Latest Pages

If you think that a driveway is right for you, and you've got adequate space to install one, you will now need to establish what form of driveway you're going to choose. For various reasons, not every kind of driveway will be of interest to you, and there are clearly lots to choose from. Costs will fluctuate appreciably across these various styles of driveway, thus your choices could be limited if you only have a certain amount of capital to spend. The makeup and design of your driveway may also be impacted by the layout and size of your garden area.

There are various different designs and types of driveway, as you'll probably have observed whilst strolling around. 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 states of repair, however this should still give you an understanding of all the possible choices.

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 imagine that planning permission is only needed for big undertakings like extensions and loft conversions, but this is not always true. There is in fact legislation addressing the installation of driveways, and those are nationally binding rules, not just local. As we speak these regulations only apply to driveways in FRONT gardens. Ever since 2008 driveway installations in the UK have come under the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), which was brought in by the Labour government.

A driveway in excess of 5m2, that is being built in a front garden will be subject to the SuDS regulations. This demands that your driveway is constructed from gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, so that surface water can easily soak away safely and not cause flooding. It is possible to take a look at the SuDS regulations here - SuDS

Of course it's perfectly feasible for you to build your own driveway, if you're fairly good at DIY and relish a bit of hard work. However you should not imagine that installing a driveway is a simple task by any means, seeing that aside from the laying of the driveway there is a lot of manhandling materials, digging out and waste removal associated with this kind of project. In most cases it would be much wiser to call in a specialist driveway contractor, who'll come armed with all the equipment, manpower and knowledge to accomplish the task correctly.

With driveway installers, much like some other building related occupations, you've got to be careful of who you choose to let loose on your property. Cowboys and rogue traders are always lurking around in the area, their work will be inferior and some can even grab your money and disappear into the ether without accomplishing anything at all. If you are going to install a driveway you may as well do it to a decent standard, even if that means spending a little more on the project. It would be a good idea to look for locally based driveway and patio companies who have been working in the area for several years.

When assessing 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 relevant information should give you a sense of the type of person that you are dealing with, but it doesn't have to be an inquisition. Any driveway installer in TOWN who's happy to answer all your questions, and put your mind at rest about the calibre of the work they will be doing, will most likely also be trustworthy and honest. If they act in a confrontational or uncertain way when asked these questions, you can deduce that they're hiding something or being less than honest - so avoid them like the plague.

If you pick your driveway paver carefully you'll find that they can offer you lots of practical advice and guidance about the ideal materials to use and the recommended type of driveway for your home. Before any actual work commences your driveway specialist will make sure that all the required planning, design and preparation work is looked after.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the types, the ubiquitous gravel driveway is the cheapest and easiest. In spite of their simplicity gravel driveways can be an extremely eye-catching option, particularly in rural locations where they are the most popular. Gravel can be purchased in a host of sizes and colours, so you should have no problem finding one that looks great in your garden. A robust base layer of hardcore is essential for a gravel drive to be successful, along with a well-bedded edging. If you want to end up with a really top quality gravel driveway, you must make sure that 3 or 4 separate layers are applied, with each one individually rolled and tamped and left to settle for a day or so before the next one is laid. Irrespective of what size your driveway is, or if it's in your back or front garden, if it is constructed from gravel it won't need to apply for planning permission, since it will be SuDS compliant.

Asphalt Driveways

When you're looking for 'curb appeal' for your property or home in, an asphalt driveway, with its smooth consistent surface, is an ideal choice. A professional driveway company in will supply you with an asphalt driveway which will give you years of good service, with a bare minimum of maintenance required. It is even possible to install permeable asphalt solutions so that rain is allowed to drain away into a sub-layer, instead of running off into highway drains, which are known to lead to localised flood risks.

Asphalt driveways offer extremely good value for money and asphalt is a durable, strong material that's perfect for enduring the freezing and thawing effects of a typical British winter. Asphalt is cheap and simple to repair and maintain, and isn't too difficult to remove should your circumstances change in the future. It could be considered the most environmentally friendly of hard driveway materials because it is even possible to recycle an asphalt driveway for use in a different location.

Block Paving Driveways

Dozens of driveways have sprung up in over the last few years, built using the block-paving process, which can be extremely effective when done properly. These are crafted using hundreds of specially designed block-paving bricks which butt together forming eye-catching and elaborate patterns. The gaps that are left between these blocks are filled using kiln-dried sand which is rigorously brushed into the exposed joints, resulting in a pleasing finish. To get the best performance and longest life out of your new block-paved driveway, you need to get it properly sealed after five or six months to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in a lot of patterns, including basketweave, fan, herringbone and stretcher bond.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: It is also possible to build a To comply with SuDS block paved driveway in, if that's what you need. By leaving wider spaces between the bricks and filling them with fine aggregate in place of the standard kiln-dried sand, you are able to create a permeable paved surface that doesn't call for planning permission. (Tags: Block Paving Driveways, Block Paving, Block Paved Driveway).

Natural Stone Driveways

The features of natural stone means it only improves with age. The dense and compact material looks great on any driveway and will provide a lifetime of use for any vehicles you might park on it. It provides your garden with a driveway that, owing to the distinctive tones and colours of the individual stones, is entirely bespoke to you. The natural stone gives a soft, warm edge to any driveway, and adds to that crucial curb appeal.

A natural stone driveway is also a lot easier to maintain, and is less vulnerable to weather damage than concrete materials. The smooth surface of the natural stones makes them much easier to clean, and weeds are less likely to gain a foothold in the smaller gaps of a stone driveway. A professionally prepared and installed stone driveway is a sound investment that will only add value to your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you are planning to replace an existing driveway since your old one is starting to look scruffy, it is going to be considerably less costly to clean it, if you think that may help. The process of cleaning a driveway, is something that lots of folks delay, or overlook altogether. Nonetheless, cleaning a driveway is crucial from both an aesthetic and maintenance viewpoint, and this should really be completed fairly frequently. The structure of your driveway can be severely weakened with time, by unwanted weeds and other plant growth. A widening of existing driveway cracks or fractures can happen, and structural issues could occur if this growth isn't eradicated.

If you discover that your drive has stains, dirt or weed growth, it is better to remove them before things get worse. It isn't the best option to hold out for the spring and summertime to power wash your drive, even though these are the periods when you are most likely to notice the appearance of weed and moss growth. If oil, diesel and brake fluid leaks from your car, the look of your drive can be seriously spoilt. To prevent unattractive discolouration of the surface, it's therefore crucial to get them cleaned immediately.

To get your driveway completely clean you'll need to use a pressure washer, and you'll also need some other tools, such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. If you are not certain about cleaning it yourself, or you don't have the correct equipment, you can ask your driveway installers if they are able to do it, or contact a specialist driveway cleaning service.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac provides a durable and strong surface making it a really good choice for a driveway. When it's installed by a proficient driveway company, tarmac requires almost no maintenance, looks great and offers excellent weatherproof properties. The strength of a tarmac driveway means that it is able to withstand daily wear and tear from heavier and larger vehicles, like camper vans, with no ridges or damage being noticeable on the surface.

If you want to colour tarmac, it is incredibly easy to do so, and it offers excellent value for money in comparison with alternative driveway options. Tarmac enables you to go above and beyond a traditional black surface and have it coloured to tie in with your house. It is possible for a skilled driveway contractor to put in a new tarmac driveway in one day. Lots of people opt for tarmac over other materials for their driveway because of its low maintenance qualities, rapid installation, strength and surface finish.

Resin Driveways

Among the most flexible and attractive types of driveway that are available today, resin-bound driveways are becoming progressively more favoured and are also SuDS compliant, if that's what you are in need of. Available in a host of designs and patterns, resin-bound driveways can be custom-made to your exact requirements, and installed to match any concept or theme. For faster, and easier installation resin driveways can be laid on top of an existing tarmac or concrete base with much less mess and hassle. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and an effective alternative to asphalt, gravel, block paving or concrete. A resin driveway should give you years of excellent service, and when laid by a reputable installer, come with an extended guarantee. (Tags: Resin Driveways, Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin-Bonded Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

Hard wearing, strong and requiring hardly any maintenance, concrete is an ideal material for driveways. A straightforward choice for many householders, concrete is less expensive than block paving or resin, but if laid properly is more durable and stronger. Nearly everyone would agree that concrete driveways, generally speaking, are quite boring and drab. Yet this doesn't have to be the case, seeing as it's perfectly possible to finish off the surface with a patterned or imprinted design which can be very attractive. (Tags: Concrete Driveway, Imprinted Concrete Driveway, Concreted 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.

Amplifying Your Curbs Lure at Your Dwelling Place

When you begin to think about it, there are numerous avenues in which to provide your home with more curb appeal. Thinking it just pertains to superficial problems is a mistake that a number of homeowners make. Yet, if you want to sell your home, or even if you just want to make it more attractive and inviting, these apparently minor details can be very significant. If your dwelling has a curb that is alluring, it is suggestive that the owner is meticulous and considerate.

Even if you're not planning to paint your entire house, it can make a big difference to apply paint in a few highly visible areas. Some people have a deck that surrounds the house; if you do repaint the deck, you might consider changing the color. Shutters and window casings are also good candidates for a fresh coat of paint. Sometimes all you need is a detailed cleaning which may consist of picking up around the yard, and washing the windows to make everything look brand-new. Always remove mold and moss from the outside of your home as this will give the impression that no one cares for the house. There are products you can buy to remove these things, but if something like mold is a serious issue, you may want to hire a professional to get rid of it for you.

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. Occasionally, you do not recognize how something looks to others because you see it every single day for years at a time. As an example, take a long gander at the door of your garage. 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. The postal box is another item that is overlooked on a regular basis. A new mailbox isn't expensive, but if your present one is old and rusty, you'll feel much better when you replace it.

To ensure that individuals do a complete job of advancing the appeal of their homes curb, they might need to appoint the opinions of others. Enlist the estimation of how your home appears to your companions or family whose opinions you value. Something else one could do is to take some awesome pics all around your residence. Take a look at these pictures when you are done taking them and act like you are examining a home other than yours to visualize what amendments you would do. You may need to look at your home in a new way to really figure out how to improve its curb appeal.

Many components can be involved in curb appeal, therefore it is wise to think about every angle of your residence. If there are many things that need attention, make a list and then set priorities. Then create a schedule for taking care of these issues, whether you're going to do the work yourself or hire someone. Perhaps you can come up with some ideas by yourself, but the above tips can get you off to a great start.

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