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If you feel a driveway is right for you, and you have plenty of space to install one, you'll now have to establish what type of driveway you're going to build. Driveways come in all shapes and sizes and can be created from numerous different materials, some might be more appealing than others. If you do not have a lot of money to commit to such a project, your style and material options could be constrained by what you can comfortably afford. Other stuff that may have an impact on your decision will be the configuration and dimensions of your garden, and precisely how the driveway will sit with the aesthetics of your property.

There are various different styles and designs of driveway, as you'll undoubtedly have observed while walking around. You should 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 forms, however this should still give you a notion of some of the possible options.

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 would not be of interest to the local authorities, and wouldn't be subject to planning permission requirements, but that notion would frequently be wrong. The legislation that address driveways are not only laid down by your local council, but are actually imposed by government guidelines. You will only need to concern yourself with these rules if you happen to be putting a driveway in your FRONT garden. This legislation, which is known as the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System) has been in place since October 2008, when it was first brought in.

A driveway of over 5m2, which is being laid in a front garden is going to be affected by the SuDS regulations. Permeable materials such as gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock are SuDS compliant, and enable any excess surface water to drain through without any problems. So, if you are building your driveway from one of these materials, you'll not have to worry. You can find out more about the Sustainable Drainage Systems legislation here - SuDS

Some homeowners might be tempted to have a stab at building their own driveway, particularly if they relish a bit of hard graft and are good at do-it-yourself. But don't expect that installing driveways is a simple undertaking by any means, given that apart from actually laying the driveway there is a whole lot of digging out, waste removal and humping materials involved in this kind of project. If you're in any doubt about your ability to manage a project such as this, it would perhaps be advisable to contact an experienced driveway specialist instead.

Trustworthy tradesmen are sometimes not that easy to track down when it comes to conducting this kind of project, therefore you need to be mindful in choosing the right person or company. Regrettably, there are plenty of dishonest individuals around who will take full advantage of your situation and claim to be experts in this field. They will either do inferior work, or just take your money and disappear into the ether. It's well worth forking out a bit more money to get a decent job, instead of risking it with a substandard workman merely to save a couple of quid. The preferred choice will generally be a patio and driveway paver who has been been operating in and around your area for a good few years, and has a fine reputation locally.

When searching for suitable paving contractors, it is best 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).

It is not necessary to be too aggressive or pushy with this questioning, given that what you are really endeavouring to achieve is get a notion of the kind of tradesperson you are going to be dealing with. It is pretty much safe to anticipate that they are genuine and honest if they're quite willing to answer all of these questions and address your concerns. You can deem that they are hiding something or being less than truthful if they're hesitant or confrontational when asked these kinds of questions. If that transpires you'd be smart to steer well clear and try someone else.

If you are wary and choose a really good driveway installer, they'll help you to make all the most important judgements in relation to your project, such as the favoured location, the best materials and the recommended driveway technique. Before any actual work begins your driveway paver will make certain that all the required planning, design and preparation work is taken care of.

Gravel Driveways

When going over the various different kinds of driveway you may decide to favour the standard least expensive and simplest, which is gravel. Gravel driveways are especially popular in a rural location, and in spite of their inherent simplicity they can be highly pleasing. Because there's such a wide selection of gravel shades and sizes, you shouldn't have any trouble locating one that you are happy with. A robust base of hardcore is needed for a gravel drive to be effective, as well as a firmly-bedded edging. If you are looking for a really high quality gravel driveway, you should ensure that 3 or 4 separate layers are put down, with each and every one individually tamped and rolled and left to settle for a day before the next one is laid. No matter what size your driveway is, or whether it is in your back or front garden, if it's built from gravel it will not need planning permission, because it will automatically be SuDS compliant.

Asphalt Driveways

Any home or property in will gain benefits from the "curb appeal" of the smooth, consistent appearance of a newly installed asphalt driveway. When put in by a reputable company, an asphalt driveway will provide years of good use with a bare minimum of maintenance. In flood risk areas it might be necessary to have a porous drive, and there is an asphalt type, with sub-layer for rain run-off, which prevents surplus water from over-filling highway drains.

Asphalt driveways are very smartly designed to successfully hold up against anything that winters can chuck at them, and provide excellent value. Because of how asphalt is produced, it is also cheap and simple to repair, maintain and where necessary, remove. If you are concerned about the environmental impact of your driveway, it's good to know that asphalt can even be removed and recycled for other uses. (Tags: Asphalt Driveways, Asphalt Driveway Recycling, Asphalt Driveway).

Block Paving Driveways

Scores of driveways have popped up in in recent times, constructed using the block-paving method, which can be very effective when carried out correctly. Forming eye-catching and elaborate patterns, many hundreds of purpose-made block paving bricks are butted together to create a robust, hard-wearing driveway. The gaps that are left between the blocks are filled with kiln-dried sand which is rigorously brushed into the joints, resulting in a neat and tidy finish. To get the longest life and best performance out of your block paving driveway, you'll want to get it professionally sealed after 4 or 5 months to stop weed growth. There are a lot of designs in which block paving is laid, including basket weave, stretcher bond, fan and herringbone.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: It's even possible to install a Compliant with SuDS block paved driveway in, if that is what you need. By leaving bigger gaps between the bricks and packing them with a very fine aggregate as opposed to the traditional kiln-dried sand, you are able to achieve a permeable surface that does not require planning permission. (Tags: Block Paving, Block Paved Driveway, Block Paving Driveway).

Natural Stone Driveways

The attributes of natural stone means it only improves as it ages. Looking great from the first day until 50 years in the future, a natural stone driveway will provide you with a lifetime of serviceable use for any motor vehicle. It can provide your garden with a driveway that, due to the unique shades and colours of the individual stones, is completely bespoke to you. It gives that that vital curb appeal and wow factor that every homeowner longs for.

In contrast to some alternatives, natural stone driveways are less susceptible to being damaged and are easier to maintain. The smooth, hard surface of the stones means that they're easy to keep clean, and weeds find it harder to gain a foothold in the smaller gaps of a stone driveway. A natural stone driveway installed by an experienced company should be looked at as a smart investment which will bump up the price of your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If your property has already got a drive, and you're thinking of changing it because it's looking scruffy - why not give it a good clean instead? For the majority of property owners, it is not always a priority to maintain the cleanliness of their driveway. Nonetheless, cleaning your driveway is important from both an aesthetic and maintenance viewpoint, and this procedure should really be done fairly frequently. If roots, weeds and other pernicious plant growth are allowed to become established, over time they can weaken the structure of your driveway. An enlargement of existing cracks or holes could ensue, and structural issues could occur if this growth isn't eliminated.

The minute you discover dirt, weed growth or stains on your driveway, it is preferable to remove them as quickly as possible. Although, the springtime and summer is when you most notice the appearance of weeds and moss, you ought not wait until them to power wash your driveway. Spots from your vehicle such as oil, petrol and brake fluid can spoil the appearance of your driveway. It's therefore important to get rid of them promptly to prevent unsightly stains on your driveway's surface.

To clean your driveway correctly you'll require the use of a power washing device, and you'll also need a few other tools and equipment, for example a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. If you are not certain about doing it yourself, or you don't have the correct equipment, you could ask your driveway company if they're willing to do this, or call in a specialist driveway cleaning service.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac provides strength and a durable surface making it a perfect option for a driveway. When laid professionally it doesn't need a lot maintenance, offers outstanding weatherproof properties and looks good. A tarmac driveway can cope with heavier vehicles, such as vans and camper vans, without damage to the surface or dimpling, and will look good for many years.

Tarmac is also fantastic value for money and comes in a variety of colours to complement your home and the surrounding areas. Tarmac permits you to go beyond a conventional black coloured surface and have it coloured to blend in with your house. The installation of a tarmac driveway is comparatively easy and can be achieved by a professional driveway contractor in a single day. This straightforward installation, coupled with its simple maintenance and high strength makes a tarmac driveway a decent option for any home.

Resin Driveways

Among the most attractive and flexible types of driveway that are available at this time, resin-bound driveways are becoming increasingly more favoured and are also SuDS compliant, if that's what you are looking for. Resin-bound driveways can be customized to your exact specifications and come in an array of different patterns and designs. If you have a current tarmac or concrete driveway, a new resin surface can be laid over your existing one. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and an awesome alternative to block paving, tarmac, gravel or concrete. When installed by a trusted specialist, a resin driveway will come with a long warranty and give you many years of good service.

Concrete Driveways

A very popular material for driveways, concrete is strong, hard wearing and requires very little maintenance. Being more pricey that gravel or asphalt, but significantly cheaper than some other alternatives (i.e. block paving or resin), concrete is an easy choice for many householders. Most would acknowledge that concrete driveways, generally speaking, are rather drab and boring. But this does not have to be a problem, because it's quite possible to finish them off with a stamped or patterned design which can be extremely attractive. (Tags: Concrete Driveways, Concreted Driveways, Stamped 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.

Easy Avenues to Create a More Appealing Curb

Making your abodes curb appeal the limelight is what you have to do assuming you want your home to look its best. 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. During the time you peer at your residence with how appealing it looks from the curb, you are visualizing it through eyes that are fresh and many times you can see the blemishes or patches that have a necessity for improvements that you didn't otherwise note.

Contributing to the appeal of your homes curb, are how your windows appear. Unmistakably, your windows cleanliness needs to take first priority. Very little can lessen the way a home appears to people than windows that are unclean. The exterior and interior of your home are impacted by this. If there are any broken panes anywhere, even in the basement, these should be replaced as soon as possible. By all means, windows are crucial for not only their appearance but for insulation also. With the condition that your windows don't conserve energy well, it might be a good time to change them. If you don't have shutters, consider getting some, as this is one element that can really add distinction to your home's appearance, especially if you paint them the right color.

Making some amendments that you weren't even sure were needed could improve the appeal of your homes curb. When one peers at something all day for a long time, sometimes they aren't aware of what it looks like to someone else. Look long and hard at your garage entryway, for instance. The above mentioned isn't considered unless it is broken for the most part. 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.

In order to do a thorough job of improving the curb appeal of a home, you may need to enlist others' opinions. Question your buddies or family in which you appreciate their truthful observations. One more strategy individuals could endeavor is to walk around your dwelling place and get some great pictures. Then look over these pictures as though you were looking at someone else's home and see what improvements you would make. You may need to look at your home in a new way to really figure out how to improve its curb appeal.

So if you want to sell your home, curb appeal is something that you need to focus on to move your house on the market. Aside from this, the type of improvements discussed in this article will give you and anyone who visits a better feeling about your household. The bottom line is that once you improve the curb appeal of your house, people will know you really care about it.

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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