Drive Ideas 
|
Drives, Drives and yet more Drives... Here you will see the numerous methods for constructing a long lasting driveway, the front of your house is often referred to as having 'Kerb Appeal',
this refers to the first impressions a visitor receives when viewing your home.
An example of an important design consideration. When selecting a suitable top surface (wearing surface) for a drive, consider the 'slip resistance', generally concrete has the worst slip resistance - unless it is a very roughened surface, then comes concrete blocks,next engineering bricks,then paving slabs,or crazy paving, then stock bricks and finally asphalt, is the most slip resistant. There are specialist surfaces containing glass that are very slip resistant. If your drive is on a slope and you have frosty or snowy conditions it is important to consider this at the design stage.
Today it is important to consider surface water run off. Often the addition of a simple "slot" drain connected to a soakaway may be all that is required, as the picture below shows.
You could have the water drain to a storage tank via a filter for re-use in an irrigation system.
Personally when designing a new drive I look at the whole frontage, its interrelationship with the surroundings. Then try to lead the viewer to the front door if it is visible, of course those lovely homes with the long meandering drives require a much less intense approach.
Take a look and see, its all a matter of personal taste !
There is something quite special, not to mention relaxing, turning into your lovely drive after a hard days work at the office !! "Kerb Appeal" is not just for the neighbours !! |
|
