Author: Newstyle Driveways

Unbeknownst to many, a driveway can significantly affect the exterior appearance of a house. In fact, the condition of a driveway is enough to attract or turn away prospective home buyers. Hence, to keep up your curb appeal, your drive needs to be well-maintained. This includes cleaning it regularly.

Importance of Driveway Cleaning

Cleaning your drive is not easy. It isn’t a task that you can do anytime as weather conditions need to be favourable for you to be able to work. Furthermore, it can be a very tedious endeavour – one that may require vigorous scrubbing, especially if stains are present.

Difficult as it may be, cleaning your driveway regularly is necessary. When you don’t do so, it is going to look unappealing because of the dirt, grime, stains and weeds on it.

Furthermore, not cleaning it can shorten its lifespan. For example, when weeds are allowed to grow, their roots are going to cause cracks to become bigger.

What’s more? An unclean driveway can be dangerous. It can become slimy because of moss and mould growth. This increases the chances of “slip and fall” accidents happening.

Simply put, cleaning your driveway is necessary to maintain its beauty, ensure its longevity and make it safe.

You don’t have to wash and scrub your drive as frequently as you would clean your kitchen or bathroom. For one, this is not feasible because, as mentioned earlier, the weather can get in the way. However, when the opportunity presents itself, take advantage of it.

If possible, clean it on your own at least once a month. It is also highly recommended that you get professional driveway cleaning services at least once a year.

To completely rid your drive of dirt, stains and weeds, certain products and tools are needed; reputable service providers have them. Moreover, properly and thoroughly cleaning this part of the house requires know-how and skills which only driveway cleaning professionals possess.

Professional Driveway Cleaning – How Much Does It Cost?

Several factors can affect the price of professional cleaning services. The major ones are the driveway size, availed services and type of surface. In some cases, the location of the property also affects the price.

Driveway Size

This is one of the factors that has a significant effect on the price of the driveway cleaning service. Basically, the cost of working on bigger drives is higher than that of smaller ones. This is because they require more products and more time. So, the larger your driveway, the more expensive the cost of cleaning it would be.

Availed Services

When speaking of professional driveway cleaning, what immediately comes to mind is power washing. Yes, this is what’s primarily done in this kind of service, but it may not be the only work required. At times, the cleaners may need to scrub the surface by hand to get rid of mould and mildew build-up. Some companies may charge extra for rendering this kind of work.

The price is also going to vary depending on the additional services you avail. Typically, homeowners who have their drives deep-cleaned also get resealing services.

Type of Surface

The kind of driveway you have also has an impact on the price. This is because different techniques are employed depending on the material used to build the drive. Furthermore, some surfaces require labour-intensive cleaning.

Location

The rates of some providers vary depending on the location of the property. In most cases, the charge is higher for driveways situated in cities or urban areas. Meanwhile, certain providers charge extra (like a travel fee) if the property is situated outside of their service area.

To conclude, when choosing a provider, do not decide based on their rate alone. It is important that you prioritise the quality of their service. Remember, if the low price means sloppy work, then you would end up spending more as you would need to hire another company to re-do everything.

Looking for a reputable driveway cleaning services provider in Ireland? You’ve come to the right place! Call us now on 0852139591 or email us to learn more about services.

A tar and chip driveway is one of the most common types of driveways, especially in rural areas. Yet, not a lot of people know about it because it is not as widely talked about as asphalt and gravel driveways.

What exactly is a tar and chip driveway? Well, you can break down its components from its name – tar and chips.

Tar is a viscous or thick liquid, typically coloured black or dark brown, that is commonly used for roadmaking. Nowadays, however, liquid asphalt, also known as bitumen, is what’s used instead of tar.

Meanwhile, the chips refer to stone chips which are placed and compacted on top of the very hot tar. The stone chips are then steamrolled so it would completely adhere to the tar. The drying process takes around 48 hours.

Benefits of Having a Tar and Chip Driveway

One of the leading selling points of a tar and chip driveway is that it looks great. It does not look drab because the stone chips come in different colours. Hence, with this material, it is easy to build a driveway that complements a property’s design or one that is truly unique.

The most common options are black or different shades of brown or grey. Others also request for yellowish or reddish stone chips.

Aside from its pretty appearance, a tar and chip driveway is easy to maintain. What you mainly need to monitor are the loose or displaced stones which you would have to replace. It also has benefits for safety as its surface provides good traction.

In terms of cost, this type of driveway is also quite affordable. Tar and chip is priced lower than other types of materials, particularly concrete, asphalt, and pavers.

Factors that Affect Tar and Chip Driveway Cost

How much would it cost to have a tar and chip driveway? Well, there are several things that can affect your overall spend.

The factors that have the most impact on the price are the materials and the size of your driveway.

The type of stone chips you use is what significantly affects the cost of materials. For example, rare-coloured stone chips are more expensive than the widely available ones like black and grey.

In terms of your driveway’s size, the bigger it is, the higher your total cost would be. Currently, the average price of a tar and chip driveway is around €25 per square meter.

Keep in mind:

Your driveway’s size affects both the cost of materials and the cost of labour. This is because the amount of work required and the amount of materials needed are directly proportional to the size of your driveway.

Here’s the thing:

To know exactly how much you’re going to spend on this kind of driveway, you have to know the cost of materials, the dimension of your driveway and the labour fees, amongst others. You won’t be able to come up with an accurate figure if you do not have the data needed.

But you do not have to go through the hassle of gathering these pieces of information. You can just call a reputable driveway paving company and request for a quotation.

In conclusion, if you wish to reduce your expenses, one good way to do it is to choose a cheaper kind of stone chips.

Please do not go the DIY route or pick an inexperienced company just to cut down on cost. Doing these things can cause you to spend more in the long run as you might end up with a substandard driveway. With this kind of output, damages are going to be common which means you’d regularly be spending on maintenance and repair works.

If you want something that’s truly cost-efficient, then hire a trusted company for a durable and excellent-looking tar and chip driveway.

Are you thinking of getting a tar and chip driveway? Let us do the job – New Style Driveways, the preferred company of many Irish homeowners! Please call us today on 0852139591 and talk to our specialist about our services.

Quite too often, home exteriors are taken for granted when homeowners embark on house improvement projects. They pour most of their effort and resources on their interiors, forgetting that the outside appearance of their house matters as well.

Please do not make the same mistake. If you want to have an impressive-looking property, improving the exteriors, especially the driveway, should be part of the home improvement project.

Remember:

How your driveway looks has an immense impact on your property’s curb appeal.

Leaving it with cracks or holes can make your house look unappealing. Worse, it can give people the impression that your property is not well-maintained, which can be bad if you are selling your house.

So, if your driveway already looks drab or has extensive damage, consider renovating it. This is not just to enhance the appearance of your house but also to improve how your driveway functions.

Now:

Where do you start with this project? The first step is to decide on what materials to use. Be forewarned – there are many options available and picking the right one can be a daunting task. But if you want something that is both aesthetically appealing and functional – go for driveway pavers.

What are Driveway Pavers?

Pavers refer to blocks and slabs used for exterior flooring. They can be installed in various parts of the house like patios, pool decks, walkways and driveways.

Reports say that many homeowners are going for driveway pavers nowadays. Many design and driveway paving companies attribute the increasing interest to the fact that this material is a design gem.

Made from various materials, driveway pavers come in different colours, textures and shapes. The numerous choices available make it easy to achieve a driveway that stands out and complements the house style.

Furthermore, they are also very durable. They are manufactured to withstand heavy traffic and harsh weather conditions.

How to Choose Driveway Pavers

Cost

This is one of the factors you need to consider when choosing pavers. Remember, the material you use greatly impacts the overall spend for this project.

Basically, choosing pavers that entail a labour-intensive installation process leads to higher installation costs. So, just because the material is cheap, it doesn’t mean that you would lower your overall cost.

Currently, natural stone pavers are the most expensive. Stones sourced locally are more affordable than imported ones. Meanwhile, bricks are the cheapest, specifically the most common variety.

Durability

While cost is an important factor in selecting driveway pavers, it should not be the main or only thing that influences your decision. The material’s durability should also be considered if you want to have a cost-effective driveway.

Let’s take the case of bricks. These pavers are eco-friendly and easy to lay. However, when it comes to durability, they are prone to chipping or cracking. Furthermore, they require frequent maintenance work to stay beautiful and functional.

When talking about durability, cobblestone pavers are definitely high on the list. This paving option is generally indestructible. They can even last 100 years even with minimal maintenance.

Design

Undeniably, one of the leading reasons behind the popularity of driveway pavers is curb appeal. Regardless of the type of material they’re made of, pavers are easy on the eyes, giving the house exterior a polished look.

As mentioned earlier, pavers come in different colours and designs. So, you should not have a hard time finding one that fits your home design.

Just keep in mind:

While you want to have a driveway that stands out, it should not detract from your home’s appearance. What it should do is complement it for your property to have a cohesive appearance.

Want to have an impressive driveway? This is easily achievable with the right driveway pavers and proper installation. Call us now on 0852139591 for a professional driveway installation!