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So, you've made the decision to to press ahead, but what type of driveway is going to be best for your requirements? You will undoubtedly be aware that there are a host of different driveway solutions available and not every one of these will be of interest to you. If you don't have a lot of cash to commit to this project, your style and material options may be constrained by what you can afford. The size and configuration of your available space might also have an affect on your final decision.

If you take a quick stroll around some nearby streets, you'll get an appreciation of all the various types of driveway that other folks have installed, and possibly get a few ideas for your own drive. According to the layout and geography of your garden you'll be able to choose between 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?

You might feel that planning permission is only required for significant initiatives like loft conversions and extensions, but that's not automatically true. Driveways are in fact governed by a number of rules and regulations, and these apply on a national scale rather than being just locally binding. However, at this moment in time, these regulations only affect driveways which are being installed in front gardens. This legislation, which is called the SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System) has been in place since October 2008, when it was first brought in.

The SuDS regulations apply to driveways installed in front gardens with an area of more than five square metres. Porous materials such as gravel, permeable concrete, porous tarmac, resin, or grass monoblock conform to SuDS, and allow any excess surface water to drain through without any problems. Therefore, if you are building your driveway from one of these materials, you won't have to worry. It is possible to have a look at the SuDS legislation here - SuDS

To some folks, installing a driveway might not seem to be that difficult a task, and for anyone who is good at DIY, it is by no means impossible. However, do not be deceived, there's a great deal of hard graft associated with laying a driveway, in particular with regards to the preparatory work, which will involve excavation, carrying heavy materials and waste removal. If you're in any doubt about this, it might be better to call in an established driveway paver to carry out the work on your behalf.

With driveway contractors, much like a number of other building related occupations, you've got to be wary of exactly who you employ to do the job. There are a lot of cowboys and rogue traders out there who will gladly take your money and do an poor quality job. It's well worth shelling out a bit more money to get a decent job, rather than risk using a poor quality worker simply to save yourself a couple of quid. The smartest choice will usually be a patio and driveway company who has been been providing their services in and around your area for a number of years, and has an excellent track record locally.

When you're sifting through potential contractors to do your driveway you must 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 such salient information ought to give you a sense of the type of tradesman you're dealing with, but it doesn't need to be an inquisition. If they're relaxed about answering all of these questions, you can assume that they are reliable. You should avoid them like the plague if they act in a hesitant or confrontational way when asked these types of questions, since it's very likely that they're hiding something or being less than truthful.

Identifying an experienced tradesman is crucial, because if you manage to find yourself a reputable driveway company, they will not just do a good job, but also give you advice on the best location, materials and style for your new driveway. And that's not the end of it, because they will also take care of all the planning, design and preparation that's necessary for your new driveway.

Gravel Driveways

When considering the various different kinds of driveway you may choose to settle on the ubiquitous simplest and cheapest, which is gravel. In a rural setting, gravel driveways are especially favoured and can be extremely attractive despite their inherent simplicity. Gravel can be obtained in a wide range of shades and sizes, so you shouldn't have any trouble locating one that looks good in your garden. A robust base layer of hardcore is needed for a gravel drive to be efficient, together with a firmly-bedded edging. If you are looking for a really top quality gravel driveway, you must make certain 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 or so before the next one is laid. Irrespective of what size your driveway is, or whether it is in your back or front garden, if it's constructed from gravel it won't need to apply for planning permission, because it will automatically be SuDS compliant.

Asphalt Driveways

An asphalt driveway, with its smooth, uninterrupted appearance offers instant curb appeal to any house in. For best outcome ensure you hire a reputable asphalt contractor that will provide a driveway that lasts a lifetime doesn't require much maintenance or after-care. If your local council has regulations that prevent non-porous materials being used, so as to preclude local flooding, a unique permeable asphalt substrate enables rainwater to drain into a sub-layer.

Asphalt driveways offer outstanding value and asphalt is a durable, strong material which is perfect for tolerating the freezing and thawing effects of a typical British winter. It's also the simplest driveway substance to repair or remove due to its manufacturing process. It could be considered the most environmentally friendly of solid driveway surfaces because it's even possible to recycle an asphalt drive for use in a different project. (Tags: Asphalt Driveway, Asphalt Driveway Recycling, Asphalt Driveways).

Block Paving Driveways

Block-paving driveways are among the most frequently seen designs in at the moment, and scores of these seem to have appeared over the last few years. These are crafted using hundreds of specially designed block-paving bricks which are butted together to form attractive and sometimes intricate designs. The gaps that are left between these blocks are filled up using kiln-dried sand which is brushed into the joints, resulting in a pleasing finish. After several months a good idea is to have your block paving driveway sealed with a premium quality sealant (like Rycal), this should help to stop weed growth. Block paving can be made very attractive and can be laid numerous different patterns, including basketweave, fan, stretcher bond and herringbone.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Block paved driveways can also be made to comply with SuDS, by leaving bigger than normal gaps between the bricks, which can then be filled with a fine aggregate in place of the traditional kiln-dried sand. (Tags: Block Paved Driveway, Block Paving, Block Paving Driveways).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone is brilliant as a driveway material because it always improves with age. Looking the business from the first day until fifty years down the line, a driveway built from natural stone will give you a lifetime of use for any car or vehicle. The depth of tone and natural colouring gives a unique appearance to every stone driveway, and offers a bespoke and individual look to any house. The natural stone gives a warm, soft look to any driveway, and contributes to that valuable WOW factor.

A driveway made from natural stone is also far easier to maintain, and is less prone to weather damage than concrete materials. They are also simple to clean, and with smaller joints between the stones there is considerably less chance of weeds and seeds sprouting up on your drive. A natural stone driveway properly installed by a professional company should be regarded as a great investment that will add value to your house.

Driveway Cleaning

If you are intending to replace an existing driveway as your current one is looking shabby, it would be substantially less costly to clean it, if you think that will help. The process of cleaning a driveway, is something that a lot of home owners delay, or neglect altogether. However, cleaning a driveway is a procedure that should be conducted with some regularity, and is crucial from both a maintenance and aesthetic viewpoint. Over time, your driveway's structure can be damaged by weeds, roots and other destructive plant growth. If there are existing fractures or cracks, these could be widened which could eventually trigger structural issues.

If you discover that your drive has weeds, dirt or stains, it is advisable to remove them before the situation worsens. It isn't a good option to wait around for the spring and summer to arrive to power wash your driveway, even though that is the time when you are most likely to notice moss and weeds. The appearance of your driveway can be seriously blighted by oil, brake fluid and petrol spillages from your vehicle. Therefore it's vital to promptly get them cleaned to prevent the surface being stained too severely.

Together with a power washing machine, you will also need a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, and some other tools if you wish to clean your driveway correctly. If you haven't got the correct equipment, or are not clear about doing it yourself, you could contact a specialist driveway cleaning service, or ask your local driveway company if they're willing to do it.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac offers strength and a durable surface which makes it a really good option for driveways. When it's installed by a reputable driveway company, tarmac requires almost no maintenance, looks amazing and offers excellent weatherproof properties. Tarmac's strength and durability means it can handle bulkier vehicles, such as motor-homes, without causing any damage to the surface.

If want a coloured tarmac, that's also possible, and it offers great value in comparison with alternative kinds of driveway. You do not need to have a drab, traditional looking driveway; you are able to customise your drive to the colour of your choosing. A tarmac drive is also one of the simplest to lay, and many driveway projects are finished in a single day. This ease of installation, along with its high strength and simple maintenance makes a tarmac driveway a perfect choice for almost any home.

Resin-Bound Driveways

Among the most flexible and attractive types of driveway that are available right now, resin-bound driveways are becoming increasingly more favoured and are also SuDS compliant, if that's what you're interested in. Resin driveways can be custom-made to your precise requirements and come in an array of different designs and patterns. If you have an existing asphalt or concrete driveway, a brand new resin surface can be laid over your existing surface. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a perfect substitute for concrete, tarmac, gravel or block paving. When installed by a trustworthy contractor, a resin driveway will come with an extended warranty and give many years of excellent service. (Tags: Resin-Bonded Driveways, Resin Driveways, Resin-Bound Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

A much favoured material for driveways, concrete is strong, durable and doesn't need much maintenance. An automatic choice for many home and business owners, concrete can be considerably cheaper than resin or block paving, but if laid correctly is stronger and more durable. Most would acknowledge that concrete driveways in general are quite boring and drab. Yet this does not have to be a problem, as it's quite possible to finish the surface off with a stamped or imprinted design which can be very attractive. (Tags: Concrete Driveway, Patterned Concrete Driveway, Concreted 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.

Make An Outstanding Impression - Wonderful Home Curb Appeal Ideas Revealed

As you mediate on how you could amplify the appeal your curb has, you will realize there are endless avenues to do so. Several abode owners mistakenly believe that the above isn't a big deal, since it is regarding issues that are frivolous. However, these seemingly minor characteristics can be extremely significant assuming you hope to sell your abode, or basically just hope to make it more inviting and beautiful. If your dwelling has a curb that is alluring, it is suggestive that the owner is meticulous and considerate.

A great place to start is to paint a portion of your house, or the entire house; doing this can really catch the eye of people driving by. Painting your deck is also an option, as well as choosing a new color which will stand out much more prominently. Shutters and window casings are also good candidates for a fresh coat of paint. In some cases, a cleaning will be sufficient, but making such areas look their best will greatly improve the curb appeal of your home. Your curb appeal will definitely give the wrong impression to people passing by if you have mold and moss on the outside of the house - clean that up as soon as you can! Depending upon the level of mold that you have, you may want to hire a professional to get rid of it if it is a very serious issue.

Front and back yards should be looked at well. Are they neat and inviting, or are they cluttered with toys, tools and random objects? The way your yard/yards look, is a huge determinant in terms of an appealing curb. Assuming backyard or front yard is cluttered, the endeavor to clean it up will be worthwhile. Move any objects that hinder your ability to go through your yard with ease. Tackle issues such as growing weeds and bush overgrowth, assuming you have these. Instruct your children to place their toys in their proper places when they are finished with them, assuming you have children who leave them laying all over the place.

Oftentimes, the consideration of replacing an existing green lawn with something that is much easier to care for will cross the minds of homeowners. Traditional lawns are becoming less popular due to the amount of water that must be used and the amount of time that must be spent taking care of them. Green grass is very beautiful, but it is also a good idea to change up the look of your home by choosing landscaping that requires less upkeep. An environmentally sustainable landscaping idea that you should consider is called xeriscaping. The principles of xeriscaping were developed to be used in drought prone areas, however, it can be utilized anywhere that you live.

It can be very satisfying to work on upgrading the curb appeal of your home. Everything you do, whether it is improving the entrance to your home, painting the deck or mowing the lawn shall make a more beautiful and estimable house. However, each move you make, from the budget friendly and easy modifications to the major improvements, all steps will be an addition to the look of your home.

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.

Driveways Around Town: Some streets served by driveway pavers: Bowden, The Laurels, Carvoran Way, Blean Road, Shelden Drive, Scott Avenue, Twyford Close, Toronto Road, Standen Close, Bay Villas, Boughton Close, Tanker Hill, Springvale, School Road, Silverdale Drive, Campion Close, Cloverfields, Christmas Street, Conrad Close, Chichester Close, Castlemaine Avenue, Chartwell Court, Stirling Close, Culpepper Road, The Old Orchard, Callams Close, Scotchy Hill, Church Street, Beaconsfield Avenue, Silton Road. These areas recently saw activity by contractors laying driveways. Local homeowners enjoyed dependable and high quality driveway services.

Resin Driveways - Gravel Driveways - Residential Driveway Installation - Cheap Driveways - Concrete Driveways - Commercial Driveway Installation - Driveway Pavers - Driveway Services - Tarmac Driveways