Under the snow, what's happening to your driveway?

A layer of snow, a sharp frost, another layer of snow, another frost - it's been a familiar cycle this past week and you've only got to venture out onto the roads to see the effect of such extremes - potholes and broken surfaces everywhere.

Unfortunately, under the snow, the same thing will be happening to your old driveway surface as the weather works its way into and underneath crumbling surfaces and starts eroding and lifting your driveway.

What's happening is moisture gets through cracks, freezes and expands. Ready for the 'science bit'? There's a theory that ice acts like dry soil and attracts moisture from deeper down in the soil, which then joins the frozen moisture, freezes itself and creates even more upheaval and damage.

Worse still, many household insurance policies exclude such frost / weather damage to paving and driveway areas.

If your lucky, only a small patch may be affected but a speedy repair is essential to stop the cycle continuing as Winter progresses.

If a larger or group of several areas is affected, then there is really only one option - a complete re-surface.

Of course, this the opens the possibility of being able to choose a new surface - perhaps block pavers instead of plain concrete or an impressed concrete surface rather than the old tarmac you had previously.

And if you're going to re-surface, then it's the perfect time to incorporate any additional space, pathways or steps where previously you've had to cope with narrow openings, steep slopes or muddy lawns. A new driveway will also enhance the appearance of your home tremendously.

Driveway laying is an all year round activity with only the most serious of downpours halting work - usually at the point where impressed concrete is about to be laid. And with many paving companies offering some very good deals at the moment, now is definitely the time to consider replacing your old cracked driveway surface with something a little more sure under foot.

Paving Quoter lets you enter your own driveway dimensions, select from Block paving, Impresses concrete or tarmac, add additional features like raised flower beds or edging before calculating the price you could expect to pay for your driveway. You can try it as many times as you like - adjusting the size to incorporate paths or changing the surface used and of course, our instant online quoting service is completely free.

photo credit: mathieu plourde

Paving in the Rain

It’s understandable that home owners planning on having a new driveway laid might be caught in a bit of a quandary this time of year.

On the one hand, there are those incredible deals as the home improvement industry looks to pick up some early work with ‘New Year sales’. On the other, there’s the worry that any paving job, whether it’s block paving or impressed concrete, will suffer delays due to the British weather we all know and love at this time of year.

Fear no more, though, because we’re here to answer a few of those worries and give you the added confidence to go ahead with that new driveway anyway. Besides, waiting till Summer is no guarantee of better weather. I’m sure we’ve been on plenty of summer holidays spent mostly in wellington boots, crouched under a soggy canvas or listening to the rain hitting the roof of a caravan as if you were sheltering inside a biscuit tin. So, to get a quote for paving, rain or shine, you can visit PavingQuoter.co.uk

In fact, for the vast majority of driveways they can be installed whatever the weather. The first job in any driveway installation is to dig out the’footings’ and compact the correct mix of larger and finer rubble and hardcore. Unless an absolute cloud burst happens, this can usually continue without hinderance.

Next for block paving, comes one or two layers of traditionally grit sand, which is compacted to form the base for laying the blocks onto. This is the stage most affected by excess water as the sand when extremely wet tends to retain the water, making it less easy to work with, which can lead to dense areas forming that will need tapping out later.

Once the blocks are laid, and the finished surface has been swept with sand to work into the gaps between blocks, a little rain can be very beneficial in helping the sand ‘soak’ down into the gaps and settle.

With Impressed concrete finishes, the base is laid as above. Instead of the two layers of sand, a finer mix of aggregate will be used to bring the surface up to the required level prior to pouring the cement. The pouring stage is critical as its this that will provide the final surface. If too much water falls as the concrete is being poured, it can weaken the mixture or make it a shade to pliable to work with. This can effect drying times.

Usually, contractors are able to cover over recently poured surfaces so if it starts raining once they’ve already started there’s no need to worry.

Although its no detriment to the surface and it shouldn’t make you favour block over impressed in any way, when laying an impressed concrete driveway, there’s one finishing touch that needs a little dry spell… the colouring.

When an impressed driveway is laid, after the base preparation and the concrete pouring, the next stage is to apply the final colour – usually through using a pigmented powder that reacts with the still wet concrete and stains the colour down to about an 8th of an inch below the surface. Once the colour has been applied, then the installers will move quickly to apply the patterned mats and ‘imprint’ your chosen design onto the surface.

If there is an excess of surface water collecting when the powdered colouring is being applied, obviously, some of the powder is going to float off rather than stick to the surface area it was applied to. This could lead to uneven colour surface, so it’s one of those jobs best done when its dry. Alternatively, the contractor may be forced to apply makeshift covers with tapulines etc to keep the worst off until the powder has had time to do its job.

So with a little luck, you can go ahead and get that driveway sorted and make use of the paving companies less busier times of the year. Remember, once the summer months approach, many paving companies will be booked solid so if you decide later to go ahead with a driveway quotation, you may have a very long wait indeed.

If you’d like find out how much it would cost you to have your driveway re-laid or extended or you’d like a new driveway installing, then just visit PavingQuoter.co.uk. Just type in a few basic dimensions of the size you’d like your drive to be and select either block or impressed (there’s even a tarmac option) and our clever online software will work out an approximate cost of the job there and then. No need for a paving contractor to call round – our online quotes are completely free, absolutely no obligation but we do promise to give you an instant online price guide and save you money.

Driveway legislation and surface drainage - don't get caught out

With the more recent developments in Driveway legislation - particularly regarding drainage of any new driveways etc, our previous article has proved very popular and we hope useful to those home owners thinking of having a new driveway or patio laid.

So in case you missed it, here's a link to the previous article that's generated so much interest.

http://www.home-improvement-blog.co.uk/2008/08/new-driveway-legislation-being.html

If your thinking of having a new driveway or replacing an old driveway surface, it's still important to get a range of quotes to enable you to compare finishes and prices.

PavingQuoter lets you type in your own measurements, select your preferred finish - block paving, impressed concrete or tarmac - and then calculates a price guide for you there and then.

If you like, you can then follow up that online quote by getting it confirmed by up to three local companies to you that offer that finish. They're all vetted and approved by us so you know we've removed the cowboy element before you start. They'll give you a written firm quotation that's valid for 6 months.

Best bit is it's all completely free for you to use! No catches, no strings attached.

Get your online driveway, path or patio quote now by visiting PavingQuoter. It only takes a few minutes but it could save you pounds.

Patio Perfection

Patio Perfection.

With spring well and truly here, thoughts inevitably turn to preparing the garden for summer. Whether you dream of lazy days on a sun lounger, or having fun with friends around the barbeque, a patio can act as a transition area between house and garden, creating an area to entertain, dine and relax. A patio can provide you with an attractive outdoor space, and with some well chosen accessories, it’s also an extra 'room' that can be enjoyed all year round.

In these times of uncertainty in the housing market, it is worth considering that a stylish patio can increase a home's value above and beyond the price of the patio itself, and unlike many home improvement projects, there is usually no need for planning permission. Here are the five essential stages to getting the most out of your investment:

Remember our new quoter website Pavingquoter can help you find local quotes and paving companies.

And if you're just looking for a Patio awning, our new Awningquoter can give you an instant online quote, without a salesman having to call.

Stage One – Time to call in the professionals?
The first thing to consider is whether to employ the services of a professional. You have a number of options here. Many landscape contractors will design, project manage and install your new patio, making it a relatively stress-free process. However, if you have very strong ideas on the look you would like to create, you may want to design and manage the patio yourself and then get the professionals in to do all the hard work! Of course, if you are competent at DIY you may decide to complete it all yourself, from design through to completion. However, remember that patios can be tricky to get right and are often very hard work, so this is not a decision to take lightly.

If you do decide to use a landscape contractor, it's best to rely on recommendations from family and friends, or to identify local companies that have been approved by The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) or The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) by using the search facilities on their websites. Try to get more than one quote (ideally three) for the work you want doing.

Stage Two – Making the best use of space
The obvious location for a patio is immediately outside the patio doors or the back door of the house. This way you have quick access to the kitchen when entertaining, and can easily keep an eye on children playing on the patio from the house. However, there are other considerations when deciding on the placement of your patio. Even if you're not a sun worshipper, it's a good idea to pick a sunny spot – after all, you can create shade, but you can't create sun. You could also consider using a spot that's sheltered from the wind, though it is always possible to create protection using shrubs, fencing, or perhaps a trellis screen.

You also need to think carefully about the size of your patio. What will you use the space for? If you're a fan of alfresco dining, think about how many people you want to be able to seat. As a minimum, a space of three metres square will allow enough space for a table and four chairs, while a bigger family or a couple who like to entertain will require a bigger space. However, be careful that your patio takes up no more than a quarter of your garden or it will dominate the space and make it appear smaller.

Stage Three – Choosing your materials
There are many materials to choose from when designing your patio, and there are several things to bear in mind. While gravel can be cheaper and easier to lay, furniture tends to sink into it and sit unevenly. While materials like brick, sandstone and slate are very attractive, they are also rather pricey, and non-porous materials can become very slippery when wet. Paving slabs are generally the most practical and affordable choice, and are now available in a whole range of colours and textures. It is a good idea to choose a colour that contrasts or complements the colour of the house, so if your house has light brickwork, choose dark materials for your patio and vice versa. However, when using light materials, do be mindful of glare. Also, darker slabs retain and radiate the heat of the day, creating a warm feeling well into the evening.

At this stage it is a good idea to consider which accessories will enhance the usability of this new space, so that you can work these into your budget. Your first purchase will inevitably be patio furniture, which is available in many different sizes, styles, shapes and materials.

There is also a wide range of patio heaters available, making your patio usable all year round. Fans of alfresco dining might like to invest in a state-of-the-art barbeque, while those who see their patio as a place to relax might like a water feature to be central to their design.

Stage Four – Preparing the ground
If you have decided to install the patio yourself, this part of the process is both the most important and the most difficult to get right. Many a patio has been ruined by uneven foundations! The first step is to mark out the area and remove turf, soil and stones to a depth of 15cm below the intended final height of the patio. Be aware that the level of the patio at the house wall must be at least 150mm below the damp proof course. This is usually visible as an extra wide line of mortar in the brickwork. Then put a layer of hardcore roughly seven centimetres deep, rake the entire area to ensure the material is evenly spread and use a wacker plate (these can be hired) to flatten out the area.

Next, use wooden pegs to mark the final height of the patio. Position several all over the patio site, using a spirit level to ensure they are all even. If you have chosen to build your patio next to the house, you must remember to include a slight gradient away from the building, so that rainwater runs off.

Stage Five – Installation and finishing off
Once the foundations are prepared you can lay your patio. Make a mortar mix of five parts building sand to one part cement. You could do the mixing in a wheelbarrow, but it's probably a good idea to hire a small cement mixer. Trowel five generous dabs of mortar on to the base and lay the first slab in place. If you have chosen to lay your patio up against the house, start against the wall. Tap the surface of the slab with a rubber mallet and check with a spirit level in both directions remembering to allow for the fall, using the string as a guide.

Continue to lay the remaining slabs in the same way, checking each slab with a spirit level as you go. Once you have laid several square metres, spread some mix on top and brush it into the joints. You may have to do this several times as the mix settles in. Laying a patio will take you several days, so with this in mind, at the end of each day wash down the slabs you've laid, making sure you remove any splattered mortar before it can harden and stain the paving. When the work is complete, you can sit back and admire a job well done!

Price Engines' new quoter website Pavingquoter can help you find local quotes and paving companies. And if you're just looking for a Patio awning, our new Awningquoter can give you an instant online awning quote, without a salesman having to call.

About Home Improvement Quotes

About Home Improvement Quotes:

Home Improvement Quotes provides home-owners with free, impartial advice on home improvement projects, as well as a nationwide directory of recommended companies – from local tradesmen to national organisations.

We deliver instant quotes to over 3,000 people every week through our ‘Quoter’ web sites which include Window Quoter, Paving Quoter and Kitchen Quoter.

Since its formation in 2000, Home Improvement Quotes has provided over 1,700,000 quotes for projects totalling £1.4 billion. The service was developed by Price Engines, the leading UK provider of targeted, qualified intelligence in the home improvements industries.

For more information, please visit www.homeimprovementquotes.co.uk