• Broom
• Garden hose with spray nozzle
• Dishwashing soap
• Two buckets
• Long handled scrub brush

1. Sweep the driveway with your broom to ensure the surface is free of any leaves, branches and other debris.
2. Spray water with the hose onto all of the grass, plant, shrubs an other greenery to protect all vegetation from ‘running’.
3. Attach the spray nozzle to the hosepipe and spray the driveway with water to wash away any dirt, wetting the surface at the same time.
4. Fill a bucket with two gallons of water and then add two tablespoons of dishwashing soap to the water and thoroughly mix the solution.
5. Fill another bucket with warm waterwhich will be used for rinsing the scrubbing brush.
6. Using the long handled scrubbing brush, dip this into the soapy water and then start scrubbing a section of the driveway (say 5ft x 5ft roughly). Keep rinsing the brush in the bucket of clean warm water to vent reapplying dirt to the driveway.
7. After each section has been scrubbed, spray water with the hose to wash away any excess grime and rinse the surface.
8. Keep repeating the process, section by section until you have worked through the entire driveway. Refill buckets if necessary.
9. Finally, hose the entire driveway down to ensure no area has been missed and then allow the driveway to dry. You should be noticing a massive improvement to your driveway now.

Concrete

Although the word concrete may not strike you with much by way of spectacular design and artwork, it can be used to add a magnificent finish to any driveway. Instead of the matte grey finish that you expect concrete to provide, it surprisingly can be manipulated, printed and coloured to all types of finish.

Patterns can be imprinted onto large concrete slabs, and the concrete can be injected with colour too using acrylic stain or dye. This gives manufacturers the opportunity to recreate the effect of brick, cobblestones, York paving and other types of stone – it can even mimic the look of a hardwood floor.

What concrete provides you with over other types of material is that it’s an extremely low maintenance way to re-lay a driveway. Concrete doesn’t shift like block paving can, and you don’t risk unsightly weeds coming up in-between the bricks.

Provided the concrete is laid properly, which should be onto a suitably prepared and laid substrate, and is finished with a seal to repel extreme weather – the driveway will be very long lasting and should not crack or split in wintry or extremely hot conditions.

Block Paving Stones

Paving stones are a popular choice, and the bricks used are readily available.

All kinds of pattern can be selected to best suit your property. Should you wish to have sweeping swirls, split patterns, herringbone or a basket weave then it is achievable using block paving.

It can be a great way to create individual type of look to suit your home. Complimentary brick can be used to create steps up to your front door or a kerbs and edgings that lead to a turfed area through which paths, water features and patios can be created. Incorporating drains and channels, rainwater can be washed away safely.

Block paving large areas may require lots of maintenance. Whilst the driveway will look fantastic in its first year, moss, algae and weeds can gather in the cracks, so it is important to clean the driveway regularly.

Ask your installer if they will finish off your driveway by using a matte or glossy sealant. If they will, the sealant used should inhibit the growth of weeds and act as a stain preventative, which of course will need to be re-applied on a regular basis. This is the same for stone driveways; however, different types of sealants will be required depending on the actual stone or brick used.

Whilst there are usually many different options, you may even consider a carbon neutral bioverse option that incorporates grass for a positive effect on the environment.

Costs Involved

There are a few things to consider cost-wise.

A skip will be required, sturdy foundations will need to be laid and excavation of the current material will be required. Weed matting or geo-textile will also be required, as well as the material that is to create the final finish, as well as sealant.

Up to a foot of earth will need to be removed to make room for foundations so that the final layer of drive can be at the same level as it currently is. The skip used will probably cost around £80-£100 and, depending on where it is to be located, a permit may be required to place it on a road or public highway. This can cost around £30.

You may be looking at around £100 for a miniature digger for a day and aggregate to create the foundations should be around £20-£35 per half tonne (approximately coverage of 1m2) which, when bought in bulk, a supplier will usually apply a discount.

A compaction plate to compact down the aggregate could be around £25 with the weed mat costing approximately 45p per metre, but they usually are supplied in very wide rolls.

Depending on the company you select, you may be charged labour at around £150-£250 per day.

Planning blocked paving properly can result in a beautiful driveway that can compliment a modern or traditionally built home.

It is clear to see that installing a new driveway can be expensive. Yet if you choose a reputable company, and are fully aware of the maintenance required on the materials you choose, it can be a real investment and a perfect addition to your home.

Driveways should be as individual as you and your property. By contacting a professional company with a good level of experience, a multitude of options are open to you. We offer expert and professional driveway cleaning services to keep your driveway in pristine condition.