Driveway Installers

If you feel a driveway is right for your home, and you've got ample space to put one, you'll now have to determine what type of driveway you are going to choose. There are of course numerous different types of driveway available, as I am sure you will be aware, but these might not all appeal to you. If you haven't got a lot of money to commit to this project, your choice of style and materials may be constrained by what you can comfortably afford. The layout and size of your available space might also have an impact on your decision.

You might just think "a driveway is a driveway", but that simply isn't true, seeing as there are various different types and designs of driveway, and if you take a walk around, you'll soon realise what I'm saying. You will be able to pick 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, although not every one of these will actually be suited to 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 may believe that council planning permission is only needed for loft conversions, extensions and other correspondingly major undertakings, but this isn't automatically the case. There are in fact regulations pertaining to the laying of driveways, and those are nationally binding rules, not simply local. However, at this juncture, these laws only affect driveways being laid in front gardens. Ever since 2008 driveway installations in front gardens in Britain have come under the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), which was brought in by the government at the time.

A driveway of over five square metres, that is being built in a front garden is going to be impacted by the SuDS legislation. In order for a driveway to be SuDS compliant it has to be made from a porous (permeable) material that permits the rainwater to drain through it. Materials that comply with SuDS include: gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock. It is possible to have a look at the Sustainable Drainage Systems legislation here - SuDS

Clearly it is quite feasible to lay your own driveway, if you are fairly good at do-it-yourself and enjoy a touch of hard work. With so much work involved with driveways including doing waste removal, manhandling materials and heavy digging, nobody should presume that this is an easy undertaking. If you're in any doubt about doing this, it may be best to call in a professional driveway contractor to do the work for you.

Genuine tradesmen are sometimes not that easy to track down in relation to performing this type of work, therefore you need to take care and choose the right company or person. You should keep an eye out for rogue traders and cowboys who are renowned for targeting this kind of project, and can soon catch you unawares. If you would like your finished driveway to endure, and to look great for many years to come, you might as well get it done to a decent standard and by somebody with some experience. The best option will generally be a patio and driveway company who's been been providing their services in and around your area for a good few years, and who has a strong track record locally.

When assessing these installers, you should at the very least 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).

There's no need to be excessively aggressive with this questioning, seeing that what you are really aiming to do is get an idea about the type of tradesman you're planning to work with. Anybody who's willing to answer all of your questions, and put your mind at rest about the standard of work they do, will likely also be genuine and reliable. If they sound uncertain or hostile when asked these kinds of questions, you can deem that they're less than honest or hiding something - so give them a miss.

As soon as you have discovered an excellent driveway specialist, you can ask for guidance about all the potential driveway options including things like the best style, location and materials. And that is not the end of it, because they'll also be on top of all the preparation, design and planning that's necessary for your new driveway installation to go smoothly.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the available styles, the ubiquitous gravel driveway is the most economical and simplest. In rural settings, gravel driveways are especially popular and can be very attractive regardless of their simplicity. Because there is such an array of gravel sizes and shades, you should have no issues finding one that you are satisfied with. A effective gravel driveway will need a clearly-defined and sturdy edging, and a good solid layer of hardcore. The finest 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 down before laying the following layer. No matter what size your driveway is, or if it is in your back or front garden, if it is constructed from gravel it will not need planning permission, since it will be SuDS compliant.

Asphalt Driveways

Any home in will gain benefits from the curb appeal of the smooth, continuous appearance of an asphalt driveway. For optimum outcome make sure you hire a reputable asphalt company who will provide a driveway that lasts a lifetime and needs very little maintenance. In high flood risk areas it may be necessary to have a porous drive, and there's an asphalt type, with sub-base for rainwater drainage, which stops surplus water from filling up highway drains.

Asphalt driveways are very well designed to hold up to anything that winters can chuck at them, and deliver very good value for money. It's also the simplest driveway substance to repair or remove because of its manufacturing process. If you're concerned about the environmental impact of your driveway installation, you might be interested to know that asphalt can be removed and recycled for re-use elsewhere. (Tags: Asphalt Driveway Recycling, Asphalt Driveway, Asphalt Driveways).

Block Paved Driveways

Dozens of driveways have popped up in in recent times, created using the block-paved process, which can be extremely effective when done correctly. Forming a hard-wearing, sturdy driveway, hundreds of specially designed block paving bricks are butted together in attractive and intricate designs which can be personalized to meet your requirements. The gaps between the blocks are filled up with kiln-dried sand which is rigorously brushed into the joints, resulting in a pleasing finish. It is preferable to have your block-paved driveway sealed after four or five months with Thompsons sealant or similar. This is essential to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in a number of patterns, including basketweave, stretcher bond, herringbone and fan.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: It is even possible to install a SuDS compliant block paving driveway in, if that's what you need. By leaving bigger gaps between the bricks and packing them with a fine shingle as opposed to the traditional kiln-dried sand, you are able to accomplish a porous surface that doesn't need planning permission. (Tags: Block Paving Driveways, Block Paving, Block Paved Driveway).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone is fantastic as a driveway material because it always improves with age. Selecting a natural stone finish on your driveway will provide you with an entire lifetime of use for any car or vehicle and will look amazing from the first day until fifty years in the future. It provides your property with a driveway that, thanks to the distinctive colours and hues of the individual stones, is wholly bespoke to you. It offers that all important curb appeal and wow factor that every homeowner yearns for.

Natural stone driveways not only look stunning, but they're easy to maintain and less at risk of damage than paved alternatives. The smooth surface of the stones means that they are a lot easier to keep clean, and unwanted weeds are less likely to sprout up in the narrower gaps of a natural stone driveway. A natural stone driveway installed by a professional company should be looked at as a smart investment that will improve the value of your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you are planning to upgrade an existing driveway because your current one is starting to look scruffy, it would be considerably less costly to clean it, if you think that will help. The process of keeping a driveway clean, is something that many homeowners put off, or overlook altogether. However, from both a maintenance and visual viewpoint, cleaning a driveway is vital, and this process should be completed with some regularity, not just now and then. If roots, weeds and other unwanted plant growth are allowed to establish themselves, over time they can severely weaken the structure of your driveway. Existing cracks and crevices can be enlarged which may ultimately lead to structural problems in your driveway.

If dirt, stains or weed growth show up on your driveway, removing them as soon as possible is advisable. However, moss and weeds are certainly more visible on your drive during the spring and summertime, you shouldn't wait till then to give it a good clean. The appeal of your drive can be really blighted by oil, brake fluid and petrol spills from your vehicle. You should clean these off quickly, so that any a permanent discolouration of your driveway surface is avoided.

To clean your driveway properly you will need to use a jet washing machine, and you will also need some other tools and equipment, for example a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. You can get in touch with a professional driveway cleaning service, if you're not clear about doing it yourself, or you haven't got the proper gear.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac provides a strong and durable surface which makes it an ideal choice for a driveway. It needs little maintenance, is weatherproof and looks amazing, when laid by a professional driveway company. The durability of a tarmac driveway means that it is able to withstand daily wear and tear from larger and heavier vehicles, such as camper vans and lorries, with no ridges or damage being inflicted on the surface.

If you want to colour tarmac, it is incredibly easy to do so, and it offers exceptional value for money compared to other types of driveway. You can customise a tarmac drive to match your home or property, with a wide range of colours available. The installation of a tarmac driveway is reasonably simple and can often be achieved by a competent driveway contractor in a day. Tarmac really is a decent material for any driveway, because of its straightforward installation, low maintenance properties and resilience.

Resin-Bound Driveways

There is very little doubt that recently resin driveways have become one of the most favoured forms of driveway. The added advantage that they're compliant with SuDS of course further increases their attraction. Available in an array of colours and patterns, resin-bound driveways can be custom-made to your precise requirements, and installed to match any concept or theme. If you've a current asphalt or concrete driveway, an attractive 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 good alternative to block paving, tarmac, concrete or gravel. A resin-bound driveway should give many years of excellent service, and when laid by a trusted installer, come with a long warranty. (Tags: Resin-Bonded Driveways, Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

Durable, strong and needing hardly any maintenance, concrete is an ideal material for driveways. Being more pricey that asphalt or gravel, but considerably cheaper than some of the other alternatives (i.e. resin or block paving), concrete is a straightforward choice for many home and business owners. If you find concrete driveways to be quite drab and boring, it's perfectly possible to add a patterned or imprinted surface finish to make them look like cobblestones or pebbles.

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.

How To Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal

Curb appeal refers to the appearance of your home, especially from the outside. You really want to make you outside of your home look better when you're trying to sell it to enhance its overall curb appeal. Even if you are not going to move, by improving the curb appeal of your home, you will be more proud of where you live and visitors will appreciate it too. So let's look at some easy ways to upgrade your home's curb appeal.

The initial thought when you are thinking about improving your curb appeal is to give it a paint job. Even though this may sound like the place to start, you might need to think twice. Examine the paint for things like signs of aging or flaking; then if the color is reasonable, you might just need to give it a power wash. This is a lot easier and less expensive than a paint job, and the results can be almost as impressive. When the grime builds up as slow as it does, it is hard to imagine it until you see the difference after washing. You have the option to rent a power washer to do the job or you can pay someone to do it for you. Be careful not to miss any of the outer structures, like garage doors, fences, etc.

The colors of your home are very important to consider. Think carefully! A simple exercise would be to imagine your home a completely different color and then compare it against the color that it is now. 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. 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. Walk around the outside of your house, from front to back and consider how you could make better use of colors and what changes might make it more appealing.

It would be a misconception to feel that you do not need to think about curb appeal at night. The right use of lighting can make a big difference to your home's atmosphere. It can look tacky when some of your stoop lights are not working; this area should be bright. If you have a garden in your backyard, consider installing some attractive lights to make it visible at night. Outside lights are available in a lot of different designs; like old fashioned lanterns or trendy solar lights. These types of lights are helpful when it is dreary, night or daytime, and will give your friends, family as well as possible home buyers a safe feeling when they visit.

There are numerous types of enhancements that will make your home more attractive. While you may be focused on interior plans such as your kitchen or floors, you shouldn't neglect the outside either. Hopefully you now have some hints on what you can try to uplift your curb appeal; when you think you have done it all, take a look around and you may notice some projects that you may not have noticed before.

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