Driveway Ideas: Which Driveway Is Best For you?
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A driveway is a short road leading from a public road into a house or other buildings. Some school of thoughts also defined driveway as a private way or road for cars leading from a street or road to a garage or house. Other words like entrance, avenue, gateway, track, pathway and many others can be used synonymously with driveway.
Vigilance should be at the forefront of your evaluation process while choosing an installer or company for a particular driveway you have chosen to install. In addition, the type of driveway you will chose has to be evaluated properly. This is to avoid making a wrong choice or having some regrets when you have finished installing your driveway. In this article, I am going to examine the various driveways in existence and choose from among them the best option. Is Tarmac good for Driveway? Tarmac is a short form for tarmacadam. It is made when a layer of crushed stone or aggregate is coated and mixed with tar. This mixture is laid and then compacted with a vibrating roller to form a smooth surface. Tarmac is a strong and durable surfacing material and it is exceptionally resilient to vehicles that are heavy, which is why it is commonly used for driveways and roads. Tarmac driveways usually last from 12 to 20 years after construction. The durability of a tarmac drive way can be established base on the quality of Installation, the climate and the usage they get from users. Maintenance is also a leading factor in sustaining a tarmac driveway, the more you maintain it the more it last for you. If you have a big family with lots of cars or heavy traffic coming in and out of your driveway daily, you are going to need a material that will not get damaged or crack under pressure, then tarmac is a good option for you. Although, tarmac is considered a cheap option for driveways and its cheapness is one of the reasons for its biggest advantages. The price it will cost you to get a gravel surface driveway can give you a smart and clean looking tarmac driveway. Tarmac take less time to lay which has made the cost of its labour very cheap. The cost of tarmac driveway per square metre will depend on the size and shape of the area. A budget of £45 to £65 per square metre can get you a good tarmac driveway. It is good to note that many people confuse tarmac to asphalt because they look alike. When bitumen and asphalt became available in large quantities, the use of tarmac reduced. Tarmac come in different colours, but the red tarmac is found throughout the UK. Tarmac driveways are easy to install, very quick to lay, long lasting and incredibly strong and durable, impermeable, cheap and easy to maintain, weather resistant and very easy to edge with other materials. Are resin bound driveway any good? The laying process of a resin bound driveway involves mixing aggregate with a clear Ultra Violet (UV) stable polyurethane resin. The mixture is then poured into the prepared area and smoothen down to create a level surface which requires little maintenance and allows water to drain away naturally. Resin bound driveway are compliant to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs) in the UK. If you are considering to install a resin bound driveway, it is important to take a look at some of the difficulties associated with resin bound driveway. What are the problems with resin driveways? There are no formal regulation for contractors installing resin bound driveway. This may be a problem as there are numerous inexperienced and unlicensed installers or companies everywhere. They might end up providing a shaddy work and poor service. As a result, one has to be very careful while choosing an installer for a resin bound driveway. It is good to look for professionals who provide popular services and are accredited to provide such services. Resin bound driveways are not very easy to install. The complexity of Installing it makes it more expensive than other driveway options. It also requires an expert to install it in order to ensure longevity and high quality finishing. Coloured resin bound materials can be more expensive than the normal type. If you fail to chose your colour wisely, you will end up having samples that fades away quickly. And this can happen more often when the driveway is exposed to direct sunlight. Ensure that the colours you have chosen are completely stabilised. Tire marks and oil spills from vehicles can cause stains on the resin bound driveway, but can be removed using a pressure wash. In most cases, moss and weeds do grow on resin bound surfaces which makes it more slippery and unsafe for vehicles. This can lead to poor accessibility and a possible health issue. To avoid a slippery resin bound driveway, it needs to be cleaned regularly. Resin bound driveway and surfacing are not the best option for areas that regularly endures traffic or high usage. Although, this type of surface material is quite durable and robust. However, as time goes on, wears and tears will set in which will lead to cracking thereby making it more expensive to maintain and repair. Nevertheless, they may have a very good aesthetic view and pleasant look especially in residential areas, but can be difficult to install. Is block paving worth it? Block paving also known as brick paving is another type of driveway. Block paving driveway entails the use of blocks or bricks to create a pattern for a driveway. This bricks or blocks are then held together with sand and sub base. Block paving can cost more for the initial outlay more than other driveways. But you will reap what you sow as it lasts for decades. The Installation of block paving driveway is a straight forward one and can be relatively easy when done by professionals. Most times before installation begins, it will need some excavation and preparation work. Once it is done, the blocks or bricks are then laid in the chosen pattern before being sealed into place. It requires simple equipments and cheap materials. Block paving is versatile in the sense that it has a wide range of blocks or bricks to be chosen from in terms of size, colour and style. Given this variety, you can customise your driveway based on your preferences which can give it a good visual appeal. Because of the use of durable materials, block paving can last for a very long time even for a life time if properly maintained. It can endure the harsh elements of weather over time. You can constantly drive over it without any wear and tear. It is highly resistant to most chemicals, salts, oils and frost. Block paving driveways are easier to maintain when compared with other types of driveways. All you need to do is to clean it up with soap and water. Should there be any damage with the sub layer, you can lift the blocks up and replace them. It is porous and easily absorbs rain water so that water will not gather on your driveway. Is that not being environmentally friendly? A block paving driveway Other types of driveways Although there are many other types of driveways, but we are going to look at the ones listed below given their wide range of popularity and usage:
Difference between tarmac and asphalt driveway
Conclusion Generally, driveways made with gravel or concrete can be cheap with resin bound, tarmac and asphalt being some of the most expensive. Bricks, slabs and pavers are prone to shifting and can move at corners and bends. They leave gaps on surfaces which allows weeds and water ingress. Now that you have seen the different types of driveways, the advantages and disadvantages of one over the other, the cost and regularity of maintenance as well as Installation. It is wise to make your choice while considering all the factors. So, the ability to make the best Choice abound to you now. Premium Landscaping Durham
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