Driveway Remodeling Resource

How to Build a Driveway

When it comes to creating instant "kerb appeal" a good looking driveway should be high on the list of priorities to make your house stand out from the crowd - regardless of whether you are thinking of selling or staying put! The smartest properties and the most glorious gardens can never achieve their full style potential if they are let down by a dreary, unkempt driveway. In addition to the obvious aesthetic benefits of investing in a stunning driveway, there are a number of practical factors to consider.

Practical Factors

A well laid driveway can dispense with the seasonal appearance of unsightly puddles, whilst also providing a clear and uncluttered route from the road to the house - particularly important for when you are regularly unloading a car laden with shopping bags! If you have children, you will also appreciate the additional joy of teaching your child to ride their bike within the safe confines of your own property, rather than risking life and limb on the open road!

Driveway Decisions

Once you've decided to invest in a new driveway, you'll need to give some thought to the following:

Colour - make sure you select a driveway medium which is available in a colour to either complement or contrast with your home and its surroundings

Material - the ultimate driveway material is block paving but be aware that garden paving products are generally not suitable for creating a professional driveway. Alternatives to block paving include gravel (which is great as a burglar deterrent but liable to movement and can be travelled into the house), concrete and tarmac (although you will be limited in terms of choice of colour). There are also a range of resin bound paving solutions which use natural gravel, crushed stone, imported marble and recycled materials, these are available in a wide range of colours and finishes

Drainage - get it right and you can kiss goodbye to pools of water sitting on the driveway. Find a professional driveway installer to ensure your finished driveway drains with ease

Legislation - Remember that following the introduction of legislation which came into effect in October 2008, unless you are working with a permeable driveway paving product you may require planning permission to pave over a front garden.

Lighting - an immaculate driveway will benefit from strategically placed lighting to illuminate a safe route to the door. Low energy LED lighting can be simple to install, weatherproof and requires minimal maintenance.

Driveway Drama

If you want your driveway to deliver a dramatic style statement consider laying pavers to incorporate a striking circular or octant pattern. Alternatively for added impact, you can include bands of contrasting pavers to produce either an attractive edging or a distinctive stand alone feature in its own right.

Driveways with a conscience

In built up environments, as much as 95% of rainfall makes it way directly into drains and straight to the watercourse - which puts immense pressure on the country's drainage systems. The summer of 2007 devastating floods demonstrated the potential catastrophic consequences of placing our drainage systems under too much duress and The Environment Agency has estimated that up to two thirds of the floods in 2007 were caused by the surge in surface water overwhelming the country's drainage systems.

Excess Surface Water

The growing problem associated with excess surface water running off into our drainage systems has given rise to the new planning legislation which now requires householders looking to pave over their front garden - which could include creating a driveway - will require permission unless permeable materials are used.

Go Green Driveway - Eco-friendly

If you want to be future perfect and environmentally responsible, there are already several new permeable products on the market which seek to help address the above issue. The systems are designed to enable surface water to drain away at source directly into the ground rather than into the hard pressed sewer systems during times of heavy rainfall.

Block Paving vs. Grassguard

"Priora" and "Tegula Priora" from Marshalls are permeable domestic block paving driveway solutions which feature voids at the joints to allow any surface water to pass naturally through into a specially calculated sub-base. But if block paving is not for you, you might want to consider alternative products such as "Grassguard", an innovative, sustainable alternative to traditional concrete block paving. Grassguard features an open grid pattern that allows grass to grow through the blocks giving a "green" option for driveways and hard standing areas in front gardens. The grid pattern enables water to drain through the grass into the ground rather than directly into drains.

Arthor and Source: John J. Key

Tips Choosing Driveway Material

When it comes to paving your driveway, there are several factors to take into account. The primary concern is what material to use. One type of material is loose stone, which tends to be inexpensive in comparison to other popular materials such as asphalt, tar and chip, or concrete. Loose stone is natural looking and pleasing to the eye, although there are some challenges to take into account. It may pose as difficult to walk on and prove to be a challenge when it comes to snow removal.

You can create a beautiful driveway design by using a less expensive material and accenting it with other materials. You can also simply use a material such as asphalt, and put your funds into great landscaping, lighting and other garden features. An outstanding driveway design does not have to include expensive material. After all, it is the entire landscape design itself that is important.

ADVICE - Asphalt, Paverstone, Concrete, or Gravel

Building a Driveway?

Your driveway, along with the front of your property, is a very prominent part of your landscape. It is very visual from the street. It is an entry to your home. In addition, it is the main thing people look for when coming to your home. There are a few important things to think about when undertaking a driveway design.

Top 10 Driveway Design Features

Tips for Fixing Driveway Cracks

It's easy to see why homeowners select concrete driveways. Concrete is durable, low maintenance, and has a quality appearance. A variety of colors, patterns and texture give the homeowner a selection. All of these choices are useless, however if a short while after you invest in a quality driveway it becomes cracked and stained.

How to Fix Driveway Cracks DIY Pictures