The following are some of the reasons why people are choosing block paving driveways:
Low maintenance – Having a block paving driveway requires zero to no maintenance on your part. The nature of the raw material used for block paving does not wither easily and you do not have to repaint it in the future. You can simply wash the driveway from time to time to maintain its look. Moreover, block paving is extremely durable and is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions.
Wide range of style and colour – As block paving comes in a lot of shapes and colours, homeowners are spoilt for choices. According to the theme of your house, you can choose the shape and colour and also lay the blocks in a stylish manner. It is a great material for creating various driveway designs that include both simple and intricate patterns.
Environment-friendly – Block paving is porous in nature which leads the rainwater to rest in the monsoon. Water is not accumulated on the surface as it gets drawn within by the blocks. With services for block paving driveways in Kent, you can have good drainage for your patio or driveway. The blocks prevent the water from flooding or gathering.

Block paving driveways are seen to last nearly 20 years. It can withstand heavy pressure so large vehicles can be operated on it easily. This is why block paving has become immensely popular in houses around the UK.

As we may have said before, when you own a car, you get taxed left, right, and sideways. They tax you for owning it (VAT when you buy it). They tax you for putting it on the road – road tax. They tax you for driving it – fuel tax. And they tax you for stopping it – parking charges.

If you have your own driveway in your garden, at least they cannot tax you for stopping your car overnight. It is either that, or you have to park your car away from home on a residential street which could be 15 minutes’ walk away – no fun if it is pouring with rain. Not only that, but there is more chance of it being stolen than in your own garden. Having your own driveway solves that part of the problem.

We Can Help When You Need A New Driveway

If you don’t have a driveway, but want to have one installed, or you have one, but it is past its’ sell-by date, then at Base Driveways we can help you. We are the experts at driveway installation throughout Kent.

But what sort of driveway should you have? You can, for example, have block paving driveways in Kent or you can have resin bonded driveways in Kent.

The first thing to notice is that your driveway needs to be built so that it will last. Block paving is long-lasting and can take a fair amount of weight which is necessary if you have a couple of SUVs or even a large van that you need to park. The bricks are placed individually and are locked together in a bond, so they spread the weight of the vehicle evenly. If a brick happens to get damaged, it is no great issue because you can just replace it with another one.

A resin bonded driveway has the resin applied to the surface and then aggregate is scattered on the top. This produces a textured finish to your drive.

When correctly installed, both block paving driveways and resin bonded driveways can last for up to 20 years. For more information, call us for a free quote when we can answer all your questions. 

Many families only have one or perhaps two cars, so they do not require a driveway that can deal with heavier vehicles such as SUV’s and trucks. However, we can produce a driveway in Kent that will handle whatever you throw at it and still come up smiling.

We always feel that not only do you need a driveway that can handle traffic, but you want one that helps with the aesthetic of your home. After all, your driveway is something that every passer-by is going to see, and so you want it to look great.

This is why many of our customers choose block paving in Kent for their driveways. However, another possibility is imprinted concrete. So, what are the pros and cons?

More Durable

Of the two, block paving is more durable and will last longer than imprinted concrete. The bricks are placed individually and locked together in a bond, so the weight of the vehicles is spread evenly. Even if some damage does occur, such as a split brick for instance, it is a very simple matter to remove it and replace it with another one.

On the other hand, imprinted concrete is simply a single layer of concrete poured on to a sub-base. It is quick and easy, and costs less than block paving. However, if you should suffer from structural damage such as a shrunken sub-base, then you cannot just repair one small area. You have to remove the entire sheet of concrete and start over again, which is expensive.

A big advantage of block paving for your driveway is that if you choose block paving that is permeable, when it rains the water will simply drain away through the blocks. So, you don’t finish up with puddles on your driveway. Imprinted concrete, however, is non-permeable, so that what happens is that water can linger on the surface. This also means that if your driveway is flat and you don’t have a drainage point, then you are going to need planning permission to build an imprinted concrete driveway.

Although block paving is more expensive initially – although not a lot more expensive – it is the best bet if you can afford it.

Of course, you may already have a driveway, but it is past its’ best and you want to brighten up the front of your home and possibly get rid of dips and potholes that might have formed over the years. Nothing lasts forever, and that includes driveways, but we can provide you with some long-lasting and tough options for a new driveway for your home.

One of the cheapest options is tarmac, and, no, it doesn’t have to be black! Tarmac is available in a range of colours. It is also extremely durable and can put up with a lot of punishment, which is useful if you have heavy vehicles or perhaps several of them. Tarmac is also weatherproof, so it doesn’t matter if it rains or snows.

Block Paving

Another choice is block paving. This is great if you want a choice of patterns and colours for your driveway as the range of options with block paving is almost limitless. You can have an antique cobbled look, a Mediterranean appearance, mottled effect bricks, and more, and the choice of brick shapes and patterns and sizes means that you can have a driveway that is unique to you.

You can also get permeable block paving which means that the rainwater will simply drain away, and that also means that if you don’t have a soakaway at present you won’t need to install one, which in turn means that you won’t need planning permission. In addition, block paving is highly durable, which is what you want in a driveway, and even if a brick should get damaged it is a simple matter to remove it and replace it with another one.

Another option for your driveway would be imprinted concrete. This doesn’t provide as many options for appearance as block paving, but it can be a less expensive choice. It is also not as long-lasting as either block paving or tarmac. In addition, it is impermeable which means that you need drainage.

There are also other solutions such as resin bound surfaces. Whatever your choice, at Base Driveways we can provide what you wish.

At Base Driveways, we can provide you with the driveway or patio of your choice, but in order to make an informed decision you need to know about the different materials involved. Both block paving and imprinted concrete provide a more aesthetic appearance than simple plain concrete or something such as tarmac, and there are, of course, several other materials from which you could choose as well.

However, here are the differences. First, if you are concerned only about cost, then imprinted concrete will be a little less expensive than block paving in Kent. This is because there is a little less labour involved. A suitable sub-base is laid and then the concrete is poured over it. While the concrete is still wet, a pattern is imprinted on it to create the effect that you want.

On the other hand, block paving consists of individual bricks or blocks which are laid in a pattern of your choosing. You can also select the colour and material of the blocks as well as the design.

Both types of material will need a little maintenance. Imprinted concrete needs a sealant applied every three or four years, while block paving really only needs a brush and clean to keep it looking smart. However, with block paving you may also get crafty little weeds poking their heads up between the blocks, but you can keep on top of them by using a weed spray. With imprinted concrete you are very unlikely to get any weeds.

With block paving there is no need to provide any drainage as the blocks are classed as permeable. However, with imprinted concrete you have to incorporate drainage because it is non-permeable, and garden and patio regulations require it.

With block paving, if a block/brick gets damaged it is a simple matter to replace it. However, it is not so easy to repair concrete if it suffers damage, and the repair is likely to show up.

As specialists in the installation of driveways and patios, at Base Driveways we can install whichever you choose. Call us today to talk through your options.