Unique Paving & Landscaping for local Driveways, Paths, Patios, Fencing and Groundworks in Norwich and Norfolk

As someone considering a new driveway, you’re probably wondering what paving contractors use to guide their eventual decision on when to do so. With our paving experts being asked this question on a daily basis, we’ve decided to answer it ourselves. In short, you’ll need to resurface your driveway or lay new paving because of the following reasons: It's damaged by wear - When a driveway becomes damaged by weathering and wear, it begins to look unsightly and cannot be left unattended any longer. The existing surfacing needs proper maintenance - Sometimes you can get away with a simple brush and sweep with a stiff broom to keep your existing concrete in good repair, but if it requires more than that to keep it looking fresh and attractive, then repairs are needed.

A new tarmac driveway will last for around 20 years, but the length of time it lasts depends on a number of factors. The most important of these factors is the preparation of your existing driveway before it is paved over.

Approximately – 8 working days. That’s right 8 days! The reason for this is simple. We only use the highest quality products, which are ordered in bulk direct from the manufacturer.

We are proud of the service we offer and all jobs are guaranteed to a specified standard. We offer a one-year workmanship guarantee on all jobs and have the certificate to prove it. All of our staff are fully trained in the latest techniques and procedures. Unique Paving & Landscaping is a very busy company and always on the go. We are great believers that hard work does pay off, as well as always doing things with a smile.

We recommend that you stay off your new driveway for around 4-5 days. By giving it that time to settle, you are less likely to cause damage and cracking to the surface. This is particularly important in areas where there is a lot of rain, but also in dryer areas, as the surface will still have time to settle in. One of the use cases that can cause damage is if wheels are driven over the surface too early, which can create ruts.

Your newly installed driveway will be made up of a number of different materials, some of which will have been ground down to achieve the correct finish. When new this material is quite hard and impermeable to water. Over time, however, repeated exposure to rain will soften the surface layer in some areas and it is these which will need to be resealed in order for them to continue to look good. Sealing your driveway regularly therefore, can help keep it looking good for longer.

If you have previously laid a block paving patio or driveway and now wish to lay new paving over the top, there will be a couple of issues to consider. Firstly, you may find that the underlying paving is cracked and uneven. This could be down to a number of reasons, from the underlying ground not being level, or the sub base not being compacted enough for example. This can often cause problems when laying new paving as the new blocks have to sit on an even surface and should preferably not be touching one another. To fix this you may need to dig down and infill with gravel or hardcore in order to make a flat and level base. New blocks will then be laid on top of this as per normal. If you are planning to fit a patio yourself, then bear in mind that this process may well require professional help.

The answer is no. Gravel is designed to be laid on top of a solid surface and create a level, hard wearing base for the surface above. Gravel does not harden after laying it so some people think that if you leave gravel down for long enough it will eventually harden but that isn't really the case.