A driveway is often used as a convenient place for off-road parking, however, it can be so much more than that. Your driveway is the first impression visitors or onlookers have of your home, as well as being a contributing factor to the value of your home should you ever plan to put it on the market. That’s why we’ve put together some of our tips to get the most out of your driveway:
Consider practicality and style
When looking to install or revamp your driveway, you should consider a few things such as how practical it will need to be, and your intentions for the drive. How many people live in your home, and how many visitors do you regularly have? This will allow you to account for the maximum amount of vehicles that may need to park on your drive at any given time. However, if you are looking to sell your home in the future, you may want to focus more on curb appeal of your drive. Removing old tarmac and replacing it with new, beautiful block paving or resin drive can add a lot of value to your home.
Modern or traditional
The style of your driveway will have an impact on the overall aesthetic of your home. To achieve a classic look, opting for a natural stone may be the way to go. However, if you want to be a bit more creative with the colour and design of your driveway, block paving or resin is an excellent choice to achieve this.
Cost
Consider your budget. The cost of your driveway will be dependent on the size of the area, the preparation needed, the materials you choose and the labour work required for proper installation. It should also be noted that if you wish to be adventurous and creative with your drive, this could also add extra costs.
Planning permission
You won't need planning permission if a new or replacement driveway of any size uses permeable surfacing which allows water to drain through, such as asphalt or permeable concrete block paving. This is also the case if rainwater is directed to a lawn or the border of your driveway to drain naturally. However, if the surface being covered is more than 5 square metres, planning permission is needed for laying impermeable driveways that do not allow the water to run to a permeable area. Other factors may influence the need for planning permission such as changes to visibility on your road, or changes to a listed building. If you are unsure, contact your Local Planning Authority before going ahead with your project.
Maintenance costs
Different surface materials will require different types of maintenance, which can cost time and money in the long run. It is worth factoring these in when weighing up the options for your new driveway.Planning and preparation are key to a successful driveway installation. If you are thinking about pursuing a driveway transformation project or resurfacing your driveway, contact our team of experts today.
Published: November 2022
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