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Your next step, if you do decide to press ahead with a driveway installation will be make a choice about what sort of driveway will be the most suitable for your circumstances. For a number of reasons, not all types of driveway will be of interest to you, and there are clearly lots to choose from. Your options may be to some extent limited if you happen to be working to a tight budget. Other stuff that may affect your choice will be the dimensions and layout of your available space, and precisely how the driveway is going to sit with your property appearance wise.

You might just say "a driveway is a driveway", but that simply isn't the case, as there are various different designs and styles of driveway, and if you were to take a wander around, you will see what I mean. You should 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 forms, but this will still give you a concept of all the potential options.

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?

While you might think that you can just stick a driveway anywhere you like on your land, this isn't necessarily true. There are nationally binding regulations covering the laying of driveways, not just local ones. You'll only have to be concerned with these regulations if you are installing a driveway in your front garden. The legislation that is currently in effect originate from a government act of 2008 - the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System).

Driveways being laid in front gardens which have an area in excess of 5m2 are impacted by the SuDS legislation. You don't have to stress about this if you make your driveway from a permeable (porous) substance such as gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, which allow the water to pass through and drain away naturally. Check here - Sustainable Drainage Systems - if you think that the SuDS legislation might affect your planned driveway in TOWN.

People who enjoy a bit of hard graft and are fairly good at do-it-yourself, might be tempted to have a stab at laying their own driveway. With so much work involved including hauling materials, doing waste removal and heavy digging, no-one should assume that this is an easy undertaking. If you're in any doubt about this, it might be a good idea to call in a professional driveway contractor to do the work for you.

With this sort of work, you've got to be careful about exactly who you employ, seeing as you clearly need to find somebody who knows the score. It is wise to be on the lookout for cowboys and rogue traders who are well known for targeting this sort of project, and can can soon catch you out if you aren't careful. Even if it means having to spend a little more on the enterprise, you might as well have it done to a decent standard by a professional. If a locally based driveway contractor has been advertising and working in and around your area for the last few years, it is reasonable to assume that they will be reliable, and a solid choice for your installation project.

When screening contractors for your driveway project, you need 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).

Asking for such pertinent information ought to give you a perception of the sort of tradesperson that you're going to be dealing with, but it doesn't have to be the Spanish Inquisition. If they are relaxed about answering all your questions, you can safely consider that they're honest. If they sound hesitant or hostile when asked these questions, you can deduce that they're less than honest or hiding something - so give them a wide berth.

Once you've located an experienced driveway contractor, you can have a discussion about all the potential driveway options including the best style, materials and location. And that is not all, because they'll also be on top of all the design, preparation and planning that's necessary for your new driveway.

Gravel Driveways

The simplest and most economical of all the available styles is the ubiquitous gravel driveway. In a rural location, gravel driveways are particularly favoured and can be very attractive despite their inherent simplicity. Gravel can be purchased in an array of shades and sizes, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one that looks amazing in your garden. A efficient gravel driveway will require a substantial and well-defined edging, and a good solid layer of hardcore. If you are looking for a really high quality gravel driveway, you should make sure that three or four separate layers are put down, with each one individually rolled and left to settle for a day before the next is laid. No matter what size your driveway is, or whether it is in your front or back garden, if it is built from gravel it won't require planning permission, as it will automatically be SuDS compliant. (Tags: Aggregate Driveways, Gravel Driveways, Shingle Driveways).

Asphalt Driveways

Any home or property in will gain benefits from the "curb appeal" of the smooth, uninterrupted appearance of an asphalt driveway. For the optimal outcome make sure you employ a reputable asphalt company who will provide a driveway that lasts for many years and needs a bare minimum of maintenance. There are even permeable asphalt driveways so that rain can drain away into a sub-grade reservoir, instead of running off into road drainage systems, which can cause localised flood risks.

Asphalt driveways are well designed to withstand anything that typical winters can throw at them, and offer very good value. Due to how asphalt is manufactured, it is also cheap and simple to repair, maintain and if required, remove. If you're concerned about the environmental impact of your driveway installation, you might be interested to learn that asphalt can even be taken out and recycled for re-use elsewhere.

Block Paving Driveways

Scores of driveways have popped up in in recent years, created using the block-paved method, which can be extremely successful when carried out correctly. These are fashioned using purpose-made block-paving bricks which butt together forming eye-catching and sometimes intricate designs. After the blocks are put down and tamped down, the gaps are filled with kiln-dried sand which is rigorously brushed into the exposed joints. After 4 or 5 months a good idea is to get your block paving driveway sealed with a high quality sealant (like Everbuild), this should help to stop weed growth. Block paving can be made very attractive and can be laid a number of different patterns, including stretcher bond, fan, basketweave and herringbone.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Compliant with SuDS block paved driveways are quite achievable by slightly adjusting the normal technique. Bigger spaces than normal are allowed between the blockwork and as opposed to the standard kiln-dried sand, these can then be packed with a fine shingle material. (Tags: Block Paved Driveways, Block Paving Driveway, Block Paving).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone, as a driveway surface, never loses its outstanding appearance even as it grows older. This compact and dense material looks fabulous on a driveway and will give a whole lifetime of good service for any cars or vehicles you might own throughout the years. The natural colouring and depth of tone gives a quintessential appearance to a stone driveway, and provides a bespoke look to any property. When correctly installed, a natural stone driveway has that much desired curb appeal that will complement any home or business premises.

Natural stone driveways not only look attractive, but they're easy to maintain and less at risk of being damaged than paved alternatives. The smooth surface of the natural stones means that they're a lot easier to keep clean, and weeds find it harder to take hold in the narrower joints of a stone driveway. An expertly prepared and installed natural stone driveway is a sound investment that will add value and appeal to your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you already have a driveway, but it is starting to look a little scruffy, you might manage to make it look better by cleaning it. The process of cleaning a driveway, is one of those things that many property owners postpone, or overlook entirely. Nevertheless, from both a maintenance and cosmetic viewpoint, cleaning your driveway is important, and this ought to be done on a fairly regular basis, not just now and then. Weeds and unwanted plant growth can weaken your driveway's structure as time passes. An enlargement of existing cracks or holes can happen, and structural complications can develop if this growth is not eradicated.

If you notice that your drive has dirt, weed growth or stains, it's better to get rid of them before they get any worse. Although, most householders wait around until the spring and summer months to jet or pressure wash their drives, primarily because moss and weeds are more obvious at that time of year. The appearance of your drive can be seriously spoilt by oil, brake fluid and diesel spots from your vehicle. To avoid a permanent discolouration of your driveway's surface, it's therefore important to remove them immediately.

You'll need a few tools such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, in conjunction with a power washing machine, so as to get your driveway suitably clean. You could bring in a specialist driveway cleaning service, if you are not clear about doing it yourself, or don't have the correct gear.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac is a favourite surface for driveways because of its strength and durability. When laid by a professional driveway company it looks fantastic, requires very little maintenance and is weather resistant. The resilience of a tarmac driveway means that it is able to withstand the daily use of heavier vehicles, such as camper vans, with no ridges or damage being inflicted on the surface.

It offers great value for money, and tarmac can be coloured to fit in with the surroundings or your property. Tarmac allows you to go above and beyond a traditional black surface and colour it to complement your property. The installation of a tarmac driveway is fairly simple and can often be accomplished by a skilled driveway contractor in a day. This ease of installation, in conjunction with its high durability and simple maintenance makes a tarmac driveway a great alternative for just about any home.

Resin Driveways

One of the most popular styles of driveway in recent times, resin driveways are porous and compliant with SuDS. Resin driveways can be installed in a wide range of designs and patterns that can be customized to your precise specifications. For a lot less hassle and mess a new resin driveway can soon be laid on top of a pre-existing concrete or tarmac surface. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a good substitute for concrete, block paving, gravel or tarmac. Typically coming with a long warranty when installed by a trusted professional, a resin-bound driveway should give you excellent service for many years to come. (Tags: Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin Driveways, Resin-Bonded Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

A much favoured material for driveways, concrete is strong, hard wearing and requires very little maintenance. Being more costly that gravel or tarmac, but substantially cheaper than some of the other options (i.e. block paving or resin), concrete is a straightforward choice for many property owners. For many folks, the drawback of concrete is its rather drab and boring appearance, but this can be addressed by adding a patterned or stamped finish. (Tags: Patterned Concrete Driveways, Concreted Driveways, Concrete Driveways).

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.

Great Techniques for a Great Curb Appearance for Your Home

The term curb appeal references how your home looks on the outside from the street. When considering home improvement projects, this is always something to think about, especially if you're trying to sell your home. It is important that you appreciate the way that your home looks, which is why improving the curb appeal is something you ought to do anyway. The following paragraphs will detail several ways that your home's curb appeal can be dramatically improved.

Among the many projects you could take on for a new look to make your home have a more attractive curb appeal, would be painting. Even though this may sound like the place to start, you might need to think twice. If you like the color of your home's exterior and the paint isn't too old or chipped, you might want to consider power washing it. You will be amazed at the difference it will make and it will be a lot easier on you pocketbook. It is unbelievable how filthy your home can get without you even knowing it is happening. You can find people that will do the job for you for a reasonable amount, or you can really save and do the job yourself by renting the unit. You need to be meticulous and not leave any washable service untouched.

Take in the front yard as well as the back. . Are the yards attractive and uncluttered, or are they strewn with all sorts of things, toy or tools? The way your yard/yards look, is a huge determinant in terms of an appealing curb. On the assumption that your yard is a disaster, cleaning it up will be worthwhile. Move any objects that hinder your ability to go through your yard with ease. Unwanted vegetation or small trees that should be cut are problems that you need to deal with. Provided your children walk away from their toys after playing with them in the yard, educate them in putting them where they belong when they are done.

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. This can make your insulation better and make your home more valuable as well. Different options are stucco veneer or stone, these could provide your dwelling with the appearance of a stucco or stone house without having to pay for all of the real elements you would need. Provided one wants to think about siding that is new, or something similar to stone veneer for the outside of their dwelling, they ought to study all of the various choices and make the decision about what appeals to them the most.

Extreme satisfaction can be had as you exert yourself to enhance your abodes curb appeal. Every little action that you take, whether it's making your lawn look better, painting the deck or improving the driveway will make your home nicer and more valuable. Individuals could put the spotlight on easy to do actions that don't cost a lot of money or greater home modifications, still every course you take will make your curb more appealing.

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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• Driveway Services
• Gravel Driveways
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• Driveway Estimates
• Concrete Driveways
• Tarmac Driveways
• Commercial Driveway Installation
• Driveways
• Asphalt Driveways
• Brick Driveways
• Driveway Installation
• Stone Driveways
• Block Paving Driveways
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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.

Resin Driveways - Gravel Driveways - Residential Driveway Installation - Cheap Driveways - Concrete Driveways - Commercial Driveway Installation - Driveway Pavers - Driveway Services - Tarmac Driveways