We believe that a good looking driveway greatly enhances the appearance of any property.
Whether you are trying to give your existing drive a makeover, or indeed looking to increase the size to accommodate the kids’ cars now they’ve passed their test, we can offer a wide range of surfaces to meet your needs and budget.
The three most common surfaces are gravel, tarmac and block paving.
Gravel is very attractive in a rural location but does need maintenance. One of the biggest problems with gravel is that sometimes the material is laid far too thick. I have found that people sometimes order a whole lorry load and end up spreading it 3 inches thick to use it up and then wonder why granny gets her car stuck in the ruts. Another issue with gravel is that it can creep out into the road.
Leaves and other debris need to be raked off on a regular basis. However, laid correctly and retained with appropriate kerbing, a gravel drive is very attractive. A range of gravels are available from different quarries and we can always show samples. Oh, a note on the kerbing; we try to discourage customers from choosing timber edging boards as they have a very short life, so think about concrete edging kerbs!
Tarmac should be virtually trouble free, but again, only when laid correctly on a very well prepared base and with provision for the disposal of surface water. We do not lay the tarmac ourselves but appoint a subcontractor with whom we have had a very long working relationship. Thornbury Surfacing ( Chippenham ) Ltd. Large vehicles like Range Rovers etc with power steering can have a very aggressive effect on tarmac and so it is very important that the specification for the finished surface meets it’s requirements.
Block Paving is still very popular even though it was starting to look a bit dated about ten years ago. Its continued success is due to the wider variety of products available. The most significant step forward has been the introduction of the ‘tumbled’ or ‘aged’ block which has been tumbled in a machine to knock off the sharp edges prior to leaving the factory. This leaves us with a much softer looking cobble effect block which does not stand out but blends gently into its surroundings. A much larger colour choice is also now available giving a vast choice.
Leading manufacturers are Marshalls, Brett, and Formpave. Check out their websites to see the range. Recent legislation has required applicants for new drives to seek permission before paving their front garden. The concern is the disposal of rain water running off the drive. Most block manufacturers now offer a permeable block which satisfies the requirements of the legislation.
Contact Paul to discuss your project.
Here are a few photos of a recently refurbished drive in Devizes. The existing tarmac was dug up and replaced with standard brindle coloured blocks laid in a herringbone pattern.
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