Driveway Installers

Your next job, if you do choose to proceed with a driveway installation will be make up your mind about what sort of driveway is going to be the most appropriate for your circumstances. Driveways come in all styles and sizes and can be created from various different materials, some might be more suitable than others. If you do not have a lot of money to commit to such a project, the choice of style and materials might be limited to what you can comfortably afford. Your decision could also be impacted by the size and configuration of your garden and the available space for the driveway.

You may just feel "a driveway is a driveway", however that's simply not true, since there are lots of different styles and designs of driveway, and if you were to take a trip around, you'll soon realise what I mean. The chances are that on your travels you'll 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, and if your garden is suitable, you should be able to choose from any of these.

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 interest to the local council, and would not be subject to planning permission, but that notion would quite often be wrong. Driveways are in fact governed by a number of rules and regulations, and these apply on a national scale rather than just being locally binding. You will only need to concern yourself with these rules if you're laying a driveway in your front garden. This legislation, which is called the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) has been in force since 2008, when it was first announced as part of the Permitted Development Rights.

Driveways being laid in front gardens having an area greater than 5 sq metres are affected by the SuDS regulations. This requires that your driveway is made from gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, so that surface water is able to drain away safely. You'll be able to find out more about the SuDS regulations here - Sustainable Drainage Systems

Some property owners might be tempted to have a stab at laying their own driveway, particularly if they are not fazed by a bit of hard work and are pretty good at do-it-yourself. However, do not be deceived, there's a lot of hard work involved with building a driveway, especially in relation to the preparatory work, which will involve heavy digging, humping materials and waste removal. If you have any uncertainties about doing this, it could be a good idea to call in an established driveway installer to do the work on your behalf.

Honest tradesmen aren't always that easy to find when it comes to doing this sort of task, so you need to take care and choose the right company or person. You should watch out for cowboys and rogue trader types who are renowned for doing this kind of work, and can can soon catch you by surprise if you're not careful. It is well worth spending a bit more money to get a decent job done, instead of taking a risk with a poor quality workman simply to save a couple of pounds. The best choice will typically be a driveway and patio company who's been been providing their services in the area for a number of years, and has an outstanding reputation locally.

When vetting 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).

There is no need to be too pushy or aggressive with these questions, given that what you are really endeavouring to do is get an inkling of the kind of individual that you're going to be working with. You can safely assume that they are for the most part reliable, if they are relaxed about answering all of these questions. You can deduce that they are less than honest or hiding something if they seem uncertain or confrontational when asked these sorts of questions. If that happens you'd be smart to give them a miss and try a different company.

If you pick your driveway specialist shrewdly you'll find that they can give you loads of practical advice and guidance regarding the perfect materials to use and the preferred sort of driveway for your property. Having a specialist on hand will mean that all of the planning, preparation and design is taken care of before any real physical work commences.

Gravel Driveways

The cheapest and simplest of all the driveway methods is the standard gravel driveway. In a rural setting, gravel driveways are especially favoured and can be very attractive in spite of their simplicity. You shouldn't have any problem locating a kind of gravel that looks great in your garden, given that there are a wide selection of shades and sizes on the market. A effective gravel driveway will require a well-defined and substantial edging, and a good solid base layer of hardcore. If you put down three or four separate layers of aggregate, each one tamped and rolled and left to settle, you'll get the best gravel driveway. You won't need to apply for planning permission with a gravel driveway, as it will be SuDS compliant no matter how large it is, or if it's in your back or front garden.

Asphalt Driveways

When you are looking for 'curb appeal' for your home or property in, an asphalt driveway, with its smooth uninterrupted surface, is the ideal choice. When put in by a competent contractor, an asphalt driveway will give you many years of reliable use with very little maintenance. If the local council imposes regulations that bar non-permeable materials being used, so as to stop local flooding, a unique porous asphalt substrate allows rain to drain into a sub-layer.

Asphalt can easily withstand the freezing and thawing effects of British winters, and is excellent value for money in comparison to some other driveway options. It's also the simplest driveway substance to remove or repair because of the process by which it is manufactured. In fact, asphalt can even be recycled for use elsewhere, making this the most eco-friendly of the hard driveway materials. (Tags: Asphalt Driveway, Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway Recycling).

Block Paved Driveways

Dozens of driveways have appeared in in recent years, created using the block-paving technique, which can be extremely successful when carried out correctly. Forming attractive and elaborate patterns, hundreds of specially designed block paving bricks are butted together to produce a hard wearing and durable driveway. The gaps that are left between these blocks are filled up using kiln-dried sand which is brushed into the joints, resulting in a tidy finish. After several months it is recommended to get your block paving driveway sealed with a good quality sealant (like Rycal), this helps to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in many different patterns, including stretcher bond, fan, herringbone and basketweave.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Block paved driveways can also be made SuDS compliant, by simply leaving bigger than normal gaps between the blocks, which are then filled with very fine aggregate rather than the usual kiln-dried sand.

Natural Stone Driveways

The characteristics of natural stone means it only improves with age. Looking amazing from the first day until 50 years in the future, a natural stone driveway will give you a lifetime of serviceable use for any motor vehicle. Thanks to the unique colours and depth of tones of the stone, you will have a driveway that is bespoke to your garden. The natural stone gives a soft, warm look to any driveway, and provides that crucial curb appeal.

In contrast to some driveway alternatives, natural stone driveways are less susceptible to damage and are far easier to look after and maintain. The narrower gaps between the stones means that there's considerably less potential for weed growth, and the smooth surface is much easier to clean. A stone driveway properly installed by a professional contractor should be looked on as a great investment which will improve the value of your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you do not currently have a driveway in your garden, then obviously cleaning isn't going to be needed, however this is certainly something that you'll have to think about sooner or later. For a lot of property owners, maintaining the cleanliness of their driveway isn't usually perceived as a priority. Nonetheless, from both an aesthetic and maintenance viewpoint, cleaning your driveway is vital, and this procedure should be completed with some regularity, not just now and then. If roots, weeds and other damaging plant growth are allowed to become established, over time they can weaken your driveway's structure and composition. Existing cracks and holes can be widened which could ultimately trigger structural complications in your driveway.

When you discover that your driveway has dirt, stains or weeds, it's recommended that you get rid of them before things get worse. However, the spring and summer season is when you're most likely to notice the growth of weeds and moss, you ought not wait until them to jet wash your driveway. Oil, brake fluid and petrol spillages from your vehicle can really undermine the attractiveness of your drive. It is therefore important to get rid of them quickly to avoid unattractive stains on your driveway's surface.

If you are cleaning the driveway yourself, you will need access to a pressure washing device, and to accomplish it properly you will also need some additional tools and equipment, for instance a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. You could contact a professional driveway cleaning service, if you aren't confident in cleaning it yourself, or you don't have the correct gear.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac provides a durable and strong surface making it an excellent choice for a driveway. When laid by a proficient driveway company it is weather resistant, looks fantastic and needs little maintenance. Tarmac's strength and durability means that it can cope with larger vehicles, such as motor-homes, without causing damage to the surface.

Tarmac is also fantastic value and is available in a variety of colours to match your property and the surrounding areas. Tarmac makes it easy to go beyond a traditional black surface and colour it to complement your house. It is possible for an experienced driveway contractor to install a brand new tarmac drive in one day. Tarmac is truly a perfect material for almost any driveway, because of its straightforward installation, low maintenance properties and durability.

Resin Driveways

There's little doubt that these days resin-bound or resin driveways have become one of the most popular forms of driveway. The added advantage that they're also SuDS compliant merely further increases their attraction. Resin driveways can be customized to your exact specifications and can be installed in a wide range of different designs and patterns. For speedier, and simpler installation resin driveways can be laid on top of a current asphalt or concrete base with much less mess and hassle. Resin-bound driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a brilliant alternative to block paving, asphalt, concrete or gravel. When laid by a trusted installer, a resin-bound driveway should come with an extended guarantee and give you many years of good service.

Concrete Driveways

Hard wearing, strong and requiring very little maintenance, concrete is an ideal material for building driveways. With regards to price, concrete is about middling for driveway construction, being costlier than gravel or tarmac, but less costly than resin or block paving. If you find concrete driveways to be rather boring and drab, it's perfectly possible to add a patterned or stamped finish to make them look more attractive. (Tags: Concreted Driveway, Concrete Driveway, Stamped 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.

Easy Ways To Impress People Using Your Home's Curb Appeal

If you want your home to be as attractive as possible, you have to focus on its curb appeal. During the time one is trying to present their home to potential purchasers this is especially vital, yet whether or not they are selling their home this is something they ought to be focusing on. As you view your house with its appearance in your thoughts, you are looking at it through new eyes and you may frequently see the blunders and places that could use some improvement that you didn't previously see.

Painting is usually what comes to mind when you start wondering what you can do to modernize your curb appeal. You have to start somewhere, but take the time to make sure you will need to go to that extreme. You should inspect the existing paint for cracking, or blistering and if the color is satisfactory; you ought to simply power wash it. You will be amazed at the difference it will make and it will be a lot easier on you pocketbook. You hardly realize the collection of dirt and residue that encrusts your home overtime. You have the option to rent a power washer to do the job or you can pay someone to do it for you. If you leave out any of the structures, they will look even worse than before; so make sure to pressure wash everything that can be.

Take in the front yard as well as the back. . Are children's toys, tools and hit-or-miss items all over the yards, or do they appear clean and alluring? The way your home appeals to people is greatly affected by the presentation of your yard or yards. If there is a lot of clutter in your yard, it's worth the effort to clean it up. Take away everything that is in your way as you meander through the yards. Unwanted vegetation or small trees that should be cut are problems that you need to deal with. If you have kids who leave toys around the yard, teach them to put them away when they're finished playing with them.

Hanging new siding may be something you want to contemplate, rather than putting paint on the exterior of your dwelling. Choices abound for the above mentioned, and it has the possibility of giving your dwelling a fresh look. The insulation can be made better with this as well as the home values increasing. Another potential is stucco or stone veneer, as this can give the more customary appearance of a stucco or stone abode but not bring about the same cost as the real materials. If you want to consider new siding, or something like stone veneer for the exterior of your home, you should look into all the different possibilities and decide which most appeals to you.

Multiple elements are possibly included in the appeal of your curb, as a result looking at your abode from every angle is a good thought. Make an account of anything that requires your consideration if there are a lot, then put them in the order of importance. Regardless if you decide to employ a person to do the labor or you are going to do it on your own, create a schedule for tackling these issues. The above suggestions for giving your home more curb appeal can get you started in the right direction, and perhaps help you come up with more ideas of your own.

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