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If you believe a driveway is just the thing for your property, and you've got ample space to install one, you'll now have to determine what type of driveway you're going to construct. You'll doubtless be aware that there are a number of different types of driveway available and not all of these will necessarily interest you. Your options could be to some degree limited if you're working to a strict budget. Other stuff that could have an affect on your decision will be the configuration and size of your available space, and how the driveway will fit in with the appearance of your house.

Whilst walking around you will undoubtedly have noticed all the various different styles of driveway in other people's properties. There is a fair chance 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 suits, you ought to be able to select from just about 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 feel that a driveway wouldn't normally be of any interest to the local authorities, and wouldn't be affected by planning permission requirements, however that presumption would in many cases be incorrect. There are in fact regulations pertaining to the the installment of driveways, and these are nationally binding rules, not just local. For the time being these only apply to front gardens. The legislation that is currently in effect stem from a government act of 2008 - the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System).

A driveway in excess of 5 square metres, that is being installed in a front garden is going to be impacted by the SuDS legislation. This requires that your drive is made out of gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock, so that surface water is able to soak away safely. You'll be able to find out more information on the SuDS regulations here - Sustainable Drainage Systems

To some property owners, laying a driveway may appear to be a fairly straightforward undertaking, and for somebody who's good at do-it-yourself, it is by no means unthinkable. But you should not expect that installing a driveway is an easy undertaking, because besides the laying of the driveway there is a lot of digging out, hauling materials and rubbish removal involved in this kind of project. If you've got any uncertainties about this, it may be advisable to call in an experienced driveway contractor to do the work for you.

With driveway installers, just as with various other building related occupations, you've got to be careful about exactly who you pick to let loose on your property. Regrettably, there are too many deceitful "rogue traders" around who will make the most of your circumstances and pretend to be experts in this field. They'll either produce inferior work, or take your cash and disappear into the ether. It's well worth coughing up a bit more cash to get a decent job, rather than take a chance on using a less than perfect workman simply to save yourself a few pounds. If a local driveway installer has been working in the area for several years, it is logical to believe that they'll be trustworthy, and a decent choice for your project.

When you're sifting through potential contractors to lay your driveway 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).

Asking for this salient information ought to give you a perception of the sort of person that you're planning to work with, but it shouldn't be the Spanish Inquisition. Anyone who's willing to answer all your questions, and give assurances about the calibre of the work they'll be doing, will probably also be genuine and reliable. You should steer clear if they act in a confrontational or hesitant way when asked these kinds of questions, since it's very likely that they're hiding something or being less than honest.

Identifying a first rate tradesman is vital, as should you manage to find yourself a reliable driveway contractor, they won't only do a good job, but also give you advice on the best materials, style and location for your driveway. And that is not the end of it, because they'll also be on top of all the preparation, design and planning that is necessary for your new driveway.

Gravel Driveways

When looking into the various forms of driveway you might decide to opt for the ubiquitous easiest and cheapest, which is gravel. Regardless of their simplicity gravel driveways can be a really eye-catching option, especially in a rural setting. Gravel can be acquired in a whole host of sizes and colours, so you should have no trouble finding one that looks good in your garden. For gravel driveways to be successful they need a robust layer of hardcore, and firmly-bedded edging. The best quality gravel driveways are the result of putting down three or four layers of shingle, with each and every layer tamped and left to settle before laying the next. You'll not need planning permission with a gravel driveway, seeing as it will be SuDS compliant regardless of how big it is, or whether it is in your front or back garden.

Asphalt Driveways

When you are looking for 'curb appeal' for your property in, an asphalt driveway, with its smooth continuous surface, is a great choice. A skilled driveway contractor in will supply you with an asphalt drive that will give you many years of good service, with a bare minimum of maintenance required. You can even get porous asphalt options so that rainwater is allowed to soak away into a sub-grade reservoir, instead of running off into highway drains, which can cause localised flooding.

Asphalt driveways offer outstanding value for money and asphalt is a durable, strong material that is perfect for enduring the freezing and thawing effects of a typical winter. Because of how asphalt is made, it is also easy and cheap to repair, maintain and where necessary, remove. If you're worried about the environmental impact of your driveway installation, it's good to know that asphalt can even be removed and recycled for other uses. (Tags: Asphalt Driveway, Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway Recycling).

Block Paved Driveways

Over the past few years dozens of driveways have sprung up in built with the block-paved technique. These are crafted using purpose-made block-paving bricks which are butted together to form attractive and intricate patterns. As soon as the blocks have been put down and firmly tamped down, the gaps are filled up using kiln-dried sand which is brushed into the joints. After 5 or 6 months it is preferable to have your block-paved driveway sealed with a premium quality sealant (such as Thompsons), this helps to stop weed growth. Block paving can be laid in a variety of designs, including fan, stretcher bond, herringbone and basketweave.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Block paved driveways can even be made compliant with SuDS, by simply leaving bigger than standard spaces between the blocks, which can then be filled with a fine aggregate rather than the traditional kiln-dried sand.

Natural Stone Driveways

The characteristics of natural stone means that it only improves with age. This dense, compact material looks impressive on a driveway and will provide a lifetime of use for any vehicles you might have. The natural colouring and depth of tone gives a distinctive appearance to every stone driveway, and delivers a bespoke look to any garden. It provides that WOW factor and curb appeal that every home owner craves.

Natural stone driveways not only look fantastic, but they're low maintenance and less susceptible to damage than paved alternatives. The smooth surface of the stones means they are far easier to keep clean, and unwanted weeds find it harder to gain a foothold in the smaller gaps of a stone driveway. An expertly prepared and laid natural stone driveway is a sound investment which will add value and appeal to your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If you are intending to upgrade an existing driveway since your current one is starting to look shabby, it is going to be appreciably cheaper to clean it, if you think that will help. The process of keeping a driveway clean, is something that the majority of folks put off, or ignore altogether. Nevertheless, cleaning a driveway is a process that should be completed on a regular basis, and is important from both a maintenance and aesthetic viewpoint. The structure of your driveway can be severely weakened over time, by unwanted weeds and other plant growth. If your driveway already has cracks or holes, these could quickly be enlarged, and structural complications could ensue as a consequence.

When you discover that your drive has dirt, weeds or stains, it's better to get rid of them before the situation worsens. Although, moss and weed growth is more noticeable on your driveway during the spring and summer season, you ought not wait until then power wash it. The attractiveness of your drive can really be blighted by oil, brake fluid and petrol stains from your vehicle. Hence it is crucial to promptly clean them off to prevent your driveway's surface being stained too seriously.

To clean your driveway correctly you will need to use a pressure washing device, and you'll also need a few other tools and equipment, for instance a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. If you don't have the right equipment, or aren't certain about cleaning it yourself, you could get in touch with a professional driveway cleaning service, or ask your driveway company if they are prepared to do it.

Tarmac Driveways

Due to its durability and strength, tarmac is an extremely good choice for surfacing a driveway. When professionally laid it requires very little maintenance, looks great and is weather resistant. Tarmac's durability and strength means that it can contend with larger and heavier vehicles, such as camper vans and vans, without damaging the surface.

Tarmac is also fantastic value for money and comes in a variety of colours to complement your home and surrounding area. Tarmac allows you to upstage a dull black coloured surface and have it coloured to blend in with your house. It is quite possible for an experienced driveway contractor to lay a new tarmac drive in a day. This straightforward installation, coupled with its high durability and simple maintenance makes a tarmac driveway a great option for any home or property.

Resin Driveways

One of the most frequently seen sorts of driveway nowadays, resin-bound driveways (or resin driveways) are porous and compliant with SuDS. Resin-bound driveways can be installed in an array of patterns and colours that can be custom-made to your exact specifications. If you've an existing concrete or asphalt driveway, an attractive new resin-bound surface can be laid on top of your existing surface. Resin-bound driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and an effective alternative to block paving, tarmac, concrete or gravel. Generally coming with an extended warranty when installed by a reputable professional, a resin-bound driveway should give excellent service for years to come. (Tags: Resin-Bonded Driveways, Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

Hard wearing, strong and needing hardly any maintenance, concrete is an ideal material for driveways. Being more expensive that asphalt or gravel, but considerably cheaper than some of the other alternatives (i.e. block paving or resin), concrete is an automatic choice for many folks. Many would acknowledge that concrete driveways in general are somewhat boring and drab. But this does not have to be the case, seeing as it is possible to finish the surface off with a stamped or patterned design.

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.

Your Home's Curb Appeal - How To Make A Great First Impression

When you begin to think about it, there are numerous avenues in which to provide your home with more curb appeal. A few homeowners create the error in thinking that this doesn't hold a lot of importance since it is basically cosmetic. Still, provided you have a desire to see your home sold, or just desire to make it prettier and comforting, what looks like it's not a big deal could actually be important. When your home has curb appeal, it suggests that you're a conscientious and caring homeowner.

The first thing that you should do to improve the way at your house looks is to paint it a different color or touch it up to make it look great. If you have a deck with old paint that's chipping, consider repainting it, perhaps with a new color. Other items that you can paint include window casings and the shutters on your home. To improve your curb appeal even more, you could clean the outside of your home making things look exceptional from a distance. Finally, if there's any mildew, moss or mold around the outside of your house, make sure you remove it, as this definitely gives off the wrong impression. 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 may be that you can improve your home's curb appeal by making some changes you didn't even think were necessary. Sometimes when you look at something every day for years, you don't even realize how it looks to others. Look long and hard at your garage entryway, for instance. Replacing the door is something that most people do not meditate on unless it no longer works. 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. Acquiring a contemporary mailbox won't break your budget, still if the one you own now is decrepit and broken down, you will feel inspired when you put in a new one.

In order to do a thorough job of improving the curb appeal of a home, you may need to enlist others' opinions. Pick the brain of your relatives or chums whose thoughts you have respect for on how your abode looks to them. Something else one could do is to take some awesome pics all around your residence. Afterwards, view the pictures as if you were viewing a different home then ask yourself what enhancements you would create. To completely estimate how to elevate your abodes curb appeal, there might be the necessity to view it in a new way.

There are tons of things you could do to your house to give it more pizzazz. Care and consideration of your outdoor space should be appreciated as much as you value your indoor home improvement projects. We've looked at just a few ways to improve your home's curb appeal, but if you take a look at your property with a critical eye, you can probably find lots more.

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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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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