5 Common Questions About Driveways

Driveways are a functional addition to your front yard. Leicester residents may want to know important driveway facts, especially if they think that having a new driveway is a good addition to their existing property.

Driveways are one of the most important elements in one’s property as they enhance your home’s aesthetics and increase its reselling value. Also, a well laden and attractive driveway is a reflection of how you manage your home and make it presentable to the community. It shows what kind of a homeowner you are.

Here are the 5 most common questions any interested Leicester would ask:

1. What is the cheapest option for a driveway?

Everybody loves to spend on a cheaper driveway project. But there are many considerations in building a driveway. Functionality and aesthetics are the most important in this undertaking. Getting these two benefits at the same time is sometimes impossible. 

• Size and dimension. Depending on your property, driveway landscaping involves the size of your spare land. The wider the space to be built on, the more expensive it will be. 
• Budget. Anything is possible as long as you have the money. The only hindrance is that if you are willing to spend beyond your budget when things go sideways. Though driveway contractors present you a contract and stipulations of costs, sometimes, an extra job will hurt you for extra costs, such as change in materials, additional fees for labour, expenses for prior remodelling, and many other factors. And after you have your driveway done doesn’t mean your expenses are done too. Anticipate future spendings like repairs, cleaning, unforeseen repairs brought by natural calamities.
• Maintenance. Let’s say you chose the gravel driveway. It is expected that this type of surface requires periodic maintenance because the substrate of soil moves over time, which is very much prone to erosion. The downside of gravel is that the aggregates are too loose for water to penetrate and in time may sink the stones along with the ground. So, new gravel must be added when the need arises.

2. What is the best material to use for a driveway?

People spend for a driveway and they want the value of what they have spent. Functionality, durability, low maintenance–these things when you find them in one type of a driveway surface, these will become your priority when you start with your driveway.

Tarmac surfacing is the one mostly used on roads in the UK because it is suited to the climate aside from it’s low cost, easy installation, and durability. But for homes, people have varying opinions and choices.

Many would choose resin bound driveways for a more leveled up sophisticated appeal. But for homes that go with bricks, they choose block paving to partner with their home’s aesthetics. It is noticeable in the UK that many homes have brick walls, fences, and paths. So for those who prefer uniformity, they pick block or brick paving or cobblestone.

3. Is a resin driveway cheaper than block paving?

All driveway types lose their appeal when the surfacing fades. Wear and tear is the primary enemy of surfacing. To understand which surface loses its luster sooner, you should recall the process of how they are built, what materials are involved in building, and how much labour you’re going to spend through time.

Block paving is laid over a bed of sand, it is prone to displace the layer below where ridges form due to the blocks’ weight. Also, depending on the type of blocks used, they ten to fade in time.

Though resin-bound driveways are a sophisticated type of surface, the cost or spending is dramatically cheaper compared to block paving.

Cost estimation:

For block paving, you can spend as low (starts at) ₤20 pounds for concrete, ₤70 for clay, and ₤50 for natural stone.

Block paving:

• Blocks easily displaced
• Low resistance to stain and weeds
• Prone to erosion
• Continuous cleaning and repair
• More costly due to repair and maintenance

Resin bound:

• Natural beauty emanating from natural stone aggregates
• Permanently bonded by a resin coat
• Resistant against stain and weeds
• Cheaper overall due to less maintenance

Cost factors:

• Ground condition
• Labour (1 to 3 days)
• Location
• Cost of living on a particular area (provincial rates are different from city rates)

4. Do weeds grow through resin driveways?

Resin bound and resin bond drives are built to last, they should be weed resistant.

Typically for driveways and other surfaces, when left unattended for a long time, often grew weeds in between cracks. This occurrence is common in gravel and tarmac driveways. This is because these surfaces are highly permeable and have wider gaps in between stone aggregates, especially when the bond that tightens the particles has lost its elasticity. But for resin driveways, it’s a different case.

Resin bound surfaces are highly resistant to weed due to the kind of treatment made on the layers and aggregates. However, they are prone to accumulate moss and algae caused by harsh weather conditions or high humidity. The drive or path can end up slippery and moist at all times. Also, weeds come up due to small seeds that randomly drop on the resin bound surface.

5. How long does it take to install a driveway?

Typical concrete projects for residential use normally take 1-3 days of actual work. But this will extend depending on the kind of workmanship your installers display.

What’s the best driveway to have in Leicester?

In Leicester, we do block paving, concrete, tarmac, gravel, and resin bound. If your driveway is a huge mess, professional contractors in Leicester Driveway Pro will fix it. We turn your old driveways into stunning front yards that will change the curb appeal of your property forever.

We offer a fantastic and first-class driveway service. All you have to do is call us and our representative will answer your queries. Enjoy our no-obligation quote when you call today.