DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPING
Make sure the land surrounding your finished home is brimming with kerb appeal, too. From paving materials to plants, every choice will have an impact
This project combines a Sureset resin driveway with carefully manicured soft landscaping for a practical yet attractive outdoor zone towards the house
It pays to plan out your driveway and landscaping early in the build process. Think ahead, and ringfence some budget, if you want to avoid being surrounded by mud and building debris for months on end after you’ve moved in. You’ll also likely need to specify details of your soft landscaping elements in your planning application, to reclaim VAT.
Your driveway should be both stylish and practical as it serves a key function – access to your property. It needs to meet parking requirements and any planning stipulations for water surface, for instance. Sloping driveways, in particular, require a robust drainage system to mitigate the risk of undermining the house footings and permeable material helps, too.
The key to making sure a driveway can support the weight of the car(s) and last for many years lies not just in the choice of surface material, but in preparing the sub-base so it doesn’t crack or lift over time. Most solutions require a firm base of around 150mm of suitably crushed aggregate, which must be properly tamped down (typically using a compactor plate machine). Careful measuring is vital before digging: the finished driveway or paving surface should lay 150mm below the level of your house’s damp proof course.