Tarmac vs. Block Paving Driveway in Kent: Which is best?

At Base Driveways, we are often asked which type of driveway is the best for homeowners: tarmac or block paving in Kent driveways are two of the most popular choices in the market. Both offer advantages and disadvantages on their own. It, therefore, fully depends on your personal choices and needs. We will examine it in further detail and assist you in selecting the best course of action.

What Are Tarmac Driveways?

Tarmac, also known as tarmacadam, is a popular choice for driveways because it is quick and easy to install. It is also a cost-effective option, as it is typically less expensive than block paving. Tarmac driveways are also durable and can last for more than fifteen years with proper care.

One disadvantage of tarmac driveways is that they can be prone to cracking over time, especially if they are not installed properly. Tarmac also tends to fade over time, which can make your driveway look less attractive. Finally, tarmac is not as customizable as block paving, as there are fewer colour and pattern options available.

What are Block Paving Driveways?

Block paving in Kent or brick driveway is another well-known option among homeowners who want a more decorative driveway. They are available in many different colours and patterns. Block paving is also very durable and can last up to twenty years with proper maintenance.

One disadvantage of block paving is that it is more expensive than tarmac. It is also a more time-consuming option, as it takes longer to install than tarmac. Finally, block paving can be prone to weeds growing between the blocks, which can be unsightly and difficult to remove.

Which Option Is Best for You?

When deciding between tarmac and block paving, several factors must be considered. 

• Budget: Your budget should be your first priority. Tarmac is a wonderful alternative for those on a tight budget, whilst block paving is for those ready to pay more for a more abundant driveway.

• Size and Shape: You should also think about the size and design of your driveway. Because it is more versatile, block paving might be a better option if your driveway is large and has numerous turns and angles.

• Maintenance: Finally, you should consider the maintenance factor, too, when it comes to both the driveway types. Block-paving driveways are easier and simpler to maintain than the tarmac ones- one reason being blocks, as a material, are readily available; they are not difficult to find.

Schedule a consultation with Base Driveways if you are prepared to update your driveway. In this meeting, we'll take the time to fully grasp your requirements, evaluate your home, and offer you a thorough price quote for our services. 

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Know All About Patios For Your Dream House

Owning a patio in your garden space makes for a remarkable set-up to spend time with your friends and family. It adds leverage to the amounting resale value of your property. Base driveways have been in this industry for over 25 years, specialising in driveways and different types of patios in Sittingbourne. 

What are the different types of patios? 

Patios are made from different kinds of materials. You may decide your choice of material and design according to your need. Our experts at Base Driveways can customise it according to your needs. 

Patio in Sittingbourne: Here are a few of our choicest options- 

• Clay bricks: If you want to keep the style and design of your home historical and nostalgic, then clay bricks are the one for you. Not to forget the diverse number of designs that can be created, especially geometric ones. Clay bricks shall last for a long time, but their only downside is their price. You can opt for other bricks or reclaimed bricks, too, in order to keep the pricing within budget. 
• Concrete: Patios made out of concrete are known to last a lifetime if well-maintained. We can add patterns to your concrete patio using stamps and add colour, too, using dyes. Concrete patios have a clean look and are befitting for you if you want a sophisticated finish. 
• Stone slates: Tiles cut out of stone slates is the way to make stone slate patios. Stones have texture, pattern and colour added to them to give a classic finish. Stones like marble look ethereal when used in patios but can be expensive. Travertine can be a cheaper option. 
• Tiles: An excellent choice for patios is tiled. They are long-lasting, give a clean look, are available in different colours, textures and designs and are quite comfortable for kids too. The only drawback is that they can become slippery. 
• Flagstones: These stones are elegant in every way. They are thick and found in irregular shapes- exactly wherein lies their beauty. Their only drawback is they absorb heat during summers and get slippery during the rainy season, but proper care can help. 

 

Things to consider:

Choosing and installing patios need a lot of elements to consider, like longevity, quality, aesthetics, price, and durability. If there are kids, slippery surfaces are best avoided. We provide our service in Kent and in and around south London. Our Patios in Sittingbourne are widely known for satisfactory finish and experience. Contact us today to know more.

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Top 8 Popular Paving Slab Options For You in Kent

 

Paving slabs in Kent come in various materials like concrete, brick, marble, slate, porcelain, etc. You name almost any natural stone of your choice or the latest technology-made artificial, hard material, and you get a paving slab variety that is made of it. Below mentioned are a few of the most popular paving options available in Kent and the surrounding areas.

• Limestone

Pretty similar to sandstone, this slab comes in more consistent colours. The fine texture gives a soft-looking finish. Professionals love using limestone slabs as they are easy to cut.

• Granite

Non-porous granite does not allow water to seep through. The surface does not retain dirt, making it easy to clean. The best thing is you can choose from myriad colours, ranging from dark black to pink.

• Slate

Slate is perfect for paving if you want a subtle and beautiful finish. The texture withstands weather for a long time and thus retains its look without any damage.

• Porcelain

Another super easy-to-clean material for paving slabs, porcelain is strong and long-lasting. As it is non-porous, you need not worry about damage from water absorption.  

• Black paving slabs

If you are an ardent black lover, black paving slabs are the ultimate beautiful choice you can make for your driveway. These are just the black variety of limestone and give a simple and eye-catching touch to the complete setup. 

• Indian sandstone

With densely packed silicon molecules, this comes in various colours and designs, making it a timeless choice for paving slabs. Cleaning is also relatively easy.

• Concrete

A mixture of sand, pigments, dyes and cement at an appropriate ratio prepares concrete. These slabs become one of the most durables when pressed into paver moulds. You can use dyes and pigments of your choice to give the driveway a unique look.

• Cobblestone

Cobblestone slabs are your answer if you want something that will last a lifetime. These can be granite, basalt, sandstone or limestone. Durability and visual beauty are its advantages. However, it is a time-consuming task to lay cobblestone paving slabs.

The style of your house, your budget, and the weather you live in are a few factors you should consider before choosing the paving slabs. At Base Driveway, we have numerous options and designs for you. Our experts will help you make the right choice and make your driveway stand apart with paving slabs in Kent. 

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Elevate the Outlook of Your Property with Stylish Paving Driveways in Sittingbourne

 

Driveways are just as important as the interior and exterior of your home. Given that their function is only getting your car off the street, spending money on them might seem irrational to some people. But if you combine practicality with good looks, driveways have the potential to add character to your house. This article will discuss various designs of paving driveways in Sittingbourne that will be practical and beautiful for your property.

Traditional Driveway: Brick pavers bring a more traditional, romantic, and charming outlook. They are more stain-resistant than concrete and less slippery. They can handle more weight than brick pavers.

Country-club Style Driveway:  These permeable pavers have drivable surfaces and contain stormwater drainage. If you love country club style combined with classy green gardens, you can opt for this type of driveway. It's apt for you if you host a lot. If your area gets waterlogged, think about putting them there.

Shell Driveway: This driveway was used in early American colonies to recycle discarded shellfish. As you drive over them, the shells break into tinier pieces and become a smooth walking surface. They are also great for drainage.

Grass-jointed Pavers: The geometrical design brings out a unique look, with those awnings softening the front of the house. With grass-jointed pavers, there's a seamless transition from driveways to walkways. Due to the thickness of the block pavers, they are preferable for areas with heavy car traffic.

Mixed Stone Tiles: These multicolored tiles add a charming look to your classic home. Mixed stone styles are more natural looking than concrete and a little less difficult to manage than gravel. The cobblestones are more durable than brick and concrete pavers.

Limestone Pavers: If your driveway hits directly to a sidewall, you can opt for limestone pavers. They offer a seamless transition between the two that still sets your home apart. The materials give your house a sense of modernity. They are beautiful and get better with age.

Casual Style Driveway: This driveway is made of loose materials like gravel and paving stones. They are not just a cost-effective option but also add a charming rustic sensibility to your house. With a regular sweep, the surface is pretty much of minimum maintenance.

Driveways can be traditional, contemporary, chic, or casual. Everything depends on your location and preferences. Contact us to learn more about different types of paving driveways in Sittingbourne.

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Beautify Your Outdoor Area with Patios Kent

A patio is a seating area outside your home or a restaurant. It’s a recreational space where you can relax all by yourself. Besides being a functional space, it adds aesthetic value to your property. 

Materials for the Patio

A patio is paved with concrete or stone slabs. It can be created using bricks, tiles, block paving, gravel, or cobbles. A beautiful new patio elevates the appearance of your place. If you have a garden, a patio brings a unique feel to it so that you can enjoy the place even more. A well-built and beautifully decorated patio also adds a significant amount of monetary value to your house.

Types of Patio

Patio options can be three types: concrete. Stamped concrete and aggregate concrete. Stamped concrete pieces are slippery and expensive. They will require a lot of maintenance. This is the reason we use aggregate concrete. It’s budget-friendly and is made of exposed stones that bring out a novelty. Our use of aggregate concrete is one of the reasons consumers prefer our patio work.

Our Team

At our company, we offer multiple types of patio designs to you. Now, for someone who never had a patio in his life, choosing a suitable design can be a bit overwhelming. To put all of your worries to rest, our team will be with you at every step of this endeavour. 

Now every person doesn’t have the same requirements and the same surroundings. This is where our team is needed; they will analyse your site and will guide you precisely on what sort of patio you require. They will help you choose from block paving, concrete pavers, or any material of your choice. They will also make sure that you get the maximum benefit of a budget that suits your pocket.

Our company has been dealing with various types of patio in Kent for 25 years now. We offer one of the best and most attractive patio designs all over the country. Our vast range of materials includes gravel, sandstone, flagstone, reconstituted stones, block paving, concrete slabs, etc.

We take care of your patio creation and rebuild, knowing that it’s in the hands of experts. All our patio work is guaranteed for two years.

We are one of the few contractors approved by Kent Highways and the Council of Medway. We can take up work that others can’t, and we also perform our utmost to maintain the standard of our work.

If you are from Kent or South London, you can contact us today for any patio work. We will give you a FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE.

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Decoding Common Myths About Concrete

Concrete is one of the most popularly used materials for driveway paving in Kent. They are cost-effective, exceptionally durable, and need minimal to no maintenance once installed. However, while it plays a crucial role in almost every kind of construction work, there are several myths surrounding concrete that are still believed by many.

Here, we take a look at the common concrete myths and see if they hold any value in real life.

Common Concrete Myths

1. Concrete is always grey

While concrete starts as grey, the finished product is highly customisable and available in a wide range of colour options. Mineral colours can be added when the concrete is wet to achieve the desired colour when it sets and hardens.

2. You can use acid to strip sealants

Acids are severely detrimental to concrete and concrete sealants and will hamper the durability of the cement. You should never use acid to remove any kind of sealant from any surface. Instead, you can either use a sealant stripper or get in touch with a professional driveways contractor for better solutions.

3. Compressive strength equals durability

Concrete is available in multiple compressive strengths which range from 2500 psi to 10000 psi. While you may think that the highest compressive strength is the one that is the most durable, it is unfortunately not true. The durability of concrete depends on several factors, including freeze-thaw cycles, weather fluctuations, etc. The best way to improve the durability of concrete is by reducing its permeability, not higher compressive strength.

4. Concrete is impermeable

To emphasise the earlier point, even the densest concrete is permeable. So, water and similar elements in liquid and gaseous forms can penetrate concrete over time. When installed incorrectly, concrete is prone to cracking from multiple freeze-thaw cycles, thereby reducing its shelf life.

5. You can lay concrete any time of the year

Concrete is one of the most durable construction materials out there. However, it needs proper temperature to dry and harden. If you pour the material when the temperature is extremely high or below the freezing point, the concrete will not harden properly. As a result, the final product will not be as durable as expected and will get damaged quickly.

If you have any more queries surrounding concrete and its uses, get in touch with the experts at a driveway paving contractor in Kent. The professionals there will be able to help you out!

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Key benefits of resin-bound driveways

 

While several types of hard surfacing systems are available in the market, not all of them are suitable for every kind of property. Resin driveways in Kent are becoming extremely popular among homeowners as it provides a unique range of benefits over other materials. In the following post, we take a look at some of the key benefits of resin-bound driveways.

Benefits of resin-bound driveways

●       Weather resistance

When selecting a driveway paving material, you need to pay attention to the durability of the surfaces, especially if you reside in an area that receives adverse weather conditions. Compared to other pavement materials like concrete and asphalt, resin-bound driveways can easily withstand adverse weather conditions and maintain their structural integrity and smooth finish.

●       Permeable surface

Resin-bound surfaces are typically permeable, meaning they allow water to drain through the sub-base surface. As long as the sub-base is also permeable, resin driveways are SUDS compliant and can prevent a wide range of issues like water pollution and flooding.

●       Easy to maintain

A resin-bound driveway is relatively easier to clean and maintain. The resin binds with the original surface and provides a clean and bright surface that effectively resists skids and spills. If maintained correctly, resin-bound surfaces are resistant to weeds as well. While a simple water wash should be enough to clean the surface, you can also contact professionals for more cleaning and maintenance tips.

●       Wide range of design options available

Block pavers and slabs are relatively limiting design-wise, while clay blocks are only available in natural colours. Compared to slabs and blocks, resin-bound driveways are more flexible and can be adapted for a wide range of design options. You can easily mix and match colours and blends to create a unique look that adds to the curb appeal of your house. Moreover, the experts will also use a combination of smaller and bigger aggregates to increase the strength of the pavement as well.

●       Smooth and flat surface

Unlike loose gravel, resin-bound surfaces are flat, smooth, and seamless. Professional contractors will follow a unique installation pattern where the resin is mixed and trowelled to achieve a seamless surface finish. The finished product is comfortable to walk on and can easily withstand the weight of vehicles.

If you want to know more about resin driveways in Kent or anywhere else, get in touch with the experts at Base Driveways. Our professionals will thoroughly assess your requirements and provide a thorough deliberation on the best solution for your property.

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