Block Paving Harpenden Hertfordshire (AL5): An attractive way to create a patio area, path or driveway to your property or garden in Harpenden, is by using block paving. Of all its various applications, block paving is chiefly used to create hard wearing and durable parking areas for cars and vehicles in settings of both a commercial and domestic nature.
Off-road parking is an extremely appealing feature for any Harpenden property, and a professional installation of a block paved driveway will add a bit of extra value to your house. Should you eventually decide to sell your house, an investment in properly laid block paving now, will pay dividends in the future.
You have to think carefully about the overall dimensions of your block pave drive in Harpenden during the design phase, to make certain it's big enough for your purpose. It is advisable to plan your drive to be able to safely park and move your car, but obviously you may be constrained by the dimensions of the area that you have to build on. If it is at all possible in your circumstances, it is also recommended to build a driveway that has enough room for one more vehicle. This will give you the additional space required when anyone visits your home, and for additional vehicles that could be purchased by your household in the future.
When you are looking for a qualified block paving installer in Harpenden, always attempt to obtain a minimum of three fully itemised estimates from different companies in the area. You can ask for advice and recommendations from neighbours and friends, if any of them have had a block paved driveway installed recently.
Any Harpenden block paving contractor worthy of the name will be very happy to provide you with a free and in depth quote for the entire project. Try to stay clear of chancers who say they "just happen to be in the area on another project." While they may be genuine, there are any number of scary stories of householders receiving poor work, or being embarrassed and out of pocket when the promised drive is not successfully completed.
Things that you can expect to see specified on any acceptable quotation could be:
- Preparing the groundwork, i.e. excavations
- Installation of sub-base
- Drainage and water run-off specifications
- Design, quantity and colour of block pavers
- Waste disposal arrangements
- Other issues to consider
GROUNDWORK PREPARATION
If your new block paving dive in Harpenden is is going to replace an existing drive, it will be necessary to first lift, remove and recycle the old construction materials. It may be necessary to undertake more excavations to make sure building regulations with respect to your property's damp proof course (DPC) are obeyed. The rules require that new driveways are laid at least 2 courses of bricks or 150mm below the existing damp proof course of your structure.
About nine inches (230mm) of soil will have to be excavated and disposed of if your block pave driveway in Harpenden is going onto grass or bare earth. This is going to allow for the installation of a proper sub-base and sharp sand stratum, before any block paving is laid.
INSTALLING THE SUB-BASE
A layer of Type 1 crushed stones and gravel, covered with sharp sand, is utilised to form the sub-base. The installation of a firm and solid sub-base is essential to make sure that the drive does not develop low lying spots and dips where pools can form and cause you problems. Compacted to form a sturdy, solid and durable surface for your drive, footpath or patio in Harpenden, Type 1 is a crushed granular aggregate, normally composed of limestone or granite.
Any drainage issues will be taken care of during this phase of the installation process. If not already present in the lay of the land, a fall or gradient will be developed, to encourage excess water to drain off. This water can either be redirected as far away from your house as possible, or into drainage channels, inserted in between your home and the drive.
As soon as the sub-base type 1 aggregate has been compacted down, sharp sand can be added and levelled off to create a good base for laying the paving blocks.
DRAINAGE AND WATER RUN-OFF
Surface water must be run off to a suitable permeable area on any driveway over five square metres in Harpenden. Planning permission from your local council will be necessary, if this precondition can't be observed. In order to avoid local flooding, any surface water run-off from your drive is not allowed to be diverted into the drainage system.
Any professional block paving installer in Harpenden will analyse your requirements for drainage and take action as necessary to keep your new drive within the law, as an integral part of the installation process. This might require built-in drainage channels, a completely permeable driveway and perhaps the digging of a dedicated soakway area somewhere on your property.
Homes which are within the legally defined limits of a conservation area will need additional consideration with regards to drainage and design factors. A reliable installation contractor will have the experience and knowledge to guide you through this process.
STYLE, COLOUR AND AMOUNT OF PAVERS
To suit any design of drive you want, block pavers come in a range of different sizes, shapes and colours. From the regular and widespread, straight sided, square or rectangular paving blocks, to the more showy, s-shape, diamond, curved and circular patterns, there will be a style that matches your needs. You can create a striking feature with a different colour, or select one that pretty much matches your home's brickwork.
Traditional style block pavers, often called tumbled or tumble pavers, are readily available for older properties in Harpenden, to create a seamless and sympathetic entrance to your house. Pre-faded during manufacture and with a reclaimed and time-worn appearance, tumbled pavers give a sense that they've been in that setting for years. There are also contemporary pavers for a more modern feel, which when correctly sealed, give a high-gloss finish.
The design of your new block paved drive in Harpenden may be a basic rectangular or square shape, or maybe you have landscaping features which it must weave around. Three of the most widespread block paver designs are Stretcher Bond, Basketweave and Herringbone, although block paving can be laid in several patterns to produce different effects. Whatever the pattern and design, a reputable block paving specialist in Harpenden will be able to provide a quality driveway that looks amazing.
You should also look at installing a block paving edging. You can discuss with your chosen contractor the benefits of raised kerb stones, contrasting shapes and colours, or when your drive is flanked by walls, whether it needs edging at all.
WASTE DISPOSAL
Any block paving installation quote has to include an allowance for the removal of waste and the expedient manner of its disposal. The volume of soil and existing driveway materials that will need to be carted away will be dictated by the size of your new driveway. Unless you are able to utilise the earth in other parts of your garden, it will need to be transported away by truck. The majority of of the earth and related materials can be recycled, so they must be transported to a certified disposal site.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Whilst not essential for your new driveway in Harpenden, you may be advised to apply a seal to the block paving after it has been installed. You will prolong the life of your block paving drive by treating it, and in addition the sealer brings out the true colour, shields it from staining, stops fading and reduces the growth of weeds. The application of a quality paving sealant is a great way to secure the sizeable investment that you've made in your new driveway.
Because the jointing and sand needs to properly settle over time, sealers shouldn't ever be put on to a recently installed drive. The suggested waiting time for coating a new driveway with sealer is 6 mths, and it is always wise to use a professional for this kind of work because it's hard to put right any mistakes that are made with this process.
TO CONCLUDE
Aside from adding a useful facility, and increasing the price of your building, you can truly transform the appearance of your house with a new block paved driveway or patio. It can create a fantastic area where you can enjoy a durable BBQ and seating area in your back garden, or provide a stable and hard wearing area for securely parking your vehicles.
Block paving work can be undertaken in Harpenden and also nearby in: Kimpton, Hatching Green, Batford, Codicote, East Hyde, Childwickbury, Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, Flamstead, Kinsbourne Green, Redbourn, Marshalls Heath, Peters Green, Mackerye End, and in these postcodes AL5 1AU, AL5 1RR, AL3 6JN, AL5 1QF, AL5 1JE, AL5 1RN, AL5 1AW, AL5 1FA, AL5 1PE, AL5 1BZ. Local Harpenden block paving specialists will likely have the phone code 01582 and the postcode AL5. Checking this can guarantee you access local providers of block paving. Harpenden property owners can benefit from these and lots of other comparable services. Simply click the "quote" banner or form to get details about block paving in your location.
Harpenden Paving Related Tasks
There are a wide range of paving tasks that can be undertaken by your local Harpenden block paving specialists including tumbled pavers, brindle block paving Harpenden, domestic block paving Harpenden, driveway block paving Harpenden, granite paving in Harpenden, tumbled block paving, patio slab laying, brick paving in Harpenden, block paved driveways, block paving jet washing in Harpenden, imprinted concrete driveways, Tegula block paving Harpenden, cobbled paving in Harpenden, hard landscaping, driveway paving solutions, permeable block paving Harpenden, block paving services, york stone paving Harpenden, black block paving Harpenden, autumn block paving Harpenden, cleaning block paving, brick driveways, Aco channel installation, block paving driveway repairs, driveways with pavers Harpenden, granite chip paving, quotes for block paving Harpenden, block paving installation, block paving borders, gravel driveways, and more. If there are some other Harpenden paving or driveway services that you require but don't see here, you can easily mention them on the QUOTE FORM provided. Listed are just a handful of the activities that are undertaken by those installing block paving. Harpenden professionals will tell you about their entire range of services.
Block Pavers Near Harpenden
Also find: Marshalls Heath block paving, Childwickbury block paving, Kinsbourne Green block paving, Hatching Green block paving, Batford block paving, Kimpton block paving, Wheathampstead block paving, Redbourn block paving, Peters Green block paving, Codicote block paving, Flamstead block paving, East Hyde block paving, Mackerye End block paving, Gustard Wood block paving services and more. All of these places are catered for by people who do block paving. Harpenden home and property owners can get block paving quotes by going here.
Block Paver Services Harpenden
- Harpenden Block Paving Bricks
- Harpenden Block Paving Services
- Harpenden Cheap Block Paving
- Harpenden Block Paving Re-Sanding
- Harpenden Block Paving Sealing
- Harpenden Block Paving Patios
- Harpenden Commercial Block Paving
- Harpenden Residential Block Paving
- Harpenden Block Paving Cleaning
- Harpenden Block Paving Driveways
- Harpenden Block Paving Replacement
- Harpenden Block Paving Edging
- Harpenden Block Paving Estimates
- Harpenden Block Paving Borders
More Harpenden Tradespeople
Not surprisingly, whenever you are doing home renovations in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, you will likely need all sorts of different tradesmen and as well as a block paving specialist in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, you may additionally need a building contractor in Harpenden, carpenters in Harpenden, garden designers in Harpenden, garden clearance in Harpenden, soil drainage services in Harpenden, skip hire in Harpenden, garden pond builders in Harpenden, weeding in Harpenden, electricians in Harpenden, tree surgery in Harpenden, hedge shaping in Harpenden, waste removal in Harpenden, landscape gardeners in Harpenden, garden shed installation in Harpenden, grass cutting services in Harpenden, block paving in Harpenden, fence builders in Harpenden, patio layers in Harpenden, artificial grass installers in Harpenden, a handyman in Harpenden, decking installers in Harpenden, a bricklayer in Harpenden, and other different Harpenden tradesmen.
Block Paving Around Harpenden
Some Harpenden roads and streets where block paving has recently been done - Barton Close, Dell Close, Church Green Row, The Close, Dalkeith Road, Shepherds Way, The Putterills, Beeson End Lane, Sun Lane, Spring Road, Applewood Close, St James Road, Cornwall Road, The Chowns, Byron Road, Camberley Place, Ashley Gardens, Salisbury Avenue, Amenbury Court, Aplins Close, Cravells Road, St Andrews Avenue, Cooters End Lane, Broom Corner, Beech Close, The Spinney, Sauncey Avenue, Burnsall Place, as well as these Harpenden area postcodes: AL5 1AU, AL5 1RR, AL3 6JN, AL5 1QF, AL5 1JE, AL5 1RN, AL5 1AW, AL5 1FA, AL5 1PE, AL5 1BZ. Work was done in these places by specialists in block paving. Harpenden business and home owners were given trusted and dependable block paving services.
For local information on Harpenden, Hertfordshire look here
More Hertfordshire block pavers: Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Hatfield, Potters Bar, Hertford, Tring, Rickmansworth, Watford, Abbots Langley, Hoddesdon, Bishops Stortford, Bushey, Royston, Ware, Welwyn Garden City, Broxbourne, Berkhamsted, Letchworth, Borehamwood, Cheshunt, Harpenden, Hitchin and St Albans.
Block paving specialists in AL5 area, (dialling code 01582).
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