Choosing the Best Material For Your Driveway

Once you’ve decided on the perfect layout for your driveway and garden, you’ll need to consider materials. Dependent on how you’ve divided up the space at the front of your home, there are a few considerations to be made when it comes to what goes down the drive.

Your driveway provides much more than somewhere to park the car. It’s one of the first features anyone sees when visiting your home. Therefore, you want the driveway to look good as well as being practical and environmentally convenient.

When choosing your material, you may want to consider:-

Maintenance – Will it need cleaning and/or resealing over time?

Drainage – is there a chance of standing water, does it need to be permeable?

Cost – Does it fit your budget?

Use – How often will you be rolling on and off, will there be any other regular traffic?

Imprinted Concrete

With imprinted concrete or decorative as it is sometimes referred, you have a choice in both pattern and colour. Concrete has long been popular as a cheaper option for driveways. With the decorative concrete however, the aesthetics are much more pleasing on the eye.

The preparation and process is identical to that of a standard concrete pour and creates a solid single base. As the concrete sets a decorative pattern is imprinted in the surface giving the illusion of flags or stones.

Resin Bound Aggregate

Resin bound driveways are a great option for resurfacing existing driveways as well as for new projects. The bound aggregate is available in a range of colours and usually sits on a concrete base. If however, you’re resurfacing an existing driveway it will need to be thoroughly checked for suitability.

Resin bound driveways prove popular due to their affordability. A proper installer will ensure the driveway meets the Environmental Agencies regulations. The mix of aggregate and resin should leave no streaks and contain a UV stable resin.

Natural Stone

Natural stone drives really deliver a wow factor. They’re extremely resistant to adverse weather and hold their finish for a long time. As you would imagine, this luxury comes at a cost and dependent on the size of the driveway will need perhaps reserved consideration for those on a limited budget.

With a choice of stones, colours and styles, natural stones can be tailored to suit the character and style of the home. This contemporary style is almost always individual to both the home and driveway.

For more information on price, planning permission or for a quote, follow this link below.

Functionality with Features – Keeping Your Garden Good Looking Around a Driveway

When opting for practicality over-pruning for your front garden, a healthy mix of features and functionality can help keep it feeling a touch more garden than a driveway. There are certainly more options than a few potted plants down either side if you manage the space well.

Measuring up and checking your wiggle room for extravagance should be the first port of call. For a vehicle, you’ll need around ten-foot width if you want to get comfortably in and out. If you’re using a landscaper for design, work with them to establish what sort of room you’ll have left over and then plot it out with some passion.

As much as neatly trimmed hedges can obscure the view into your windows and reduce noise if you’re going to be too busy to maintain it, will that look be preserved? Smaller plants and shrubberies will be easier to maintain and can add a bit of contrasting colour. Many plants don’t need much room or maintenance, so dotting a few flower beds around the driveway will definitely brighten things up. A perfectly positioned bench or some decking with furniture can complete your courtyard contentment.

If you can squeeze a garden and a drive in the front, it’s always nice to have another option on a sunny day. A lawn down the side of the driveway will help with the run-off of rainwater from the drive. Covering your bins up somewhere out of the sun will help you to enjoy the space away from nasty odours and unsightly grey council rubbish receptacles. 

If you, like us, seem to be working all the time, mowing a lawn may be something you’re not too keen on. Considering artificial grass may be the way to go. Over the last ten years artificial grass has become increasingly popular and increasingly convincing. The difference a little bit of green can make to a garden, real or fake makes it all a lot easier on the eyes.

Creating a more convenient space out the front of your house doesn’t always mean the end of your garden. Whether you take on a complete makeover or plan and complete it over time, there is usually a way to compromise some comfort. With flower beds, lawn space and an area reserved for relaxing your and your car can occupy the same space harmoniously.