Block Paving Reading

Reading Block Paving & Driveway Services

Block Paving Reading Berkshire (RG1): At this present time, block paving is a popular way to add a drive, pathway or patio area to a property in Reading. In both residential and commercial settings, constructing a hard wearing parking area for vehicles is the the most widespread use of block paving.

Off-road parking is a particularly appealing feature for any Reading property, and a professional installation of a block paved drive will add value to your house. Money invested in properly laid block paving now will yield a return in the future should you eventually decide to sell your house.

When designing your new block pave drive in Reading it is essential to think carefully when you're considering how large you should make it. It is best to organise your driveway to be able to manoeuvre and easily park your vehicle, but naturally you may be constrained by the dimensions of the area you've got to build on. If it is possible to install a drive that can hold more than one car, that is also recommended. This provides more space for visitor's vehicles and also for older children's cars when they eventually get through their test and start driving.

Always try to get at least three fully itemised quotes from different paving companies, when your are hunting for a qualified contractor to install your new block paved driveway in Reading. Where possible, you can ask friends and neighbours who've had a block pave driveway installed, for their advice and recommendations.

Any Reading block paving installer worthy of the name will be delighted to provide you with a completely free and in depth quote for the whole project. It isn't worth the risk of using chancers who just turn up at your front door with claims like "we're working locally on another job, would you like..?" While they could be legitimate, there are hundreds of scary stories of householders getting substandard work, or being ashamed and out of pocket when a driveway is not completed.

Items that to be listed in any quote might include:

Preparation groundwork (excavations)
Sub-base installation
Drainage and water run-off allowances
Quantity, design and colour of block pavers
Waste disposal arrangements
Other issues to consider

PREPARING THE GROUNDWORK

If you have an existing driveway, these materials will need to be removed and disposed of in the correct manner. It may be necessary to undertake more excavations to ensure building regulations in relation to your property's damp proof course (DPC) are obeyed. Two brick courses or 150mm below the existing damp proof course, is the rule for new driveways in Reading.

If your new block paved driveway in Reading is being laid on top of bare earth or grass, about 230mm of soil must be dug out and disposed of. This will allow for the installation of a decent sub-base and sharp sand stratum, before the block paving is put down.

INSTALLATION OF THE SUB-BASE

The sub-base is created from a sharp sand topped layer of MOT Type 1 crushed gravel and stones. To ensure that your new drive does not shift or develop dips and low lying spots where pools can form, a solid sub-base is crucial. Made from limestone or granite which is compacted to create a solid, strong and durable surface for your driveway, path or patio in Reading, MOT Type 1 is a kind of crushed aggregate mixture.

This is the time where drainage issues will be addressed and allowed for. To allow the water to flow away easily, a fall or gradient, will be introduced, if one isn't already present in the natural lay of the land. This will be directed either away from your property or into purpose built drainage channels installed between your home and the drive.

The final surface on which the blocks are laid is formed by the addition of sharp sand to the packed down type 1 sub-base.

WATER RUN-OFF AND DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS

Any driveway in Reading which has a surface area of more than 5 sq mtr, must have a provision for the water to run off to a suitable permeable area nearby. If this cannot be complied with you'll need to get planning permission from the local authorities for the driveway installation. Any surface water run-off from your drive cannot be redirected into the main drainage system because of the risk of local flooding.

Path Block Paving Near Reading Berkshire

As an integral part of the installation process, an established block paving installation specialist in Reading will investigate your drainage requirements and take the measures needed to keep your new drive within the law. So as to achieve this they might have to excavate a dedicated soakaway on your land, install a permeable driveway or add built-in drainage channels .

Homes which are within a conservation area will require further consideration in relation to drainage and design aspects. To get guidance and advice through this process, you must seek the help of a dependable installation company in Reading.

STYLE, AMOUNT AND COLOUR OF PAVERS

To suit any design of drive you need, block paving comes in an array of different sizes, shapes and colours. With options from the common straight sided, square or rectangular pavers, to the more decorative, diamond, curved, s-shape and circular versions, you ought to be able to find your perfect style. Paver colours can be matched to complement the brickwork of your home, or be contrasting to create a striking feature.

To create a more seamless and sympathetic entrance for older buildings in Reading, you might favour purchasing the traditional style of pavers, often called tumble or tumbled pavers. Pre-faded and having a time-worn and rustic appearance, tumbled block pavers give a sense that they have been in that setting for ever. For a that more modern feel, you can also buy contemporary pavers, which can even give you a high-gloss surface finish when properly sealed.

Your new block paved drive in Reading could be designed as a basic square or oblong shape, or it could snake its way around other landscaping features of your garden. Three of the most widespread paver designs are Basketweave, Stretcher Bond and Herringbone, although block paving can be done in many patterns for various effects. Whatever pattern and design you go for, a dependable block paving specialist in Reading will be able to build you an exceptional looking driveway that will turn a few heads.

You must also consider installing some block paving edging. Your preferred contractor will be happy to discuss the benefits of of raised edging, different shapes or colours, or if your driveway even needs an edging at all.

DISPOSAL OF WASTE AND SOIL

A block paving installation quotation has to include an itemised allowance for the removal of waste and soil and the proper manner of its disposal. The quantity of existing driveway materials and earth that will be required to be disposed of will be dictated by the scale of your new drive. If it can't be made use of in other areas of your garden, any excavated earth must be transported away by truck, trailer or in a skip. Eco-friendly disposal at a registered site is essential for any waste earth and old driveway materials.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Almost all block paving contractors in Reading will encourage you to put a coat of sealant on your new drive after it's been installed, although this is not essential by any means. Sealing can prolong the lifespan of your block paved driveway, it also lowers the risk of algae growth, keeps it from staining, slows down fading and improves the colour. A coating of sealant is an excellent way to safeguard the investment you have made in your brand new block paved driveway.

Block paved drives should never be treated right after installation, since it's important for the sand and joints to properly settle for a period of time. The suggested waiting time for applying sealant to a new drive is six months, and it is always wise to use a professional for this type of work as it's difficult to rectify any errors with this process.

CONCLUSION

A block paving patio or drive can transform the look of your property in Reading. It can provide you with a hard wearing and stable area for securely parking your car, or create a pleasant area to relax and enjoy a sturdy BBQ and seating area in your back garden.

Block paving work can be carried out in Reading and also in: Sonning, Theale, Whitley, Chazey Heath, West Reading, Sulham, Trench Green, Lower Earley, Calcot, Shinfield, Caversham Heights, Play Hatch, Pingewood, Pangbourne, Tidmarsh, Emmer Green, Binfield Heath, Norcot, Earley, Dunsden Green, Caversham, Purley on Thames, Englefield, Southcote, Mapledurham, Tokers Green, and in these postcodes RG1 1DN, RG1 1LX, RG1 1JX, RG1 2AR, RG1 1NP, RG1 1SX, RG1, RG1 2AF, RG1 1SN, and RG1 1NF. Local Reading block paving services will likely have the postcode RG1 and the phone code 0118. Checking this can guarantee that you are accessing local providers of block paving. Reading home and business owners will be able to utilise these and numerous other comparable services. To get quotes for block paving, you can simply click on the "Quote" banner.

Reading Paving Related Tasks

There is a variety of paving work that can be completed by your local Reading block paving specialists including commercial block paving Reading, block paving design Reading, permeable block paving, sealing block paving, tumble block paving, brindle block paving Reading, the installation of block paving Reading, granite chip driveways, domestic block paving, york stone paving, resin bound driveways, block paving driveway repairs, black block paving Reading, brick weave paving Reading, gravel driveways in Reading, block paving removal, brick paving, Chelsea setts paving, concrete block paving Reading, charcoal block paving Reading, tar chipped driveways, block paving edging Reading, block paved patios, block paving jet washing, granite cobble driveways in Reading, block paved pathways, non-permeable block paving Reading, block paving replacement, block paving installation in Reading, tumbled pavers in Reading, and lots more. If there are different Reading paving or driveway services that you require but can't see here, you can easily list them on the QUOTE FORM provided. These are just a selection of the duties that are performed by those installing block paving. Reading professionals will be happy to tell you about their whole range of services.

Block Pavers Near Reading

Also find: Purley on Thames block paving, Pangbourne block paving, Theale block paving, Sulham block paving, Caversham block paving, Sonning block paving, Chazey Heath block paving, Shinfield block paving, Whitley block paving, Englefield block paving, Tidmarsh block paving, Caversham Heights block paving, Southcote block paving, Tokers Green block paving, Mapledurham block paving, Emmer Green block paving, Earley block paving, Norcot block paving, Play Hatch block paving, Pingewood block paving, Lower Earley block paving, Binfield Heath block paving, Calcot block paving, Dunsden Green block paving, Trench Green block paving, West Reading block paving and more. Almost all of these towns and villages are covered by block paving experts. In order to get quotes for block paving, local property owners can go here.