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Block Paving UK: An appealing way to build a path, patio or driveway to your property or garden in the UK, is through the use of block paving. In both domestic and commercial settings, establishing a durable and hard wearing parking spot for cars is the principal use of block paving.

The professional installation of a block paved drive will add value to your house, because off-road parking is an extremely desirable feature for any property in the UK. If you elect to spend money on a really good area of block paving now, you will not only gain by having the use of a valuable facility going forward, you will also get a large part of your investment back when you ultimately come to sell.

You must think about the overall dimensions of your block paving driveway in the UK during the design stage, to ensure it is big enough for your purpose. Obviously, you might be constrained by the size of the land area you have to build it on, but it's advisable to plan your drive to be able to move and easily park your car or vehicle. If it's possible to install a drive that can hold at least one more car than your own, that's also a good idea. This will provide the additional space needed when people visit your property, and for further vehicles that might be owned by your household in the future.

When you're searching for an experienced block paving installer in the UK, always attempt to get at least 3 detailed quotations from different local firms. If any of your neighbours or friends have had a block paved driveway put in recently, you could try asking them if there's anyone they are prepared to recommend.

A decent company should provide a free and comprehensive quote for completing the project. Try and avoid contractors who state they "just happen to be in the area on another project." There are hundreds of horrific stories of folks having substandard work, or being left out of pocket when a driveway isn't properly finished, by these types of rogue traders.

Items that to be factored into any quotation should include:

• Preparing the groundwork (excavations)
• Installation of sub-base
• Water run-off and drainage allowances
• Design, colour and quantity of block pavers
• Waste disposal arrangements
• Other issues to consider

If your new block paved drive is replacing a pre-existing drive, it will be necessary to lift, remove and dispose of the old construction materials. Additional excavations could be necessary to make sure that your new block pave drive follows regulations relating to the DPC (damp proof course) of your property. The guidelines demand that new driveway installations two brick courses or 150mm below the existing damp proof course of your dwelling.

UK block paving driveways being laid upon bare earth or grass, will need about nine inches (230mm) of soil to be excavated and taken away. This enables a decent sub-base and sharp sand layer to be created before the block pavers are installed.

The sub-base contains a layer of MOT Type 1 crushed stones and gravel covered with sharp sand. To make certain your driveway does not shift or develop dips and low lying spots where water can pool, a solid sub-base is vital. The MOT Type 1 is a crushed aggregate, generally comprising limestone or granite which is compacted to create a durable, solid and sturdy surface for your driveway, footpath or terrace in the UK.

During this phase of the installation process potential drainage issues will be addressed. An incline or fall, will be introduced, if one isn't already inherent in the natural lay of the land, to allow water to drain off easily. This water can either be redirected as far from your property as possible, or into drainage grates, inserted in between the drive and your dwelling.

Once the sub-base aggregate has been compacted down, sharp sand will be added and levelled out to form a decent base for laying the block pavers.

All driveways in the UK more than 5m2 must allow excess surface water to run to a suitable permeable area. If this cannot be adhered to you will need to apply for planning permission from the local council for the installation. So as to prevent localised flooding, any excess water from your drive isn't allowed to be redirected into the main drainage system.

Any reliable block paving specialist in the UK will figure out your drainage requirements and take the necessary action to make certain your new drive adheres to the legal guidelines, as an integral part of the driveway installation process. So as to do this they might need to install a permeable driveway, excavate a dedicated soakaway on your land or add integrated drainage channels/grates .

If your home is inside the defined limits of a conservation area, additional design and drainage aspects may need to be considered. With their knowhow and experience, a reliable block paving installation company will be able to successfully shepherd you through this tricky process, and bring it to a satisfactory conclusion.

Block paving comes in an array of shapes, colours and sizes to suit any design and layout of driveway you want. From the commonplace and widespread, straight sided, square or rectangular block pavers, to the more elaborate, curved, s-shape, diamond and circular patterns, there will surely be a style which satisfies your needs. Block paving can be colour matched to suit the brickwork of your property, or be in total contrast to create an eye-catching feature.

Older buildings in the UK might be more suited to the traditional style of block pavers, often known as tumble or tumbled pavers, which produce a more seamless and sympathetic result. These are pre-faded and have a character and reclaimed look to their appearance. For a that more modern look, you can also buy contemporary block pavers, which can be given a high-gloss finish when suitably sealed.

The layout of your driveway might be a simple oblong or square shape, or perhaps you have landscaped features that it will need to weave its way around. To accomplish different effects, the laying of block paving can be done in a number of patterns; Basketweave, Herringbone and Stretcher Bond, being the most widespread. Regardless of the design you choose, an experienced block paving specialist in the UK will be able to build you a magnificent looking driveway that will be the envy of your neighbours.

You must also consider installing a suitable block paving edging. To find out about the advantages of raised kerb stones, different colours or shapes, or when your driveway is bounded by walls, whether it actually needs to be edged at all, you can talk to your chosen installer.

When you are given a quotation for block paving installation, an itemised fee for the removal of waste and soil and its correct manner of disposal should all be listed. The volume of existing driveway materials and soil that will need to be carted away will be influenced by the overall dimensions of your new driveway. Any excess soil will have to be moved by by truck if it cannot be utilised in other areas of your garden. Environmentally friendly disposal at a registered site is essential for any waste soil and related materials.

While it is not really essential for your new drive in the UK, you may be urged to put a sealing coat the block paving after it's been installed. You will prolong the lifespan of your block paved drive by sealing it, and furthermore the sealer improves the colour, slows down fading, keeps it from staining and lowers the risk of weed growth. If you wish to safeguard the investment that you've made in your block paving drive, sealing it is a great way to do it.

Sealants must never be put on a freshly installed driveway as sand and jointing needs to properly settle for some time. It's recommended that you wait at least 6 mths before applying sealant to a new block paved drive, and it is highly advised to use a specialist for the application because mistakes are tricky to rectify.

Aside from gaining a useful facility, and increasing the price of your property, you can transform the appearance of your house with a brand new block paved patio or driveway. It can provide a space to relax and sit in your garden, a hard wearing area for parking your vehicles, or create a distinctive and unique pathway for accessing your doorway.

UK Paving Related Tasks

There are a wide range of paving tasks that can be accomplished by your local UK block paving specialists including block pavement driveways, brick paving, brick driveways UK, granite paving in the UK, tumbled pavers, natural stone paving, block paving borders in the UK, block paving edging, block paving driveways UK, block paving removal, block paving patios, block paved paths UK, block paving services UK, driveway paving solutions, permeable paving in the UK, gravel driveways, block paving quotes in the UK, cheap block paving, commercial block paving, block paving installations, and lots more. If there are additional UK paving services that you need but can't see here, you can easily list them on the QUOTE FORM provided.

More UK Tradespeople

Obviously, when you're doing home repairs and improvements in the UK, UK, you'll probably need all sorts of different tradespeople and together with a block paving specialist in the UK, UK, you could additionally need patio layers in the UK, soil drainage services in the UK, fencing contractors in the UK, a building contractor in the UK, garden design in the UK, hedge cutting in the UK, rubbish removal in the UK, garden decking in the UK, garden pond builders in the UK, a bricklayer in the UK, tree surgeons in the UK, carpenters in the UK, weeding services in the UK, a handyman in the UK, an electrician in the UK, garden shed builders in the UK, artificial grass installers in the UK, skip hire in the UK, landscaping in the UK, lawn mowing in the UK, garden clearance in the UK, driveways in the UK, and other different UK tradesmen.

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