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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

Of all the driveway methods, the standard gravel driveway is the simplest and most economical. In rural locations, gravel driveways are especially popular and can be very attractive despite their simplicity. Because there is such a wide range of gravel sizes and shades, you should have no difficulties finding one that you're happy with. A successful gravel driveway will need a substantial and well-defined edging, and a good robust base of hardcore. If you want a really premium quality gravel driveway, you should make certain that 3 or 4 separate layers are applied, with each and every one individually tamped and rolled and left to settle for a couple of days before the next one is laid. Properly laid gravel driveways are naturally SuDS compliant, therefore you'll not need planning permission no matter how large your driveway is.

Asphalt Driveways

Any home or property in will benefit from the curb appeal of the smooth, consistent appearance of a newly installed asphalt driveway. A proficient driveway contractor in will provide you with an asphalt drive which will give you years of satisfaction, with virtually no maintenance involved. If your local council has restrictions that prevent non-permeable materials being used, in order to stop localised flooding, a special permeable asphalt substrate permits rain to drain away into a sub-base.

Asphalt driveways are well designed to hold up against anything the British winters can chuck at them, and provide exceptional value for money. Asphalt is simple to maintain and repair, and can be removed should your circumstances change. It can be looked on as the most environmentally friendly of solid driveway surfaces because it is even possible to recycle an asphalt driveway for use in another project.

Block Paving Driveways

Over the past ten years or so scores of driveways have appeared in built using the block-paving method. Forming a hard-wearing, durable driveway, hundreds of purpose-made block paving bricks are butted together in eye-catching and intricate patterns that can be personalized to your own specifications. The gaps that are left between the blocks are filled up with kiln-dried sand which is brushed into the exposed joints, producing a neat finish. After four or five months it might be a good idea to have your block-paved driveway sealed with a high quality sealant (such as Thompson's), this should help to stop weed growth. There are a variety of patterns in which block paving is laid, including fan, basket weave, stretcher bond and herringbone.

SuDS Compliant Block Paving Driveways: Block paving driveways can also be made SuDS compliant, by simply leaving wider than standard gaps between the blockwork, which are then filled with very fine aggregate as opposed to the usual kiln-dried sand.

Natural Stone Driveways

Natural stone is a material that always improves with age. The natural stone option will give you a robust and sturdy driveway, for any car or vehicle, and will look great for a whole lifetime. Thanks to the distinctive colours and depth of tones in the stone, you'll have a driveway which is completely bespoke to your house. When correctly installed, a natural stone driveway has that desirable wow factor that will complement any home.

A driveway made from natural stone is also easier to maintain, and is less prone to cracking and damage from weather than concrete materials. The smaller joints between the stones means there's significantly less likelihood of weed growth, and the smooth, solid surface is a lot easier to clean. A properly prepared and installed natural stone driveway is a sound investment that will add to the value and appeal of your home.

Driveway Cleaning

If your property has already got a driveway, and you are thinking of changing it because it is starting to look shabby - why not clean it instead? The process of keeping a driveway clean, is one of those things that a lot of home owners put off, or forget about entirely. However, from both a maintenance and visual perspective, cleaning a driveway is important, and this procedure should be completed on a fairly regular basis, not just every now and then. If weeds, roots and other organic plant growth are allowed to establish themselves, as time passes they can severely weaken your driveway's structure. An enlargement of existing driveway fractures or cracks could happen, and structural issues can occur if this growth is not eliminated.

When you notice that your drive has stains, dirt or weed growth, it's advisable to get rid of them before the situation worsens. Although, the spring and summer is when you most notice the appearance of weeds and moss, you shouldn't wait till them to jet wash your drive. Spillages from your car such as brake fluid, petrol and oil can ruin the look of your driveway. To avoid unsightly discolouration of your driveway's surface, it is therefore vital to remove them immediately.

As well as a power washing device, you'll also need a bucket, a scraper, a broom, a wire brush and detergent, and a few other tools if you want to clean your driveway correctly. If you aren't confident in cleaning it yourself, or you don't have the proper gear, you could ask your driveway installers if they're willing to do this, or contact a specialist driveway cleaning service.

Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac offers a surface with both durability and strength making it a perfect option for driveways. When laid by an experienced driveway company it offers outstanding weather resistant properties, does not need a lot of maintenance and looks terrific. Tarmac driveways are able to cope with heavier vehicles, such as camper vans, without damage to the surface or dimpling, and should look pristine for many years to come.

If want a coloured tarmac, that is also possible, and it offers exceptional value for money when compared with other types of driveway. You can customise a tarmac drive to complement your property or home, with many colours available. The installation of a tarmac driveway is reasonably simple and can frequently be accomplished by a skilled contractor in one day. Lots of people pick tarmac over other driveway materials due to its robustness, finish, speedy installation and low maintenance requirements.

Resin-Bound Driveways

Among the most flexible and attractive styles of driveway that are available today, resin-bound or resin driveways are becoming ever more favoured and are also SuDS compliant, if that's what you are in need of. Available in a host of patterns and designs, resin driveways can be customized to your exact requirements, and installed to complement any concept or theme. For far less mess and hassle a new resin driveway can easily be laid over a current concrete or tarmac surface. Resin driveways are easy to clean, maintenance free, durable, permeable, and a good substitute for block paving, gravel, concrete or tarmac. Generally coming with a long guarantee when installed by an experienced company, a resin driveway should give you reliable service for many years to come. (Tags: Resin-Bonded Driveways, Resin Driveways, Resin-Bound Driveways).

Concrete Driveways

A very popular material for driveways, concrete is durable, strong and doesn't need much maintenance. When it comes to cost, concrete is about middling for driveways, being more expensive than asphalt or gravel, but cheaper than block paving and resin. If you find concrete driveways to be somewhat boring and drab, it's quite possible to add a stamped or patterned design to make them look better.

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.

Making the Most of Your Homes Curb Appeal

How your home looks, and it's perceived market value, can skyrocket if you have the proper curb appeal. This is simply how your home appears to anyone entering it or passing by. You can improve the overall appearance of your home without spending too much money; the reason you want to do this is to improve its outward appearance dramatically for others.

If you have a front lawn on your home, curb appeal will definitely begin there. Your front lawn will definitely be quite a chore, especially if it is large and spacious. Consistency is the key in regard to curb appeal with a lawn - people need to see it taken care of each and every week. It's essential to keep it well trimmed, weeded and frequently watered. If your lawn looks anemic or has spotty areas where nothing is growing, it probably needs new sod. You may want to find a landscaper or lawn maintenance company to at least fix any problem areas so your lawn can get a fresh start if it needs one. If you're property has a few bushes, make sure that they are trimmed each and every week.

Possibly individuals may enhance their residence curb appeal in the manner of creating some advancements that they didn't truly realize were essential. Occasionally, you do not recognize how something looks to others because you see it every single day for years at a time. As an example, take a long gander at the door of your garage. 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. The postal box is another item that is overlooked on a regular basis. Replacing your mailbox will make you feel a whole lot better if the current one is rusty and aging, and a new one isn't too expensive.

Rather than painting the exterior of your home, you may want to consider putting new siding on it. Many choices are out there for it, in addition it could produce a more modern looking home. The insulation can be made better with this as well as the home values increasing. Another potential is stucco or stone veneer, as this can give the more customary appearance of a stucco or stone abode but not bring about the same cost as the real materials. Assuming you would desire to put stone veneer on the exterior of your residence or new siding, you should examine the myriad of choices out there and make a determination regarding what you are drawn to.

Curb appeal is one aspect of home improvement that you shouldn't overlook, especially if you want to sell your home. Even though the purpose of this article was to show you how to add curb appeal to your residence, you might choose to do this just to impress your neighbors. If you do implement some of the curb appeal ideas we have suggested, anyone that sees your house will understand how much you appreciate 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

Find Driveway Pavers in the UK Here

• Block Paving Driveways
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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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