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Hiring a Driveway and Paving Specialist

A concrete driveway is beyond the capabilities of the typical DIY enthusiast, but you must be wary of selecting a shady contractor who may leave before the job is finished or laying a shoddy road that will break apart soon after the payment is cleared! Finding quotes has never been easier on Top Tradespeople. Simply post your job and we will connect you with up to 3 local driveway and paving specialists, without obligation, and totally free of charge. Checking references and reading reviews from former customers are two of the most effective ways to determine whether a company/builder is trustworthy. Spending a little extra for a professional and attractive drive is far preferable to paying a low amount for an eyesore that will need to be totally redone in a few months.

Imprinted and Patterned Concrete Driveways

Pattern imprinted concrete is a stunning driveway product that is also extremely durable, thanks to the newest concrete technology. Imprinted or patterned concrete comes in a variety of styles, including amazing 3D effects that mimic cobblestones, slate, brick, and stone. You may also select from a variety of colours to complement your house and garden. 

Pattern Imprinted Concrete is no more expensive than traditional block paving, and the pricing remains the same regardless of the colour or pattern selected! Furthermore, with no long-term sinking or subsidence, this style of driveway is weed-free and extremely easy to maintain. Imprinted concrete, unlike conventional or york stone pavement, cannot be lifted and removed at night!

How long lasting is Imprinted and Patterned Concrete Driveways?

Pattern imprinted concrete driveways are also extremely long-lasting; in fact, if properly placed and maintained, they should last a lifetime! However, installing a pattern imprinted driveway is not a DIY project; expert expertise and skills are necessary, and the pattern mats necessary are rather costly. Nothing is entirely maintenance free in life, although pattern imprinted concrete comes close.

The material is extremely durable, and the solvent-based acrylic lacquer used minimizes moss and algae development while also keeping dirt and stains out. If the pattern imprinted concrete driveways are really unclean, they can be power cleaned, but a simple sweeping or hose-down is all that is needed. Cleaning and resealing your imprinted concrete every 5 to 10 years is the key to maintaining it in good shape (depending on usage).

Do you need Planning Permission?

Surface water is collected and drained off into soakaways, thus no planning approval is required for a new or rebuilt concrete driveway. As concrete driveways are not porous, they must be constructed such that drainage meets current rules and can withstand heavy rain. Including a drainage solution in the design of a pattern imprinted driveway to fulfil all legal standards without the need for a planning application is a straightforward process. Although a professional builder can advise you on the current planning and approvals situation, you should always check with your local authority to confirm planning permission requirements and associated costs.

Concrete Block Paving or Pattern Imprinted Concrete?

Both look very similar, but which should you choose: concrete block paving or pattern imprinted concrete? Block paving provides a durable and appealing finish that comes in a variety of designs, colours, and textures. Block pavement is also incredibly durable and permeable, requiring no extra drainage. The disadvantages of block paving are mostly related to installation and the failure to use the proper sub foundation, which may eventually result in sinking or movement. The capacity to cover huge areas fast and easily is the main advantage of pattern imprinted concrete over block paving. However, because pattern imprinted concrete is non-permeable, drainage must be considered in order to comply with planning standards for front garden surfacing.

Resin Bonded Driveways

The addition of a resin driveway to your home’s entryway can make a monumental difference. It will not only appear neat and stylish, but it will also be very low maintenance. As it is very durable and long lasting, it cannot be damaged as easily as cement or other material finishes that need to be repaired every couple of years. 
Why should you choose resin for your driveway? 

There are many reasons why resin bound driveways are becoming a popular material choice among homeowners who are renovating their driveways. One of the reasons why people prefer this material over others is because of its durability. It also has a nice appearance and is easy to upkeep. Since the material can endure a lot of traffic and damage, you won’t have to clean it on a regular basis, nor will you have to conduct any basic maintenance work on the driveway. 

It has a pleasing appearance, is low maintenance, is not easily damaged, and is very inexpensive when compared to other driveway material alternatives. These are just a few of the various reasons why a homeowner would opt for resin over other materials while having work done on the outside of their property, such as a new driveway.

Resin Driveways- How much does it cost?

Contractors will most likely base the cost of installing new resin driveways on the square footage of the space. Furthermore, most builders will offer you cheaper pricing if you have an extra-large driveway. The greater the space in which the new driveway will be installed, the lower the price. When it comes to creating a new driveway outside of your home, contractors typically charge between £50-£75 per square metre. Contractors will not, however, provide you with a clear cost analysis or estimate.

When having a new resin driveway installed, there are a number of other factors that will influence the cost. When it comes to creating a new driveway, your location is crucial; in places where people are wealthier and homes are larger, you may expect to pay more per square metre. Also, if you want your driveway coating, sealed or weather-proofed, the cost of installing the driveway will increase. 

Installing a new driveway outside the house will also include transportation and labour costs. If you need to rent equipment, this will increase the cost of hiring a local contractor to install your new driveway. When a local contractor provides you with a quote for the installation of your new resin driveway, the required depth, levelling work, and aggregate size are all aspects that will be taken into account.

The current surface on which the new driveway will be placed will have an impact on the overall cost of installation. It will cost less if it is even and levelled, and the new driveway can be installed quickly, than if there is damage or a substantial amount of work needed to be done on the existing driveway.

Stone and Concrete Driveways

A new driveway is likely to be less expensive than you expect. With more parking space, less maintenance, and even added value to the selling price of your house, a new driveway adds a healthy dose of usefulness and aesthetic appeal to your property. Gravel, asphalt, brick, and concrete are some of the most common driveways.

Concrete driveways are quickly becoming the most popular driveway option in the UK, owing to the fact that concrete can now be customised to look amazing in a variety of designs. Concrete driveways have a reputation for being long-lasting and easy to maintain. Stone or paved driveways are common in all types of homes and are considerably easier to change later than concrete driveways. Stone driveways may need additional weeding to ensure that these tenacious plants do not cause damage to your driveway. In reality, no driveway is fully maintenance-free; they do require care, with the amount of care necessary varying depending on the surface of the driveway and the circumstances to which it has been subjected, but all driveways will require some care and attention over time.

The most popular material for new driveways in the UK nowadays is concrete block paving stones. They are long-lasting and come in a variety of colours, textures, and finishes, many of which closely resemble natural stone. Natural stone is more costly than synthetic stone, but it is also more resilient and long-lasting. Usually, British stone is used for stone driveways by nowadays there are cheaper options that can be imported from India. One of the most significant benefits of natural stone over contemporary concrete block paving stones is that since the colour of stone is natural and runs through the stone, it does not fade over time whereas the colour of concrete block paving stones is just applied to the surface and will fade over time. Poured concrete has many of the same durability benefits as concrete block pavement, but it is easier to install (and hence less expensive), but the finish is very plain and less appealing.

To guarantee that your concrete or stone driveway lasts for many years, make sure that any weeds in the cracks are cleared as soon as possible, and that any cracks that emerge are filled in before water gets into them as it can cause frost damage. The same is true of any vehicle-caused potholes or depressions. It is certainly worth the money to seal your driveway, and you may use weed and moss killer on a regular basis.

Hiring a Driveway and Paving Specialist

A concrete driveway is beyond the capabilities of the typical DIY enthusiast, but you must be wary of selecting a shady contractor who may leave before the job is finished or laying a shoddy road that will break apart soon after the payment is cleared! Finding quotes has never been easier on Top Tradespeople. Simply post your job and we will connect you with up to 3 local driveway and paving specialists, without obligation, and totally free of charge. Checking references and reading reviews from former customers are two of the most effective ways to determine whether a company/builder is trustworthy. Spending a little extra for a professional and attractive drive is far preferable to paying a low amount for an eyesore that will need to be totally redone in a few months.

Brick and Block Paving Specialists

Paving gardens has been popular in the UK for many years, owing to the low maintenance requirements (no more mowing or weeding) as well as the fact that paved areas provide a safe parking place for your vehicle. The first step in the planning stage when paving your garden is to determine how you will use the landscaped space. Manufactured patio paving, aggregates, cobbles, and circles are all good options if you only want to increase the overall look of the house. Concrete block paving is a common option if the paved area will be used for parking or as a driveway.

Quality range items such as concrete slabs would suffice if you simply want to clean up the appearance of a portion of your yard, while specialised patio paving products are available in a variety of shapes if you want to build an outdoor seating or dining area. Of course, you do not have to stick to one kind of paving product for your landscaping project; you can mix and match various styles, sizes, and colours to suit the style of your space.

Block Paving- What are the benefits?

Block paving has many advantages, including exceptional physical durability, a pleasing look, and long-term cost effectiveness. Block paving is functional and long-lasting for many reasons, whether it is used to make a new road, patio, or driveway. Paving stone flags come in a number of shapes and sizes, but are most often classified as calibrated or riven flags with varying thicknesses.

Block Paving Driveways- Do you need Planning Permission? 

Householders wishing to hard landscape their front gardens should be aware of recent amendments in rules and regulations surrounding paving the front of their residence. Traditional, impermeable driveways that do not regulate rainwater runoff into roads now need planning permission (if the surface to be covered is more than five square metres). This law covers new driveways, driveway additions, and drive replacements.

If the area to be covered is less than five square metres, the new surface is permeable or porous, or a conventional surface is laid but rainwater is diverted to a lawn or boundary to drain naturally or by a soakaway, no planning permission is required. A wide variety of permeable pavement options are now available to minimise construction issues.

Block Paving Driveway- How much does it cost?

Paving costs will range from £40 to over £100 per square foot, depending on the materials used, the existing soil, excavation depth, and even your location (as aggregate costs fluctuate greatly across the UK). Having a tradesman come to your home to assess the area to be paved as well as discuss the sort of paving or driveway that is required can give you the most accurate quote. Finding quotes has never been easier on Top Tradespeople. Simply post your job and we will connect you with up to 3 local paving specialists, without obligation, and totally free of charge. 

When you hire a licenced landscape gardener to hardscape your backyard, you can be assured that the work will be completed correctly and will last for a long time. If this is the service you need, look for a landscaper who has expertise in patio laying and paving; most gardeners specialise in specific fields, so hiring a planting contractor to lay your patio is a waste of money!