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If you do decide to go ahead with your driveway installation your next thing will be to figure out what kind of driveway you prefer. There are of course many different types of driveway available in UK, as I'm certain you'll be well aware, but these might not all be right for you. If you are on a strict budget your options could be limited to some degree. Your decision might also be affected by the configuration and dimensions of your garden and the available space for the driveway.

Whilst strolling around UK you'll doubtless have seen all the various types of driveway. Contingent upon the landscape and layout of your garden you will be able to choose from stone resin driveways, tarmac driveways, grass driveways, flagstone driveways, asphalt driveways, concrete driveways, patterned concrete driveways, brick driveways, gravel driveways and cobblestone driveways.

What's the Best Kind of Driveway? Before you conclude what form of driveway is best for your situation, there are a few points that you'll want to look into. You'll want to consider - 1. The lie of the land - is the area sloped or level? 2. Planning permission - is planning permission required for your driveway? 3. What's the drainage like in your garden - does water accumulate where you're looking to install your driveway?

You might imagine that a driveway wouldn't normally be of interest to the local authorities, and would not be subject to planning permission requirements, however that presumption would frequently be incorrect. The regulations that cover driveways in UK are not only laid down by the local council, but are in fact enforced by government guidelines. These rules only apply to driveways in FRONT gardens at this time. The legislation that is currently in effect were set by a government act of 2008 - the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

Driveways being installed in front gardens which have an area greater than 5 sq metres are covered by the SuDS legislation. Permeable materials such as porous tarmac, monoblock (grass), aggregate (gravel), resin or permeable concrete block conform to SuDS, and allow the surface water to drain through without any issues. Therefore, if you are making your driveway from one of these substances, you'll not have to worry. It is possible to view the Sustainable Drainage Systems legislation here - Sustainable Drainage Systems

Some property owners in UK could be tempted to have a stab at installing their own driveway, especially if they don't have an issue with a bit of hard work and are fairly good at do-it-yourself. However nobody should consider this as an easy task, since there's a great deal of preparation work involved aside from actually laying the driveway, including doing waste removal, humping materials and digging out. If you have any uncertainties about whether you'd be able to accomplish a project like this, it might be best to contact an established driveway paver.

With driveway installers, like with various other building related trades, you have to be wary of who you hire to let loose on your property. Unfortunately, there are a lot of deceitful "cowboys" out there who'll take advantage of your position and purport to be experts in this field. They will either produce low quality work, or simply grab your money and vanish into the ether. If you're going to install a driveway you may as well do it properly, even if this means spending a little more on the enterprise. It would be better to look for locally based UK driveway installers and landscape gardeners who have been providing their services in the area for a good few years.

When vetting these tradesmen, you should at the very least find out what warranties they give on their work, ask if they are affiliated with an official trade body such as ANTSCA, ask for references from former clients, ask to look at a portfolio of recent work, find out how long they've been in business and verify that they have got public liability insurance coverage.

You don't need to be too pushy or aggressive with this questioning, as what you are really trying to achieve is get an inkling of the sort of individual you are going to be dealing with. If they are happy to answer all your questions, you can consider that they're honest. If they act in a hesitant or hostile way when asked these sorts of questions, you can deem that they are hiding something or being less than truthful - so give them a wide berth.

Once you've found an excellent driveway installer, you can have a discussion about all of the potential driveway options including things like the best style, materials and location. Having a specialist at hand will mean that all the planning, preparation and design is in hand before any real physical work begins.

Gravel Driveways UK

When considering the various types of driveway you may choose to plump for the simplest and least expensive, which is gravel. Gravel driveways are especially favoured in rural locations, and in spite of their simplicity they can be extremely pleasing. As there is such a wide array of gravel sizes and colours, you shouldn't have any trouble locating one that you are satisfied with. A good substantial base of hardcore is required for a gravel drive to be successful, as well as a well-bedded edging. The best gravel driveways result from putting down 3 or 4 layers of shingle, with each and every layer tamped and left to settle before laying the next. Irrespective of what size your driveway is, or if it is in your back or front garden, if it's constructed from gravel it won't need to apply for planning permission, since it will automatically be SuDS compliant.

Tarmac Driveways UK

Tarmac offers a strong and durable surface which makes it an ideal option for a driveway. When it is installed by an experienced driveway company in UK, tarmac offers exceptional weatherproof properties, looks good and doesn't need much maintenance. Tarmac driveways can handle heavier vehicles, like trucks and motor-homes, without dimpling or damage to the surface, and will remain looking pristine for many years to come.

It offers fantastic value, and tarmac can be coloured to complement the surroundings or your home. Tarmac permits you to have an alternative to a traditional black coloured surface and colour it to complement your house in UK. A tarmac drive is also one of the easiest to lay, and the majority of driveway projects are completed in one day. Tarmac is truly an ideal material for virtually any driveway in UK, due to its resilience, low maintenance properties and straightforward installation.

Resin-Bound Driveways UK

Among the most flexible and attractive sorts of driveway that are available in UK today, resin-bound or resin driveways are becoming more and more popular and are also SuDS compliant, if that's what you're in need of. Resin-bound driveways come in a wide variety of patterns and designs that can be customized to your exact specifications. For far less mess and hassle a new resin driveway can easily be laid on top of an existing concrete or asphalt surface. Resin driveways are simple to clean, permeable, maintenance-free and hard wearing, and an outstanding alternative to concrete, tarmac, block paving or gravel. Usually coming with a long guarantee when installed by an approved professional, a resin driveway should give you excellent service for years to come. (Tags: Resin-Bound Driveways UK, Resin-Bonded Driveways UK, Resin Driveways UK)

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