November 2021

Due to proliferating driveway scammers, many residents get fooled by accepting substandard driveway installation.

One of the major problems of driveway clients is that their money is put to waste when they hire bogus driveway companies, pretending to be legit providers but turning out to be fake using fictitious names.

As a result, the newly installed driveway has lots of problems and is not ready for heavy rains, just as what happened to the recent pavement tarmac scamming.

If you were one of the victims of paving scammers, be aware of your driveway integrity. A poorly installed driveway will cause flooding and leave you helpless when the storm arrives.

Read on to learn how to protect your property from driveway flooding.

Initial steps to find the cause of flooding

Flooding will cause severe damage to your driveway if not given a solution to it. Save your driveway by adopting the following tips on flooding.

1. Find the source of water.
2. Redirect the water flow to a more effective drainage system.
3. Check gutters and downspouts. It is important to note that the terminal of the water coming from the downspouts is directed to the street and then to the main sewage.
4. Dig additional ditches to create a runoff if you think that’s the best path to the water flow.
5. Replace the driveway with more permeable paving.

What happens when your driveway’s slope cause flooding? 

A driveway that creates a pool of water results in problems with the integrity of the surface.

• Poor water runoff contributes to frequent flooding that can extend to your front door
• Ponds are a breeding site for insects
• Flood softens the paving of the driveway
• Will give you a slippery driveway
• Will decrease your home’s reselling value

Follow these tips to prevent driveway flooding

1. Redirect the water flow

• If you can find the cause of flooding, build a different path for water to flow. Wait for the rain and see if the diversion worked.
• If you notice the problem comes from the sloping of the driveway, then the path is not the problem. You need the help of a driveway builder to fix the surface levelling.
• Check the gutter and the downspout. If the water drops from a damaged gutter, it means the water does not fully flow to the downspout. Have your drain fixed to prevent the leak.
• But if the gutter is working fine, try to extend your downspout pipe that will lead the water to a proper drainage system.
• Avoid diverting the water runoff to another property or to the street. With proper channelling, you can prevent the driveway from damage and save yourself from local city fines.

2. Install a new drain

Most drainage systems are overused due to frequent flooding. You know how powerful water is that it will soon give away when it drenched a certain implement. Apart from wear and tear, your drainage could be overly clogged and old.

• Have your driveway builder create a trench drain in your landscape for effective de-flooding.
• Ensure the path is sloped downward to the street to prevent the water from entering the centre pavement. Lead the trench to the drainage point or a dry well.
• For effective water runoff, install a French drain and a dry well as its endpoint to ensure the soil absorbs the collected water from the heavy rain.

A French drain is an effective method in preventing flooding for areas that rain frequently. Install the French drain to a location you think most of the water drips off. This drain is built by digging a long trench that goes towards the dry well. It has a perforated pipe to percolate the water that drips down from the soil.

Before laying the pipe, place a geo-fabric for separating dirt from water that goes into the pipe.

Rebuild your driveway with a new paving

The most common problem of flooding is due to a non-permeable surface of the driveway. A permeable surface is one with a soil base. 

Materials like concrete collect standing water because the concrete is compact and less porous than block paving, tarmac, or gravel.

Even though the changing of the driveway surface is costly and labour intensive, having a flood-free driveway will let you enjoy it more. The driveway contractor you hire can also help you with planning permission if a requirement comes up.

Gravel and tarmacadam are suitable surfaces against flooding. The flood water will naturally flow down in between the gravel particles. The ground will absorb the water fast and will prevent standing water on the surface.

Conclusion

With these tips, you have the option to do it by yourself if you have the necessary tools and equipment. But we highly suggest having someone expert in driveways do the job so they can assess beforehand what to fix.

If you need to talk to licensed driveway contractors, you can contact Bristol Driveway and Patio Pro. They are ready to help.

Call our representatives or send your queries through the websites to take immediate action for your driveway flooding issue.

The most overlooked part of your property is your driveway. It is a home construction that is often neglected when it comes to aesthetics but it serves as the forefront where visitors could easily notice.

While there are different paving options for a driveway, people favour the one that is durable but cheaper.

Is gravel a cheaper driveway paving?

If we are going to compare gravel with other paving surfaces like concrete and tarmac, gravel is way cheaper. It will save you more than half of what you can spend with concrete or tarmac. The only thing you need to prepare for is the upkeep. Nonetheless, it is still more affordable compared to the rest.

Another factor that opens an opportunity for saving some pounds is the length of your driveway. Gravel is a favourable choice for homes with long driveways.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of a gravel driveway.

Pros:

• More affordable and cost-efficient
• Cheaper upkeep.
• Environment friendly. It doesn’t cause flooding.
• Diverse in style.
• Easy to install.

Cons:

• Not good in snowy areas. When cleanup time, rocks will be displaced.
• Sinkholes can easily form due to its loose aggregates.
• Can easily get dirty. Debris can be hard to remove.

A gravel driveway is unique in itself. Gravel has its distinct quality even when there are other options available. Whether you choose gravel, the Bristol Driveway team will build it from scratch.

Gravel is an ideal type of surface; it is sustainable and environmentally friendly because it is ideal for flood-prone areas. It easily absorbs and drains the water, leaving no standing water or puddles to worry about.

Gravel, on the other hand, is not a cohesive material because it is made of collective loose stone aggregates. But when bonded together, you will come up with a formidable surface that is suitable for areas with frequent flooding.

Due to its high absorbency, gravel is a perfect catch basin for running water while keeping its integrity no matter the weather condition.

Gravel driveway installation from the experts

A gravel driveway can be built DIY. Doing it on your own will save you hundreds of pounds to pay for skilled labour. Unless you wanted a patterned block or resin and concrete, you need a more skilled person to lay the surface.

But you can opt to hire expert driveway fitters to ensure precise workmanship and save you time.

Here are the steps in laying your gravel driveway and patio:

• Debris is taken out or dug from the ground. Depending on the type of ground, it is best to clean up the area; remove grass or weeds. If there are rocks and other debris, it is better to use a bulldozer to easily prep the ground.
• Measure the area to be paved and ask for recommendations on how much gravel you need for that area.
• Establish four short posts that will serve as the perimeter area for the path.
• Attach strings on posts.
• Level the ground as a preparation for the gravel.
• Cover the inside area with gravel not exceeding the boundary.
• Pour on crusher dust and scree the loose stones to even the surface
• Pour again another layer of gravel
• Spread and compact the top layer/
• Flatten the surface to make it solid or compact

Your gravel driveway should consist of three layers of gravel. Ask our installers for the exact thickness each layer should be if you are unsure of the specifics. Nonetheless, the top layer should provide a more stable and compact surface ready to drive on.

Conclusion

Your gravel driveway and patio will last for years depending on day to day activities and the amount of human traffic. But it will typically serve its purpose for decades if properly maintained.

Harsh and unpredictable weather may harm the integrity of your gravel surface, leaving some potholes and cracks exposed to further damage. If this is so, ensure that these problems are immediately repaired.

Bristol Driveway & Patio Pro specialises in different patio and driveway surfaces types but we graciously welcome customers to request bespoke projects, the ones that will add delight to your home and will serve you in many ways like the gravel.\

Call our team or talk to our customer representative in case you need assistance with repairs and cleaning. Our installers will be more than happy to assist you.

Concrete is material for paving that is neither cheap nor expensive. It is in the middle for a good reason.

Some would say that concrete is a boring material, not that appealing, and presents only in a flat, and not worth the money.

When you look closely, they could be right, but the quality of concrete surpasses other surfaces when it comes to functionality and longevity.

Let us dig further into how you can benefit from a concrete driveway.

The Real Value of Concrete as a Surface for Driveways

Concrete is a very common material used in paving. It is mistakenly known as cement, but it’s not. Cement is just a part of the concrete component, and this composite material has gained popularity over other materials such as tarmac.

When you choose to use concrete for your driveway or patio projects, you can have options on decorative surfaces to play with.

One of Bristol Driveway’s Fantastic Offer

Concrete paving is one of the fantastic services Bristol Driveway and Patio Pro offers. We do concrete paving for your patios, decks, walkways, and driveways. 

Concrete as a material is a highly durable surface. If properly cured, it will last for many years.

The main downside of concrete is when it cracks. Small slits lead to cracks because of heavy pressure or heavy traffic. This means that the component is substandard. With poor installation, concrete will prematurely fail.

Installation

Some homeowners would love to pour concrete and build their driveway with their effort to save. However, concrete installation requires the expertise of an experienced contractor. This is to ensure that the driveway paved with cement will achieve the desired finish and quality.

Concrete is a slurry mixture during preparation. Concrete hardens quickly, so timing is crucial in mixing.

The materials involved and the quality of workmanship implemented in building a driveway made of concrete will dictate the end product’s stability and appeal.

Follow the steps for a perfect installation:

• Check if there is adequate drainage for water run-off
• Prepare the base
• Remove unwanted presence of thrusting objects (protruding pipes, unrooted tree, tree roots)
• Install rebar
• Pour the sufficient amount of cement mix
• Check for interlocking joints
• Cure thereafter
• Cover while wet

Advantages of concrete paving:

• Slabs of concrete are highly durable
• Low maintenance
• Great for large and wide areas of paving
• More durable and appealing than gravel and tarmac
• Can last for 25 to 50 years
• Can bear vehicle traffic for many years
• Can withstand all kinds of weather

Bristol Driveway contractors are dedicated and hardworking people, and they are the people to build your concrete driveway.

Although right now people love hacks and DIYs, they install them by themselves. But nothing beats the works of professionals and skilled people. The job is more manageable and efficient.

Before they begin your driveway, our contractor and installers will inspect your place. The job can be done in a couple of days, but it has to be handled by experts.

They will check if planning permissions are required in your place.

Concrete driveways involve excavation, ground levelling, compacting, laying steel bars, pouring of gravel and sand prior to concrete, and applying finishing touches.

Before excavating, installers ensure the ground is free of grass and that the foundation is stable.

Concrete requires curing so that it can achieve complete hardness after a couple of days. It is important that nothing will intervene during the curing process.

This is done by covering the surface by spraying water on the surface or dampening it from time to time to allow curing time.

A fully functional concrete driveway will take a full month to dry.

A quick look at concreting a surface:

• Installers remove excess concrete and level the topmost surface using a scree
• They sweep the top surface lightly when there is no other decorative option; this adds friction to the surface
• Seal the surface using a sealant
• Place joints for protection against cracks
• Sloping is critical for water runoff
• Continuous curing by sprinkling and covering with plastic sheet

Advantages of a concrete driveway:

• Sturdy
• Low maintenance
• Cost-efficient
• Can be customised (using block pavers)

Concrete driveways generally last for around 20 to 50 years, depending on how reinforced the base is and how many cars you will be parking.

To ensure lifelong benefits from a concrete driveway, talk to our representatives here at Bristol driveways. Theoretically, it seems installation is DIY friendly but it requires hard labour, in which professional installation is the only solution. Call us for more details: 0117 290 0395.