Latest Pages

So, you've made the decision to have a driveway installed, but what style of driveway will be best for your requirements? You will doubtless be aware that there are a whole host of different types of driveway available and not all of these will be of interest to you. Your options may be somewhat limited if you are sticking to a strict budget. Other stuff that could have an impact on your final decision will be the layout and dimensions of your available space, and exactly how the driveway is going to blend in with your property appearance wise.

There are plenty of different types and designs of driveway, as you will undoubtedly have observed when strolling around. The chances are that on your travels 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, and if your garden area suits, you should be able to select 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?

While you might assume that you are allowed to stick a driveway wherever you like on your property, this is not necessarily true. The regulations that cover driveways are not just administered by your local authority, but are in fact enforced by government guidelines. At the moment these regulations only apply to FRONT gardens. Ever since 2008 driveway installations in the British Isles have come under the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), which was brought in by the Labour government.

A driveway of over 5m2, that is being laid in a front garden is going to be affected by the SuDS regulations. For your driveway to be in compliance with it must be made from a permeable (porous) material which permits excess rainwater to soak through it. Materials that are in line with SuDS include the likes of: gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock. You can find out more about the Sustainable Drainage Systems regulations here - Sustainable Drainage Systems

People who relish a bit of hard graft and are good at do-it-yourself, might be tempted to install a driveway on their own. With so much work involved including digging out, carting materials and doing rubbish removal, nobody should presume that this is a simple task. In most cases it is more sensible to bring in a specialist driveway installer, who'll come armed with all the manpower, equipment and knowledge to complete the task properly.

Due to the nature of this type of project, it is not always easy to find reliable tradesman who can be trusted to do a good job. The sad thing is, there are unscrupulous folks out there who'll capitalize on your position and pretend to be experts in this field. They will either do unsatisfactory work, or pocket your cash and vanish into the ether. It is worth paying out a bit more cash to get a decent job, rather than take a chance on using a less than perfect workman purely to save yourself a few pounds. driveway companies who've been offering their services in the area for several years would be the best choice.

When screening companies for your driveway project, you should 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 such questions, but just ask enough to get a reasonable sense of the kind of company you are considering, so you can make a well informed choice. Anyone who's willing to respond to all of your questions, and put your mind at rest about the quality of work they do, will likely also be honest and reliable. If they appear to be confrontational or uncertain when asked these kinds of questions, you can deduce that they are hiding something or being less than honest - so steer well clear.

If you are wary and choose a really professional driveway specialist, they will help you make all of the important decisions with regards to your forthcoming project, such as the perfect driveway technique, the most suitable materials and the favoured location. They will also help you with all of the design, preparation and planning, so every aspect is dealt with prior to any actual physical work commencing on your driveway.

Gravel Driveways

Of all the available types, the ubiquitous gravel driveway is the least expensive and simplest. In a rural setting, gravel driveways are particularly popular and can be very attractive regardless of their simplicity. Gravel can be bought in a whole host of sizes and shades, so you should have no trouble finding one that looks great in your garden. A efficient gravel driveway will need a sturdy and clearly-defined edging, and a good solid base layer of hardcore. The very best gravel driveways are the result of applying three or four layers of stones, with every layer rolled and left to settle before laying the subsequent layer. You'll not need to apply for planning permission for a gravel driveway, seeing that it will be SuDS compliant no matter how big it is, or if it is in your front or back garden.

Asphalt Driveways

An asphalt driveway, with its smooth, continuous appearance offers instant curb appeal to any house in. When put in by a professional company, an asphalt driveway will give you many years of trouble free use with very little maintenance. If your local council imposes regulations that bar non-permeable materials being used, so as to preclude local flooding, a unique porous asphalt substrate enables rainwater to drain into a sub-layer.

Asphalt can successfully tolerate the freezing and thawing impact of TOWN winters, and is excellent value in comparison to certain other driveway alternatives. Asphalt is easy and cheap to repair and maintain, and is not 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's even possible for an asphalt drive to be recycled and used in another location.

Block Paving Driveways

Scores of driveways have sprung up in over the last few years, created using the block-paving method, which can be very effective when done properly. Forming attractive and intricate patterns, many hundreds of purpose-made block paving bricks are butted together to produce a robust and hard wearing driveway. After the blocks have been put down, they're firmly tamped down, and special kiln-dried sand is rigorously brushed into the exposed joints. It is advisable to have your block-paved driveway sealed after 4 or 5 months with Thompson's sealant or something like that. This is essential to stop weed growth. Block paving can be made very attractive and can be laid a number of patterns, including herringbone, fan, stretcher bond and basketweave.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: It's also possible to install a SuDS compliant block paving driveway in, if that is what you need. By simply leaving wider gaps between the bricks and packing them with a fine shingle as opposed to the traditional kiln-dried sand, you can accomplish a porous surface that does not call for planning permission. (Tags: Block Paved Driveway, Block Paving, Block Paving Driveways).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone is a driveway material that never loses its eye-catching appearance even as it ages. Choosing a natural stone finish on your driveway will provide you with a whole lifetime of use for any vehicle and will be the envy of your neighbours from the first day until 50 years down the line. Owing to the individual depth of tone and colours of the stone, you'll have a driveway which is bespoke to your house. When professionally installed, a natural stone driveway has that all important wow factor that complements any home or business premises.

Natural stone driveways not only look good, but they're low maintenance and less at risk of being damaged than paving alternatives. They're easy to clean, and with narrower gaps between the stones there's considerably less chance of seeds and weeds germinating on your drive. A natural stone driveway properly installed by a professional contractor should be seen as a wise investment which will add value to your property.

Driveway Cleaning

If you don't currently have a driveway, then obviously cleaning will not be needed, but this is certainly something that you will have to think about in the future. The process of cleaning a driveway, is something that a lot of homeowners put off, or forget about altogether. However, cleaning a driveway is a process that ought to be carried out on a fairly regular basis, and is crucial from both an aesthetic and maintenance viewpoint. The structure of your driveway can be damaged with time, by weeds and other organic plant growth. If your driveway already has fractures and cracks, these can soon be widened, and structural complications can occur as a consequence.

If you notice that your driveway has stains, weed growth or dirt, it is advisable to remove them before the situation worsens. However, weeds and moss are more obvious on your drive during the spring and summertime, you ought not wait until then jet wash it. Stains from your vehicle such as petrol, brake fluid and oil can spoil the look of your drive. It is therefore essential to eliminate them immediately to avoid unattractive staining of your driveway's surface.

To get your driveway completely clean you'll need to use a pressure washing machine, and you'll also need a few other tools and equipment, for instance a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. A professional driveway cleaning service might be required if you haven't got the correct gear, or are not clear about doing it yourself. You may even find that your driveway installer will also offer this service.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac offers both a durable and strong surface which makes it a really good option for a driveway. When installed by a reputable driveway company, tarmac looks terrific, offers outstanding weather resistant properties and does not need much maintenance. Tarmac's strength and durability means that it can cope with larger and heavier vehicles, such as motor-homes, without causing any damage to the surface.

If want a coloured tarmac, that's also possible, and it offers fantastic value in comparison with other driveway materials. Tarmac permits you to have an alternative to a dull black coloured surface and have it coloured to tie in with your house. The installation of tarmac driveways is reasonably easy and can be achieved by a professional contractor in a single day. This ease of installation, along with its high strength and simple maintenance makes a tarmac driveway an ideal choice for almost any property or home.

Resin Driveways

There is little doubt that in recent times resin-bound driveways have become one of the most favoured sorts of driveway. The added advantage that they're SuDS compliant merely increases their attraction. Available in an array of designs and patterns, resin-bound driveways can be customized to your requirements, and installed to match any concept or theme. For quicker, and simpler installation resin-bound driveways can be laid over an existing tarmac or concrete base with less mess and hassle. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a terrific substitute for gravel, concrete, block paving or asphalt. Usually coming with an extended warranty when laid by an approved installer, a resin driveway should give you reliable service for years to come. (Tags: Resin Driveways, Resin-Bonded Driveways, Resin-Bound Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

Strong, hard wearing and needing very little maintenance, concrete is an excellent material for driveways. Being more expensive that gravel or tarmac, but substantially cheaper than some other alternatives (i.e. block paving or resin), concrete is a straightforward choice for many property owners. If you find concrete driveways to be rather boring and dreary, it is possible to add a stamped or patterned design to make them look better. (Tags: Concreted Driveways, Concrete Driveways, Patterned Concrete Driveway).

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.

Quality Ideas to Enhance Curb Appeal for Your Home

Curb appeal is what realtors are chatting about when they are thinking about boosting the appearance of a house that may go up for sale. If you are tossing the idea of selling your home around or not; curb appeal is something that you may want to toss around in that discussion. Most of these projects are not big and are simple to upgrade, but they can make a huge positive change for the whole appearance of your home. Within this article we hope to give you a few thoughts to consider when and if you ever decide to make some changes to your home for enhancing the curb appeal.

Typically, the first idea when mulling over a curb appeal update; is adding a fresh new look with a few coats of paint. Painting is a great tactic, but before you run out and buy new paint; check into other alternatives. You should inspect the existing paint for cracking, or blistering and if the color is satisfactory; you ought to simply power wash it. By taking this route, you will be saving money, it will be simple and you will be pleasantly surprised how great it will look. As time goes by so slow sometimes, it is hard to see the dirt and grime collect on your home. 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. 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.

It may be that you can improve your home's curb appeal by making some changes you didn't even think were necessary. There are times that you view something daily for years on end, therefore you do not even understand how this stands out to other people. For instance, look intently at your garage door. For the most part, individuals do not contemplate putting in a new one with the exception of when it is broken. Still, assuming it is worn out and aging, putting in an modern replacement will make an enormous distinction. One other thing that can again and again be overlooked, is the mailbox. A new mailbox isn't expensive, but if your present one is old and rusty, you'll feel much better when you replace it.

Another thing you can do is to improve the walkway that leads up to your front door from the street. A paved path, perhaps with flowers or other plants on either side can make the approach to your home more interesting. You might even want to put in a new driveway which is always an eye-catching feature. A sense of security is something that you should impart upon your driveway. You should also make it visually appealing. In case you don't have the money to put in a new driveway, you might want to improve the surrounding area to make it look as if you have installed something new. Anyone that enters your driveway should be made to feel as if they are special so that they always remember visiting.

Peering at your home from every possible angle is a good idea because curb appeal can be connected with many determinants. 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. 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