Installing a driveway - what you need to know
In this blog, we’re taking about the benefits of driveway installation and what you need to know in order to get it absolutely right for you and your home. It might seem pretty daunting but once you have it done, it’ll have been worth it.
Driveways are usually installed at the front of your home and as a result they are the first thing people see when they visit. So, as far as first impressions go, it’s quite important that you make sure your driveway is well installed and well situated so you get the most out of it, aesthetically and functionally. The principles for a beautifully laid driveway are relatively simple. You need to make sure there aren’t any trees too close to the driveway just in case you wind up with roots coming through, and also consider keeping shrubs away too as they could scratch cars. Your driveway ideally, needs to be at least 10 feet wide. This should allow enough room for vehicles which are that little bit bigger, and also consider that if your driveway curves it must provide the right amount of space for cars to turn.
When should you install your driveway?
Ideally, have your driveway installed when there’s dry weather so it has enough time to settle before it sees wet weather.
Driveway designs and materials
There are different materials you can use to create your driveway. Each one has their advantages and disadvantages. Driveway materials are many, but the five most popular are, exposed aggregate, concrete, bluestone, clay bricks, timber sleepers and asphalt. With the help of our team of landscape gardeners in West Lothian, you can create some interesting designs with all of these materials so don’t be put off by some materials rather than others. If you have a creative eye for detail, or you’ve hired someone who does, then your driveway has the potential to look amazing.
Drainage
As you can imagine, drainage is very important. You need to know where your water is going to go, and you can create soakaways or ditches for your water to travel. Soakaways are great because they can disperse rainwater from drainage pipes and drains, but remember that they should not, under any circumstances, flow into a sewage system. There are laws that state that rainwater needs to go into the ground where it falls. Using a permeable surface for your driveway is probably one of the easiest ways of providing good drainage. More and more surfaces are becoming permeable now but ask your retailer about this before buying if you’re unsure.
Digging your driveway installation – how far do you go?
Don’t excavate too deep when you start, 12 inches should be the maximum, this helps allow surfaces covering the base to settle or compact well. If you don’t do this then your driveway could sink over time.
Planning permission
If you’re having a dropped kerb and/or a driveway, you’ll essentially need planning permission. The Town Country Planning Act 1990 is applicable when applying for permission, especially if your driveway needs access to a classified road. Sometimes, if your driveway only drops on to a non-classified road then you may not need permission. Ask your local planning department or your builder, if you’re not doing it yourself, for the standards and requirements to be met before creating your dropped kerb.
How does Brian’s Garden and Fencing Services install a driveway?
Whatever driveway project, or paving design you have in mind, no matter how ambitious, you can guarantee that our dedicated team will make an expert job of it. We can provide you with a comprehensive overview and help you make the right choices when it comes to your requirements and what’s going to work for your driveway. We always maintain the highest level of standards and we prize communication with our customers .Our schedule of work will be clear, and we’ll meet all deadlines. Unlike a lot of companies, we’ll also make sure we dispose of all rubbish after we’ve finished and clean up after we’ve gone, so you won’t be left with the mess.
Why not give us a call today for all your driveway needs?