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Your next step, if you do elect to forge ahead with installing a driveway will be make a choice about what type of driveway is going to be most suitable for your circumstances. There are many different types of driveway available, as I'm sure you will be aware, but these may not all be right for you. If you're on a tight spending budget you could be to some degree limited in your choices. The configuration and dimensions of your property's garden may also affect your final decision.

You might say "a driveway is just a driveway", however that simply isn't true, given that there are many different designs and types of driveway, and if you were to take a walk around your town, you will see what I mean. You should see shingle driveways, grass driveways, block paved driveways, tarmac driveways, resin bound driveways, asphalt driveways, concrete driveways, cobbled driveways, patterned concrete driveways and natural stone driveways, in various forms, however this will give you a perception of all the potential alternatives.

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?

Although you may think that you can just stick a driveway anywhere you like on your land, this is not automatically true. The legislation that pertain to driveways aren't just laid down by the local authority, but are in reality enforced by government law. However, at this moment in time, these laws only affect driveways being laid in front gardens. This legislation, which is known as the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) has been in force since October 2008, when it was first brought in.

If you are aiming to build a driveway having an area of more than 5m² and it's in your front garden, you are going to be affected by these SuDS legislation. You won't have to stress about this if you build your driveway from a porous (permeable) substance like shingle, permeable concrete block, porous asphalt, monoblock (grass) or resin, which will allow the water to pass through and naturally drain away. If you believe that the SuDS legislation will affect your planned driveway in the UK, you can see detailed information here - Sustainable Drainage Systems

Naturally it is quite feasible for you to build your own driveway in the UK, if you are fairly good at do-it-yourself and are not fazed by a touch of hard work. However no-one should think of this as an easy process, as there is a great deal of preparation work involved apart from actually laying the driveway, including doing waste removal, lugging materials and excavating. If you've got any concerns about whether you would be able to tackle a project such as this, it might be a good idea to hire an experienced driveway specialist.

With this kind of project, you've got to be wary about exactly who you pick, seeing as you clearly need somebody who knows precisely what they are up to. There are plenty of cowboys and rogue traders out there who will soon pocket your cash and do a lousy job. It's worth shelling out a bit more money to get a proper job done, instead of taking a risk with a substandard worker just to save yourself a couple of quid. Driveway and patio contractors who have been offering their services in and around the UK for a number of years would be the smartest choice.

When assessing these paving contractors, you should at the very least ask for some references from satisfied clientele, ask what warranties they offer on their workmanship, ascertain how long they've been in business, check that they have got insurance protection, ask if they are a member of a trade association such as ANTSCA (the surfacing trade association) and ask to look at a portfolio of past projects.

This doesn't have to be an inquisition, but asking these germane questions should give you an inkling of the sort of individual that you are going to be dealing with. If they are relaxed about answering all of these questions, you can assume that they are fairly genuine. You can deem that they're hiding something or being less than honest if they're confrontational or hesitant when asked such questions. If that occurs you would be wise to avoid them like the plague and try another tradesman.

If you are wary and pick a really good driveway paver, they will help you make all the most important decisions with regards to your project, including the recommended driveway technique, the favoured location and the best materials. And that is not the end of it, because they'll also take care of all the design, preparation and planning that's required for your new driveway installation to go like clockwork.

Gravel Driveways

When looking at the various different types of driveway you may choose to favour the easiest and least expensive, which is gravel. In rural locations, gravel driveways are particularly favoured and can be very attractive in spite of their inherent simplicity. Gravel can be bought in a whole host of sizes and shades, so you should not have any problem finding one that looks good in your garden. A efficient gravel driveway will require a substantial and well-defined edging, and a good substantial layer of hardcore. The very best gravel driveways are the result of putting down 3 or 4 layers of shingle, with every layer tamped and left to settle down before laying the next. Properly laid gravel driveways are of course SuDS compliant, consequently you'll not need to apply for planning permission regardless of how big your driveway is.

Asphalt Driveways

An asphalt driveway, with its smooth, uninterrupted appearance adds immediate "curb appeal" to any house in. When put in by a skilled contractor, an asphalt driveway will provide years of good use with a bare minimum of maintenance. If your local council has regulations that stop non-permeable materials being used on driveways, so as to prevent localised flooding, a special permeable asphalt substrate permits rainwater to drain into a sub-grade reservoir.

Asphalt can successfully tolerate the freeze-thaw impact of TOWN winters, and is very good value for money in comparison with some other driveway options. Asphalt is cheaply and easily maintained and repaired, and can be removed if circumstances change. If you're worried about the ecological impact of your driveway, you might be interested to know that asphalt can be lifted and recycled for other uses.

Block Paved Driveways

Block-paving driveways are among the most favoured designs in at the moment, and dozens of these have sprung up in recent years. Forming attractive and sometimes intricate designs, hundreds of specially designed block paving bricks are butted together to create a robust and hard wearing driveway. As soon as the blocks are put in place and firmly tamped down, the gaps are filled up using kiln-dried sand which is then brushed into the joints. It might be a good idea to have your block-paved driveway sealed after 4 or 5 months with Thompsons sealant or something like that. This is essential to stop weed growth. There are lots of designs in which block paving is laid, including fan, herringbone, stretcher bond and basket weave.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: It is also possible to install a Compliant with SuDS block paving driveway in, if that is what you require. By simply leaving wider spaces between the blockwork and packing them with a fine shingle instead of the standard kiln-dried sand, you can accomplish a permeable paved surface that doesn't require planning permission. (Tags: Block Paving, Block Paving Driveways, Block Paved Driveways).

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone, as a driveway surface, never loses its outstanding appearance even as it ages. This compact and dense material looks the business on any driveway and will provide a lifetime of good service for any motor vehicles you might park on it. Owing to the unique colours and depth of tones of the stone, you'll end up with a driveway which is totally bespoke to your garden. The natural stone gives a soft, warm look to any driveway, and adds to that valuable WOW factor.

Driveways made from natural stone don't just look great, but they are easy to maintain and less vulnerable to damage than concrete alternatives. The smaller gaps in between the stones means that there is significantly less likelihood of unwanted weed growth, and the smooth, hard surface is much easier to clean. A natural stone driveway from a professional contractor should be thought of as a sound investment that will bump up the value of your property.

Driveway Cleaning

If you do not have a driveway at this moment in time, then of course cleaning isn't going to be needed, but this is definitely an issue you'll have to look at in the coming weeks and months. The process of cleaning a driveway, is something that a lot of householders put off, or ignore altogether. Yet, cleaning a driveway is important from both a maintenance and visual viewpoint, and this should really be done fairly regularly. If weeds, roots and other damaging plant growth are allowed to establish themselves, with time they can weaken your driveway's structure. If your driveway has existing fractures and cracks, these could easily be enlarged, and structural problems could arise as a result.

The instant you notice stains, dirt or weed growth on your drive, it's recommended that you remove them as quickly as possible. Yet, most homeowners wait until the springtime and summer to clean their drives, primarily because moss and weed growth is more noticeable at this time of the year. The appeal of your driveway can really be ruined by brake fluid, petrol and oil spillages from your car. It is therefore vital to eliminate them immediately to avoid unattractive discolouration of your driveway's surface.

If you are cleaning your own driveway, you'll need access to a power washing machine, and to accomplish it correctly you'll also need some other equipment and tools, for example a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent. A professional driveway cleaning service will be required if you haven't got the right gear, or don't have the confidence to do it yourself. You might even discover that your local driveway installers will also provide this kind of service.

Tarmac Driveways

Because of its durability and strength, tarmac is an extremely good choice for the surface of a driveway. When laid by an experienced driveway company it offers superb weather resistant properties, looks great and doesn't need much maintenance. Tarmac's strength and durability means that it can cope with larger and heavier vehicles, like carvans and camper vans, without damaging the surface.

It offers excellent value for money, and tarmac can be coloured to complement the surroundings or your requirements. Tarmac makes it easy to outshine a dreary black coloured surface and colour it to tie in with your home or property. It is perfectly possible for a skilled driveway company to put in a brand new tarmac drive in less than a day. This straightforward installation, combined with its simple maintenance and high durability makes a tarmac driveway a perfect alternative for any property or home.

Resin-Bound Driveways

There's no doubt that nowadays resin-bound driveways have become one of the most popular kinds of driveway. The added advantage that they're SuDS compliant of course increases their appeal. Resin driveways can be installed in a host of designs and colours that can be tailor-made to your specifications. If you've a pre-existing asphalt or concrete driveway, a brand new resin surface can be laid on top of your existing surface. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a fantastic substitute for concrete, block paving, gravel or asphalt. When installed by a trusted contractor, a resin driveway should come with a long guarantee and give years of reliable service. (Tags: Resin-Bound Driveways, Resin-Bonded Driveways, Resin Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

A much favoured material for driveways, concrete is strong, durable and requires very little maintenance. With regards to the cost, concrete is about average for driveways, being dearer than asphalt or gravel, but less costly than block paving and resin. For many property owners, the downside of concrete is its rather drab and boring appearance, but this can be easily overcome by asking for a stamped or patterned surface finish.

Driveway Tasks

If you pick your driveway company carefully they will have the skills necessary to help with painted driveways, tar driveways, the maintenance of gravel driveways, coloured tarmac driveways, monoblock driveway installations in the UK, the design of asphalt driveways, permeable driveway installations, the repair of aggregate driveways, bonded gravel driveways, resin driveway installations, driveways with pavers, paving a driveway, cheap driveway ideas, commercial driveway installation, driveway resurfacing, asphalt driveway recycling, driveway cleaning, driveway installation estimates, driveway drainage, driveway replacement, grass driveway installation, driveway culverts, the construction of flagstone driveways, the repair of concrete driveways, driveway markers, gated driveways, granite block driveways, pebble driveways, domestic driveway installations, stone resin driveways and any one of innumerable additional driveway related services in the UK. Listed are just a handful of the duties that are conducted by people specialising in driveways. Driveway providers will be happy to inform you of their whole range of services

More Advice and Guidance

By taking a look at YouTube videos you are able to discover how to put in a resin bound driveway. Social media is clearly the place where the majority of homeowners in the UK head these days when they are searching for ideas and images for products and services. If that is what you love to do and you're presently searching for information on driveway installation check this out. You should pay a visit to Rated People or the government backed Trustmark website, if you want to conduct a search for licensed local driveway contractors in the UK. The dedicated Wikipedia "driveways" page is the place to head over to for details of the purposes of driveways, the different sorts of driveways, the local legislation regarding driveways and the materials used for driveways. To read a useful article about how to choose a driveway check this out.

Driveway Questions

Over the last few weeks I have been looking through the questions homeowners in the UK ask regarding driveways. A number of our visitors have submitted justifiable questions that are relevant to this article. The ones I picked out were, "Where can I buy driveway gravel?" "When should you seal your driveway?" "Should a concrete driveway have rebar?" "How do driveway drains work?" "What happens if driveway sealer freezes?" "How much does the average driveway cost?" I hope nearly all of those questions have been dealt with on this page, and if some remain unanswered a driveway "Q&A" feature will be introduced in the near future. My gratitude goes out to the following homeowners in the UK for making the effort to pose their excellent questions; Kaiden Clarkson, Sarah Crawford, Tony Mcdonald and Jane Mcgrady. It was also fantastic to get offerings from Noah Weston in Newlands, Aaliyah Cowell in Hadleigh and Isaac Friend in Fobbing.

Skip Hire for Driveways

When you're carrying out a driveway installation project in the UK, or any other kind of home or garden revamp, it's likely that a certain volume of rubbish and waste will be generated that can't be disposed of in your regular household wheelie bins. Actually, in most regions, construction or garden materials must be disposed of in a controlled and eco-friendly way, in accordance with local authority legislation. Consequently if you are to stay safely within the law, you'll have to transport your waste materials to a recognised disposal and recycling site, generally a council tip. If you do not want to be carting waste materials back and forth to your nearby Domestic Recycling Centre, it may be better to look for skip hire in your area.

By using an established skip hire contractor, you'll be given assurances that all of your waste will be driven to an authorised site, and will be disposed of correctly and safely. Even so, it's crucial to establish the form of waste materials that will be generated by the driveway project, and you can go through this with your chosen contractor and the skip hire provider concerned. If there's a chance that asbestos containing materials might be involved, the skip hire company will need to divide the dangerous waste into a totally separate disposal system for health and safety reasons. Hazardous waste is best left to the professionals, and strict regulations cover it's safe disposal. To make sure all guidelines and regulations are addressed appropriately, both your driveway installer and the skip hire firm will work together.

The perfect solution is if you happen to have a space when a skip can be sited on your garden or drive. On the reverse side of the coin, if you do not have a suitable area, and you park your vehicle on the main road, you might need to seek the help of your neighbours, and see whether they can leave a space for your skip someplace close to the work area. A skip which is placed on a driveway or private land doesn't need a permit, but if it has to go on a public highway in the UK it will definitely need a temporary local authority skip permit, get hold of them to see whether you need one. This will guarantee there are no problems with regards to siting your skip.

Skip hire providers offer skips of all shapes and sizes, and you can rent anything from skip bags and mini-skips right up to builders skips and gigantic roll-on roll-off monstrosities. To hire a skip for your project in the UK, CLICK HERE for a quote.

Enhancing the Look of Your Curb Effortlessly

Ways abound where you can increase your residence landscape when consideration is given. Some homeowners make the mistake of thinking that this isn't very important, as it only has to do with superficial issues. 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. It makes people feel that you are a homeowner that is careful and caring, when your abode has curb appeal.

The initial thought when you are thinking about improving your curb appeal is to give it a paint job. Even though this may sound like the place to start, you might need to think twice. 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. There are many places that will rent the power washers, in a wide range of prices, or you may decide to find a person to do it for you. Be careful not to miss any of the outer structures, like garage doors, fences, etc.

You can use simple decorations to make the outside of your home seem festive and welcoming. Changing the exterior look and feel of your house in this manner should not cost very much money and should cater to your personal tastes. Your front porch should definitely have a few colorful flowers, as well as some potted plants to make it look all-natural. You can hang these from various places, put them on window sills or wherever you can find a convenient spot. Furniture on the lawn is also something that catches the eye, something like wrought iron lawn furniture will definitely do the trick. Even the lawn decorations can spruce up the front of your house; if overdone, it can detract from everything else.

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. The driveway should not only be visually appealing, but give people the feeling that they are safe when they park there. 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. Guests should always feel important. This includes people that drive into your driveway or those that walk to your house for a social visit.

Anyone that wants to add curb appeal to their property should be able to after reading this article. The ability to change the way your house looks by adding a few diverse elements is really a miracle in regard to how fast it can be achieved. The impact that your home will have, specifically in regard to curb appeal, is a result of your efforts. You know what to do now - go do it!

Doing a Search Online

It is considerably simpler to look for a tradesman or service right now than it was in the past, given that we've got the advantage of technology and can just do a search on the web. Immediate and pertinent results are the reward of searching with Bing, Google or Yahoo, which were created for this exact role. One drawback can be that the first page results displayed by the major search engines might not be exactly the ones you were after. Typing in "UK driveways", "driveways in the UK", "driveway installers near me" or "driveways" will normally be the process to use when looking for a driveway specialist in the UK. You need to know that the 4 top results are often PPC advertisements (which may or may not be on-topic), and lots of the remaining page one listings will likely be from large trade portals like Checkatrade, My Hammer, Rated People, My Builder, TrustaTrader or Bark or web directories such as Gumtree, Yelp, Scoot or Yell. Odd job men usually don't have substantial budgets to push their websites to the uppermost rankings, so you're liable to find these out-of-the-way lower down the listings perhaps on the second or third pages. Approved tradesmen websites like Rated People or Checkatrade are still handy though, and you will be able to make full use of their informative services to examine customers appraisals, obtain free quotes and read through reviews, since there are local driveway pavers on there who do not even have a website.

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 Locally: Through the use of our website block paved driveways have recently been installed in Temptin Avenue, Somnes Avenue, Southwalters, St Guibert Road, Silverthorn, Central Wall Cottages, Thompson Avenue, Champlain Avenue, Crescent Road, Corona Road, Suffolk Way, Thisselt Road, Croppenburg Walk, Delgada Road, Chichester Close, Dovervelt Road, Camperdown Road, Tongres Road, Church Parade, The Firs, Chalk Road, Sussex Way, Stella Maris Close, Taranto Road, Central Wall, Devon Way, The Fielders and other areas of the UK. These places recently saw activity by those specialising in driveways. Business and home owners received competent and top notch driveway services on each occasion.

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