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Friday 18 October 2013

How to Create or Replace Your Driveway!

Putting in a driveway is not an easy job, nor is relaying or resurfacing one. There are literally hundreds of different surface types, colours and techniques so it’s hard to know where to start.

Do-it-Yourself or Use Professionals?

We’ve written Driveway Expert as a resource for anyone who wants to build, replace, repair or maintain a driveway in the United Kingdom. The information contained in the articles on this website will allow a competent DIY fan to lay their own driveway. We’re honest about the surfaces that really should be left to the professionals and those that you can lay yourself.
You’ll also find information here to help people who definitely won’t be doing their own drive and will be hiring a firm to do it for them instead. Let’s face it, that’s most of us. And if you’re in that situation, the more you know, the less likely you are to be caught out by shoddy workmanship and unprofessional firms.
If you haven’t yet decided whether to DIY or pay someone else to do it for you, the expert articles here will help you decide.

Huge Variety of Surfaces and Materials

When it comes to laying a new driveway the first you need to know is how to identify the different surfaces, how to prepare them and lay them. We explore the different qualities that the various surfaces have so that you can decide which material is the right one for you. Once you've laid your brand new drive it's important to keep it well maintained but don't worry we've got that covered too!

Getting the Basics Right in the First Place

Much of the work planning and preparing for a driveway is the same regardless of the type of material you or the contractor will be using. There’s dealing with regulation and planning for a start, although unless you live in a conservation area or similar region, where there are restrictions on building, in most cases you can do what you like. Although this has changed somewhat in recent years with the realisation that hardstandings on urban gardens are contributing to the flooding problems and raising the ambient temperature in our towns and cites. This has meant that more people in towns now have to apply forplanning permission for driveways.
The layout of the drive, planning it and marking out, catering for gradients and ensuring that the slopes will drain rainwater away are all vital ingredients to ensuring a properly laid drive. We take you though what you need to know and how you need to do it as well as looking at the more specialist drainage solutions that are required for more difficult sites.

For the rest of this article please go to:- http://www.drivewayexpert.co.uk/

Thursday 3 October 2013

Carports & Canopies

OK, so your garage is jam-packed with stuff and I can't persuade you to de-clutter it so what options are you left with?

1.     Park on the drive.  Can the postman/lady/anyone who comes to deliver or visit you get past the car?
2.     Park on the street.  Not really an option for me as I am blonde and female.  Need 3 spaces!
3.     Park on your front lawn.  OK if you don't have an attachment to the lawn.  Looks scruffy.
4.     Park on your front hardstanding.  Can see the car in your living room.  Only just fits on!
5.     Park on your side hardstanding.  Now you are talking!  Room for a proper drive/garage here.

You don't have any hardstanding?  It's time to step up to the plate and start putting some money away for some hardstanding, a canopy, carport or building a garage or even moving to somewhere more car friendly.  Does anyone know how much a garage adds to the value of your property?  This is just a wild guess, £5 - 15K?



 For my friends in the US of A here are some kind of tent things to park your car in.  Yes, I know, they are canopies!  I think they are kind of neat.



If you live somewhere warm like Florida it could be perfect for you.  Keeps the car cool!  On the other hand, you may live somewhere cold so it will protect the car from the weather to a degree, especially if it is erected near to a building wall.  It may mean the difference between defrosting the windscreen or not, and hanging around in the freezing cold (we Brits know a thing or two about that - but maybe we will get a comment from Alaska telling us different!).  You can buy it on Amazon.  If you decide to buy one like this please make sure you have read the reviews.  All those helpful people have given you the benefit of their experience.