress everyone who drive up to your home. A sense of security is something that you should impart upon your driveway. You should also make it visually appealing. 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. Whether people walk or drive to your home, make it a positive experience for them.

Anyone that is trying to update the outward appearance of their home in an enticing manner should definitely consider the aspects of curb appeal. Aside from this, the type of improvements discussed in this article will give you and anyone who visits a better feeling about your household. The steps you take to improve curb appeal show the world that you really care about the condition and appearance of your home.

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