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If you do opt to press ahead with a driveway installation your next task will be to determine what kind of driveway you want. There are of course many types of driveway available, as I'm certain you will be aware, but these might not all be right for you. If you do not have a lot of money to spend on such a project, your choice of style and materials may be constrained by what you can comfortably afford. The design and composition of your driveway could additionally be impacted by the dimensions and layout of your garden.

While strolling around you'll doubtless have noticed all the various designs of driveway. You can choose 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 all of these will automatically be appropriate for your garden ground conditions and layout.

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 think that a driveway would not be of any interest to the local council, and would not be subject to planning permission requirements, but that presumption would quite often be incorrect. Driveways are actually covered by a raft of rules and regulations, and these apply on a national basis rather than just being locally binding. You'll only have to concern yourself with these regulations if you are laying a driveway in your front garden. This driveway legislation, which is called the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) has been in force since 2008, when it was first introduced as part of the Permitted Development Rights.

The SuDS legislation applies to driveways in front gardens with an area of more than five square metres. In order for your driveway to be compliant with SuDS it must be made out of a porous (permeable) material which allows the water to drain through it. Materials that are SuDS compliant would include: gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock. You can check out the SuDS legislation here - SuDS

Folks who don't have a problem with a bit of hard work and are fairly adept at DIY, might be tempted to install a driveway on their own. With such a lot of work involved with driveways including heavy digging, hauling materials and doing waste removal, no-one should consider this to be an easy undertaking. When push comes to shove, it might be wise to call in a professional driveway specialist, if you've got any concerns doing it yourself.

With this sort of task, you've got to be cautious of exactly who you choose, seeing that you clearly need to find somebody who knows precisely what they are doing. There are plenty of rogue traders and cowboys out there who will happily take your money and do a lousy job (or even no job at all in some instances!). If you are going to install a driveway you might as well get it done to a decent standard, even if it means spending a bit more on the project. It would be advisable to seek out locally based driveway and patio installers who've been serving customers in the area for the past few years.

When assessing installers 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).

This doesn't have to be an inquisition, however this questioning should give you an inkling of the sort of tradesperson that you're dealing with. Anybody who is ready to answer all your questions, and give assurances about the calibre of the work they'll be doing, will likely also be genuine and reliable. If they're uncertain or confrontational when asked these sorts of questions, you can presume that they are less than honest or hiding something - so give them a wide berth.

If you take care and pick an excellent driveway installer, they will help you make all the important decisions regarding your project, such as the recommended driveway design, the best materials and the favoured location. Before any real work commences your driveway paver will make sure that all the required design, preparation and planning work is in hand.

Gravel Driveways

The most economical and easiest of all the driveway styles is the gravel driveway. In rural settings, gravel driveways are particularly popular and can be extremely appealing regardless of their simplicity. Gravel can be acquired in a wide selection of sizes and shades, so you should have no trouble locating one that looks good in your garden. A efficient gravel driveway will need a sturdy and clearly-defined edging, and a good solid layer of hardcore. If you want a really high quality gravel driveway, you must make sure that 3 or 4 separate layers are applied, with each and every one individually rolled and left to settle for a day before the next is laid. You won't need to apply for planning permission with a gravel driveway, since it will be SuDS compliant no matter how big it is, or whether it is in your back or front garden.

Asphalt Driveways

Any home in will gain benefits from the "curb appeal" of the smooth, consistent appearance of a newly installed asphalt driveway. A reputable driveway contractor in will provide you with an asphalt drive which will give you years of pleasure, with virtually no maintenance involved. In high flood risk areas it might be necessary to have a porous drive, and there's a type of asphalt sub-base for rainwater drainage, which stops surplus water from over-filling highway drains.

Asphalt driveways offer very good value and asphalt is a strong, durable material which is designed to withstand freezing and thawing effects of a British winter. Asphalt is easily and cheaply repaired and maintained, and can be removed should circumstances change. If you are worried about the ecological impact of your driveway, you might be interested to know that asphalt can even be taken out and recycled for other uses. (Tags: Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway, Asphalt Driveway Recycling).

Block Paving Driveways

Block-paving driveways are among the most frequently seen designs in at the moment, and dozens of these seem to have appeared in recent years. Forming attractive and intricate designs, many hundreds of purpose-made block paving bricks are butted together to create a robust and hard wearing driveway. When the blocks are laid and tamped down, the gaps are filled with kiln-dried sand which is rigorously brushed into the exposed joints. After 4 or 5 months it is recommended to have your block paving driveway sealed with a suitable sealant (such as Rycal), this should help to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in lots of designs, including herringbone, stretcher bond, fan and basketweave.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Compliant with SuDS block paving driveways are quite achievable by adjusting the normal methodology. Bigger gaps than normal are allowed between the blockwork and instead of the usual kiln-dried sand, these are filled with a very fine aggregate material. (Tags: Block Paving Driveway, Block Paving, Block Paved Driveway).

Natural Stone Driveways

The features of natural stone means it only improves with age. Looking the business 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'll have a driveway that is totally bespoke to your house. The natural stone gives a warm, soft look to any driveway, and is part of that crucial WOW factor.

Driveways made from natural stone not only look fantastic, but they are low maintenance and less prone to being damaged than paving alternatives. The smooth surface of the stones makes them easy to keep clean, and weeds are less likely to take root in the narrower joints of a stone driveway. An expertly prepared and installed stone driveway is an investment which will add to the value of your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you don't have a driveway at this point in time, then clearly cleaning won't be needed, but this is certainly an issue you'll need to think about in the very near future. The process of keeping a driveway clean, is one of those things that a lot of property owners put off, or neglect altogether. Nevertheless, from both a maintenance and cosmetic perspective, cleaning your driveway is important, and this should be performed with a fair degree of regularity, not just once in a while. Over the years, the structure of your driveway can be severely weakened by roots, weeds and other organic plant growth. Existing cracks or crevices can be widened which might eventually trigger structural complications in your driveway.

If you notice that your driveway has stains, dirt or weeds, it's advisable to remove them before the situation worsens. Although, weed and moss growth is more obvious on your driveway during the spring and summertime, you shouldn't wait till then jet wash it. The appearance of your drive can be really spoilt by brake fluid, oil and diesel spots from your car. Thus it's crucial to immediately remove them to prevent the surface being stained too badly.

You'll need some tools and equipment such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, in conjunction with a power washer, so as to get your driveway thoroughly clean. If you are not certain about doing it yourself, or don't have the proper gear, you can ask your driveway installers if they are able to do it, or call in a specialist driveway cleaning service.

Tarmac Driveways

Because of its strength and durability, tarmac is a really good choice for surfacing a driveway. When laid professionally it offers outstanding weather resistant properties, requires little or no maintenance and looks amazing. Tarmac's strength and durability means it can cope with larger vehicles, like camper vans and lorries, without damaging the surface.

It offers fantastic value for money, and tarmac can be coloured to match the surroundings or your home. No longer do you need a drab, conventional looking driveway; you can customise your drive to a colour of your choosing. A tarmac drive is also one of the simplest to install, and many driveway projects are finished in a day. Lots of folks pick tarmac over other materials for their driveway because of its strength, quick installation, surface finish and low maintenance requirements.

Resin Driveways

One of the most popular forms of driveway nowadays, resin or resin-bound driveways are porous (permeable) and SuDS compliant. Available in a wide variety of colours and patterns, resin driveways can be tailor-made to your precise specifications, and installed to complement any theme or concept. If you've an existing tarmac or concrete driveway, a brand new resin surface can be laid on top of your existing one. Resin-bound driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a terrific substitute for gravel, block paving, asphalt or concrete. When installed by an experienced contractor, a resin driveway should come with a long guarantee and give you years of excellent service.

Concrete Driveways

Strong, hard wearing and requiring little maintenance, concrete is an excellent material for driveways. With regards to the cost, concrete is about middling for driveways, being dearer than gravel or tarmac, but cheaper than block paving and resin. For many property owners, the drawback of concrete is its rather drab and boring appearance, but this can be addressed by adding a patterned or stamped finish.

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 Simply Make the Outside of Your Dwelling Prettier

Curb appeal is an expression that real estate agents often use when they are talking about how to make a house look better to people who are shopping for a house. Curb appeal is something to consider even if you have not made the decision to sell your home. These are usually not things that will require a lot of attention, but at the same time will enhance your home immensely. Below we will offer you some methods you can apply for improved curb appeal.

The initial thought when you are thinking about improving your curb appeal is to give it a paint job. This is often a good idea, but it may not be necessary. You should inspect the existing paint for cracking, or blistering and if the color is satisfactory; you ought to simply power wash it. This is a lot easier and less expensive than a paint job, and the results can be almost as impressive. As time goes by so slow sometimes, it is hard to see the dirt and grime collect on your home. There are many places that will rent the power washers, in a wide range of prices, or you may decide to find a person to do it for you. Be careful not to miss any of the outer structures, like garage doors, fences, etc.

Possibly individuals may enhance their residence curb appeal in the manner of creating some advancements that they didn't truly realize were essential. 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. Until it breaks, the majority of people do not consider replacing it. Though if the door is dingy and old, a big difference could be had with an upscale new one. One other thing that can again and again be overlooked, is the mailbox. Purchasing a postal box doesn't cost a lot, however, provided the one you have is ancient and dirty, you will have a better outlook when you get a new one.

As an alternative to painting the outer surface of an individuals residence, they might want to meditate on hanging siding instead. It may make an individuals residence appear more youthful, and there are numerous alternatives for this. It is a possibility that the value of your house is increased by this and the insulation is improved. Stone or stucco veneer are other possibilities, which can give your home the look of a traditional stone or stucco house without the expense that the real materials would entail. Assuming you would desire to put stone veneer on the exterior of your residence or new siding, you should examine the myriad of choices out there and make a determination regarding what you are drawn to.

Curb appeal is one aspect of home improvement that you shouldn't overlook, especially if you want to sell your home. This article has shown you a variety of ways to introduce curb appeal to your home, however, these improvements can simply be done to make you happier. Curb appeal is all about the outward look of your home, and how others will perceive it once all of the modifications have been done.

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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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.

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