Landlords

Driveways: Tips on picking the right one for you.

When approaching a house, the first thing you will often focus on, is the driveway. It does not just enhance the entrance to the house, but it also must be practical, so it is best to give this well used area some attention.

Rainwater
When deciding on the best material for your driveway, there are several factors you need to consider. Firstly, rainwater. If you decide on a block pathing, your drive will need to consider a water drainage system to handle the surface water. However, when considering other options, the most common and widely used solution is to replace the hard surface underneath the driveway, with permeable materials that allow the rainwater to pass through with ease.

Foundation
Ensuring you have the right foundation laid for your driveway is vital. No matter the final material you decide on the base you lay should essentially always be the same. This ideally would be hardcore, which is the term used to describe the mass of solid that is not easily degraded and has low absorbency. This is usually laid as a base for heavy load-bearing stone or concrete floors.

By guaranteeing you have the right foundation laid this will ensure your driveway is prepared for longevity and stand the test of time.

Material
Picking the right material is entirely down to personal preference, budget, and style. There are several options you can pick from:

Material
– Block pavers
o It is clean, neat, and very easy to maintain.
o There are endless colour and style opportunities that can complement your house.
o If one block breaks it is easy to replace just that one block.
– Concrete
o Hard wearing and very low maintenance.
o Service life of more 20 years.
o Can be painted if you would like a change of colour.
– Tarmac
o Lasts around 20 years.
o Durable and cost-effective.
o Low maintenance.
– Porcelain paving
o Solid and scratch resistant robust solution.
o Must be specified the dimensions and load of the car to avoid cracking.
– Resin bound products
o Sleek and an even surface.
o Large variety of colours to choose from depending on personal preference and the style of the house.
o Low maintenance and quick instillation.
– Stone pavers
o Have a natural aesthetic to them.
o Can retain their appearance over time and are resistant to frost.
o Need to ensure you have an effective drainage solution and that the tiles are suitable for driveways.

Cheapest material
There are two cheapest materials that will benefit both your house and budget. Gravel is the most cost effective and it is also the quickest application to lay. Ideally you would have to have around 3 to 4 layers of gravel to ensure it is installed correctly.

The other cheaper option is reinforced grass paving. If you are looking for a quick and easy solution and driveway, this is a simple, cost effective way to install this. You can also add gravel to this paving later if you wish to update it.

Paving patterns
If you decide to go for paving, there are different patterns you can choose to have depending on your personal preference and style. These are:
– Running bond
– Basket weave
– Dutch herringbone weave
– Ornate fan
– Diagonal herringbone

If you are looking to update your driveway in anyway and have questions, feel free to contact us and we would be more than happy to help.