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If you believe a driveway is just the thing for your property, and you have plenty of space to put one, you will now need to determine what style of driveway you are going to construct. There are of course many types of driveway available, as I'm certain you will be well aware, but these may not all appeal to you. If you're working to a strict budget you might be somewhat limited in your choices. Your decision could also be impacted by the size and layout of your garden.

You might think "a driveway is just a driveway", however that's simply not the case, since there are many different styles and designs of driveway, and if you take a walk around, you will realise what I mean. You will 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 adaptions, and this will give you an idea about some of 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?

You might imagine that council planning permission is only required for significant assignments like loft conversions and extensions, but that's not necessarily true. Driveways are in fact governed by a number of rules and regulations, and these apply on a national scale rather than being just locally binding. However, at the present time, this regulation only affects driveways which are being installed in front gardens. The law that we are referring to here is the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System), which was introduced by the UK government in 2008.

The SuDS regulations apply to driveways in front gardens with an area of more than five square metres. Materials like gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock are SuDS compliant, and allow any excess surface water to drain through without any problems. Therefore, if you are building your driveway from one of these, you will not need to worry. If you think that the Sustainable Drainage Systems legislation will affect your planned driveway in TOWN, you can get detailed information here - Sustainable Drainage Systems

Householders who don't have an issue with a bit of hard graft and are pretty good at DIY, could be tempted to lay their own driveway. With so much hard work involved with driveways including heavy digging, carting materials and doing rubbish removal, no-one should imagine that this is a simple process. In most cases it is more sensible to bring in an established driveway contractor, who'll come armed with all the manpower, equipment and knowledge to complete the task correctly.

With this kind of task, you've got to be cautious of who you hire, as you plainly need someone who knows their stuff. Sadly, there are a lot of devious "rogue traders" around who will take full advantage of your circumstances and purport to be experts in this field. They'll either do second-rate work, or just grab your money and do a runner. It is well worth coughing up a bit more cash to get a decent job, rather than take a chance on using a substandard worker merely to save a few pounds. If a locally based driveway contractor has been running a business in the area for quite a few years, you can usually take it that they'll be pretty dependable, and a good choice for your driveway installation assignment.

When looking for suitable companies, it is advisable 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).

There is no need to be too pushy with these questions, given that what you are really endeavouring to do is get a perception of what type of tradesperson you're going to be working with. If they're relaxed about answering all of these questions, you can assume that they are genuine. If questions like this produce a hesitant or antagonistic response, then you should be doubtful of their credibility, and perhaps look at some alternative providers.

Once you've located an excellent driveway contractor, you can have a chat about all the possible driveway options including things like the best location, style and materials. And that's not all, because they'll also be on top of all the planning, design and preparation that is needed for your new driveway installation to go swimmingly.

Gravel Driveways

The easiest and most economical of all the available types is the gravel driveway. In rural locations, gravel driveways are especially favoured and can be very attractive in spite of their inherent simplicity. You should have no trouble finding a kind of gravel that looks great in your garden, as there are a host of sizes and colours available. A good solid base layer of hardcore is needed for a gravel drive to be effective, together with a well-bedded edging. If you would like a really top quality gravel driveway, you must ensure that three or four separate layers are put down, with each one individually tamped and rolled and left to settle for a day before the next one is laid. Gravel driveways are naturally SuDS compliant, consequently you won't need planning permission no matter how big your driveway is.

Asphalt Driveways

When you are looking for that extra touch of 'curb appeal' for your property or home in, an asphalt driveway, with its smooth uninterrupted surface, is an ideal choice. A skilled driveway company in will provide you with an asphalt driveway which will give you years of good service, with very little maintenance involved. If the local council imposes restrictions that stop non-permeable materials being used on driveways, so as to prevent local flooding, a unique permeable asphalt substrate permits rainwater to drain into a sub-layer.

Asphalt can easily withstand the freeze-thaw impact of British winters, and is outstanding value for money when compared to several other driveway alternatives. Because of how asphalt is made, it is also cheap and simple to maintain, repair and if required, remove. If you are concerned about the environmental impact of your driveway installation in, it's good to know that asphalt can even be taken out and recycled for re-use elsewhere. (Tags: Asphalt Driveway Recycling, Asphalt Driveway, Asphalt Driveways).

Block Paved Driveways

Scores of driveways have appeared in over the last few years, created using the block-paved process, which can be very effective when carried out correctly. These are crafted using hundreds of purpose-made block-paving bricks which are butted together to form attractive and elaborate patterns. As soon as the blocks have been put down, they are tamped down firmly, and special kiln-dried sand is brushed into the exposed joints. It might be a good idea to have your block paving driveway sealed after five or six months with Thompsons sealant or something similar. This is crucial to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in lots of designs, including fan, stretcher bond, basket weave and herringbone.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Block paving driveways can also be made to comply with SuDS, by simply leaving wider than standard gaps between the bricks, which are then packed with fine shingle in place of the usual kiln-dried sand.

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone, as a driveway material, never loses its eye-catching appearance even as it grows older. Looking amazing from day one to year fifty, a natural stone driveway will give you a whole lifetime of use for any vehicle. It provides your home with a driveway that, thanks to the different colours and tones of the individual stones, is entirely bespoke to you. The natural stone gives a warm, soft edge to any driveway, and is part of that much sought after curb appeal.

A driveway made from natural stone is also much easier to maintain, and is less vulnerable to weather damage than concrete based materials. The smooth surface of the natural stones makes them much easier to keep clean, and unwanted weeds are less likely to gain a foothold in the narrower joints of a natural stone driveway. A natural stone driveway installed by an experienced TOWN driveway company should be looked on as a great investment which will bump up the price of your property.

Driveway Cleaning

If you do not currently have a driveway in your garden, then clearly cleaning won't be needed, however this is certainly an issue you will have to plan for in the future. Keeping a driveway clean isn't usually a priority for the majority of TOWN property owners. Nonetheless, cleaning a driveway is vital from both an aesthetic and maintenance perspective, and this process should really be conducted fairly frequently. Your driveway's structure can be severely weakened over the years, by unwanted weeds and plant growth. Existing cracks and crevices can be widened which can ultimately trigger structural problems in your driveway.

As soon as you discover stains, dirt or weeds on your drive, it's recommended that you get rid of them at the earliest opportunity. Although, the spring and summer season is when you most notice the appearance of weeds and moss, you ought not wait until them to clean your drive. If brake fluid, oil and diesel is spilled from your car, the appearance of your drive can be really compromised. You should get these removed quickly, so that any ugly discolouration of the driveway surface is prevented.

If you're cleaning the driveway yourself, you will need the use of a pressure washing device, and to accomplish it correctly you'll also need some additional equipment and tools, such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. If you haven't got the correct gear, or aren't certain about doing it yourself, you should bring in a professional driveway cleaning service, or ask your driveway installers if they are able to do it.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac offers both a resilient and strong surface which makes it a perfect option for driveways. When it's installed by a proficient driveway company, tarmac requires hardly any maintenance, offers superb weather resistant properties and looks good. The resilience of a tarmac driveway means it can withstand the daily use of heavier vehicles, like camper vans, with no ridges or damage being noticeable on the surface.

Tarmac is also excellent value and is available in an assortment of colours to complement your property and surrounding areas. No longer do you need a boring, traditional looking driveway; you can customise your drive to the colour of your choice. The installation of tarmac driveways is reasonably easy and can frequently be accomplished by a competent driveway contractor in one day. Tarmac is truly an ideal material for just about any driveway, because of its ease of installation, low maintenance properties and resilience.

Resin-Bound Driveways

Among the most flexible and attractive kinds of driveway that are available at this time, resin or resin-bound driveways are becoming increasingly more popular and are also SuDS compliant, if that is what you are in need of. Resin-bound driveways come in a whole host of patterns and colours that can be tailor-made to your exact specifications. For a lot less mess and hassle a new resin driveway can easily be laid on top of an existing concrete or tarmac surface. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and an excellent alternative to block paving, gravel, concrete or asphalt. A resin driveway should give many years of good service, and when installed by an authorised contractor, come with a long guarantee. (Tags: Resin Driveways, Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin-Bonded Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

Well suited for building driveways, and a much favoured material for years, concrete has got the advantage of being durable, strong and largely maintenance-free. Being more pricey that tarmac or gravel, but substantially cheaper than some of the other options (i.e. block paving or resin), concrete is an easy choice for many folks. If you find concrete driveways to be quite boring and drab, it's quite possible to add a patterned or imprinted design 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.

Increasing Your Havens Landscape Attraction

Ways abound where you can increase your residence landscape when consideration is given. Those that own their own home could misjudge the importance of this due to the fact it is simply a surface problem. Still, provided you have a desire to see your home sold, or just desire to make it prettier and comforting, what looks like it's not a big deal could actually be important. If your dwelling has a curb that is alluring, it is suggestive that the owner is meticulous and considerate.

As it pertains to curb appeal, the doorway to your home is vitally important. This includes your front door, front porch and the pathway leading up to your door. A simple way to enhance the way your house looks in the front is to put in a new front door. Based upon the appearance of your abode, there are numerous possibilities, vintage and contemporary doors included. The above mentioned is frequently the number one thing that possible buyers or visitors will pay attention to, therefore you will want to create the greatest impression that you can. A gorgeous and amazing doorbell or knocker can be a beautification that is nice. Examine the components apart from your door, like names or addresses on the assumption it is not connected to the anterior of your dwelling place. Generally the appearances of these are in sad shape and substituting them can create a big difference though they aren't costly.

You can use simple decorations to make the outside of your home seem festive and welcoming. Spending lots of money on this project really is unnecessary; the main thing you want to consider is what you actually want to do. You might want to add potted plants on the front porch, as well as the back porch, so that you can make the outside look environment friendly. Choose a few specific locations (windowsills, front porch, etc.) that you think would benefit from adding foliage to the front of your home. Wicker furniture, even wrought iron outdoor chairs and tables, will make the entire front of your home look very livable. Even the lawn decorations can spruce up the front of your house; if overdone, it can detract from everything else.

Although there may be alternatives to having green grass out front, it would definitely be a good change, especially in regard to upkeep, to have something other than a lawn to mow. Landscaping alternatives that require less water and maintenance are now becoming more popular replacing the staple green lawn. 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. If you are looking for something low maintenance, with exceptional landscaping design, xeriscaping may be for you. This is especially appropriate in areas that are prone to droughts, but you can use the principles of xeriscaping anywhere that you live.

Curb appeal can involve many factors, so it's a good idea to consider your home from every angle. Make an account of anything that requires your consideration if there are a lot, then put them in the order of importance. Scheduling a time to take care of these is the next thing you want to do, even if you are going to pay someone to do the work or do it alone. The above-mentioned tips for creating an enhanced curb could point you in the correct way, and maybe aid you in coming up with your own plans.

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.

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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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