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If you do elect to press ahead with having a driveway installed the next step will be to figure out what style of driveway you want. Driveways come in all styles and sizes and can be made out of numerous different materials, some might be more appealing than others. Prices will vary appreciably across these different styles of driveway, so your possible choices could be limited if you only have a certain amount of capital to spend. Other considerations that might have an impact on your final decision will be the layout and size of your available space, and exactly how the driveway will blend in with the aesthetics of your home.

There are plenty of different styles and designs of driveway, as you'll probably have noticed when wandering around. According to the layout and ground conditions of your garden you should be able to make a choice 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.

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 are entitled to plonk a driveway wherever you like on your property, this isn't automatically the case. There are in reality regulations addressing the the installment of driveways, and these are UK-wide rules, not simply local. These regulations only affect driveways in FRONT gardens at this time. This legislation, which is called the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) has been in place since October 2008, when it was first announced.

Driveways being installed in front gardens having an area of over 5 sq metres are covered by the SuDS regulations. This demands that your driveway is made out of gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, so that surface water is able to soak away safely and not cause flooding. If you think that the Sustainable Drainage Systems legislation will affect your planned driveway in TOWN, you can get full details here - SuDS

Homeowners who relish a bit of hard work and are fairly good at do-it-yourself, might be tempted to install a driveway on their own. But no-one should think of this as a simple process, seeing as there is lots of preparation work involved apart from actually laying the driveway, including carting materials, doing waste removal and excavating. All things considered, it may be better to call in an experienced driveway installer, if you've got any doubts tackling it yourself.

Reliable tradesmen are not always that easy to get hold of in relation to conducting this type of work, so you need to be mindful in choosing the right person or contractor. There are lots of cowboys and rogue traders out there who will happily take your cash and do a shoddy job (or no work at all quite often!). If you are going to build a driveway you might just as well do it to a decent standard, even if it means spending a bit more on the enterprise. The preferred choice will normally be a patio and driveway company who's been been serving customers in the area for several years, and has an outstanding track record locally.

When assessing these companies, 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).

Don't go over the top with this questioning, simply ask enough to get a decent sense of the kind of person you are dealing with, so that you can make an informed choice. Any driveway specialist in TOWN who is ready to answer all of your questions, and give assurances about the standard of the work they will be doing, will very likely also be reliable and genuine. You can assume that they're hiding something or being less than truthful if they're confrontational or uncertain when asked such questions. If that is to happen you would be wise to give them a wide berth and try somebody else.

As soon as you have discovered a really good driveway contractor, you can have a discussion about all of the available driveway choices including the most appropriate style, location and materials. Before any actual physical work starts your driveway paver will ensure that all the required preparation, planning and design work is looked after.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the driveway methods, the ubiquitous gravel driveway is the easiest and most economical. Gravel driveways are particularly popular in a rural location, and in spite of their inherent simplicity they can be extremely attractive. You shouldn't have any trouble locating a type of gravel that looks good in your garden, as there are an array of sizes and shades to choose from. A efficient gravel driveway will require a sturdy and clearly-defined edging, and a good substantial base layer of hardcore. If you would like a really good quality gravel driveway, you must make sure that 3 or 4 separate layers are put down, with each and every one individually tamped and rolled and left to settle for a couple of days before the next is laid. You won't require planning permission with a gravel driveway, since it will be SuDS compliant regardless of how big it is, or whether it's in your back or front garden.

Asphalt Driveways

When you're looking for that extra touch of 'curb appeal' for your house in, an asphalt driveway, with its smooth uninterrupted surface, is a great choice. When laid by a reputable contractor, an asphalt driveway will provide many years of trouble free use with a bare minimum of maintenance. In flood risk locations it may be required to have a permeable driveway, and there is an asphalt type, with sub-layer for rainwater drainage, which prevents excess water from over-filling highway drains.

Asphalt can easily withstand the freeze-thaw effects of British winters, and is very good value in comparison to several other driveway alternatives. It's also the easiest driveway substance to repair or remove due to the process by which it is manufactured. In fact, asphalt can be recycled and used elsewhere, and can this be called the most eco-friendly of the hard driveway materials.

Block Paving Driveways

Over the past few years scores of driveways have appeared in built with the block-paving technique. Forming attractive and elaborate patterns, hundreds of specially designed block paving bricks are butted together to produce a robust and hard wearing driveway. The gaps that are left between these blocks are filled using kiln-dried sand which is rigorously brushed into the exposed joints, producing a neat and tidy finish. After five or six months it is preferable to have your block-paved driveway sealed with a suitable sealant (like Rycal), this helps to stop weed growth. There are numerous designs in which block paving is laid, including stretcher bond, basket weave, fan and herringbone.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: It's also possible to install a SuDS compliant block paving driveway in, if that's what you need. By leaving wider gaps between the blockwork and filling them with a fine aggregate as opposed to the traditional kiln-dried sand, you can achieve a permeable paved surface that does not need planning permission. (Tags: Block Paving, Block Paved Driveway, Block Paving Driveway).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone is fantastic as a driveway material as it always improves with age. Looking great from day 1 to year 50, a natural stone driveway will give you a lifetime of serviceable use for any car or vehicle. Owing to the individual colours and depth of tones in the stone, you will wind up with a driveway that is totally bespoke to your home. It offers that vital wow factor and curb appeal that every property owner desires.

Natural stone driveways don't just look great, but they're low maintenance and less susceptible to being damaged than some driveway alternatives. The smooth, hard surface of the stones makes them simple to keep clean, and weeds find it harder to take hold in the smaller joints of a stone driveway. You must class an expertly prepared and installed natural stone driveway as an investment towards your home's overall value.

Driveway Cleaning

If you do not have a driveway at this point in time, then of course cleaning won't be necessary, but this is certainly something you'll need to think about down the road. Maintaining the cleanliness of a driveway isn't typically a priority for most TOWN householders. Nevertheless, cleaning a driveway is crucial from both an aesthetic and maintenance perspective, and this should be carried out on a fairly regular basis. If roots, weeds and other pernicious plant growth are allowed to become established, with time they can severely weaken the structure of your driveway. Existing cracks or holes can be enlarged which could eventually trigger structural complications in your driveway.

When you discover that your drive has stains, dirt or weed growth, it's recommended that you get rid of them before the situation worsens. Although, weed and moss growth is definitely more obvious on your drive during the spring and summer, you shouldn't wait till then power wash it. If diesel, oil and brake fluid leaks from your vehicle, the appearance of your driveway can be seriously compromised. You should get these removed quickly, so that any unsightly staining of the driveway surface is prevented.

You will need some tools and equipment such as a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, together with a power washing device, in order to get your driveway completely clean. You could call on a professional driveway cleaning service, if you aren't confident in doing it yourself, or don't have the correct gear.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac is a much favoured driveway surface on account of its strength and durability. It looks fantastic, is weather resistant and needs little maintenance, when laid by an experienced driveway company. The resilience of a tarmac driveway means it is able to withstand daily wear and tear from heavier and larger vehicles, like trucks and camper vans, 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 great value for money in comparison to alternative driveway options. Tarmac allows you to upstage a traditional black coloured surface and have it coloured to tie in with your home. It's quite possible for a professional driveway company to lay a new tarmac driveway in less than a day. This straightforward installation, coupled with its simple maintenance and high strength makes a tarmac driveway a good choice for just about any property.

Resin-Bound Driveways

One of the most popular styles of driveway recently, resin-bound driveways are porous (permeable) and compliant with SuDS. Available in a wide range of patterns and designs, resin driveways can be tailor-made to your exact requirements, and installed to complement any concept or theme. For a lot less mess and hassle a new resin driveway could be easily laid over an existing concrete or tarmac surface. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a perfect substitute for concrete, asphalt, gravel or block paving. A resin driveway will give many years of good service, and when laid by a reputable installer, come with an extended guarantee.

Concrete Driveways

Hard wearing, strong and needing minimal maintenance, concrete is an excellent material for driveways. Being more costly that asphalt or gravel, but substantially cheaper than some of the other options (i.e. resin or block paving), concrete is an automatic choice for many homeowners. For many householders, the drawback of concrete is its rather uninspiring and drab appearance, but this can be addressed by asking for a patterned or imprinted surface finish. (Tags: Concreted Driveways, Imprinted Concrete 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.

Home Improvement Tips to Create More Curb Appeal

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. Even if selling your residence is not an option, thinking about better curb appeal for your home may be helpful in the future. Frequently these will not be major fixes, but will add tremendously to the general look of the home. In this article we will be sharing some good ideas that may be of assistance if you plan to uplift the appearance of your home for increased curb appeal.

Something that adds to the curb appeal of your abode is the shape your windows are in. By all means, cleanliness of the windows is the first thing to make sure of. There isn't anything else that can take away from the appearance of a home like filthy windows. The exterior and interior of your home are impacted by this. Provided there are cracked windowpanes any place, just the basement even, you need to replace them immediately. Surely the appearance of a home is effected mightily by windows but the insulation is as well. In case the windows you have are not truly energy efficient, it could be the time to restore them. Assuming your home does not have shutters, contemplate getting them, because this is one attribute that is truly distinctive to a home's presentation, painting them the best color in particular.

To improve your curb appeal, you might also want to make your home look appealing and inviting. There really is no need to spend a wad of cash on this idea; you simply need to put something up that looks nice and fun. Instead of having a bare front lawn, you should add a few plants, a couple flowers, and whatever else that will add noise to the front of your home. Of course, you should pick the best locations for your flowers and plants to make your home look lively and colorful once again. Consider adding some lawn furniture to your front lawn so it looks inviting and happy. There are also many attractive lawn decorations you can buy, though you shouldn't overdo it with these.

When thinking about curb appeal, you should consider how your home looks at night as well as during the day. You can actually change the impression your house exudes with the correct lighting. 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. Exterior lights can be found in many styles, such as old fashioned lanterns or modern solar lights. Such lights are useful on foggy or rainy days as well as at night, and will give visitors, potential buyers, and your own family a more secure feeling when they step onto your property.

Your home could look more interesting by taking on any number of home face lifts. While you may be focused on interior plans such as your kitchen or floors, you shouldn't neglect the outside either. With the suggestions we have shared, you now have some idea of how to make your house stand out and be noticed for curb appeal; if you were to look closely around the place, you will see many little things that can also be 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.

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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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