Block Paving, Tarmac and Concrete Driveways in Medway | Your Questions Answered

The personalised service provided by Springvale Driveways Ltd extends to answering the questions of Medway homeowners, especially those who have important queries concerning patio and driveway installations. Working out of Rainham, we’ve covered the needs of local customers and clients for more than 40 years, having opened for business way back in 1980.

This page answers questions about our company, approval for dropped kerbs and, perhaps, the most important of all:

Should I choose a block paving driveway, a concrete driveway or a tarmac driveway?

Let’s answer this one first and go into some detail a little later. The choice between a block paving driveway, a concrete driveway or a tarmac driveway comes down to three things; The budget available to Medway homeowners, the decorative style they need based on how their home looks now, and the impact they want to have on the kerb appeal and property value.

Customers can base their final decisions on one or all key points listed above.

Can you tell me a little more about block paving?

Certainly! We consider a block paving driveway to be a high specification choice and this is reflected in the price, the finish and the standard of the installation. Block paving, with or without a dropped kerb, is supplied in blocks manufactured in different types of stone. We can lay pavers in an almost limitless range of intricate patterns.

A range of different sizes, colours and finishes are available to provide full design flexibility.

Are there any major benefits associated with block paving?

Yes. The biggest benefit to having a block paving patio or driveway installed is not having to uplift the surface if an individual block at your Medway property needs replacing, or if work needs to be undertaken on underground utilities. Each block can be lifted individually and, if there is no damage cause during the uplift, it can be laid down again.

Please contact us to find out more.

You mentioned a dropped kerb. What is a dropped kerb?

When a driveway is built, a section of the edge between a home and the road running alongside it must be lowered to allow vehicles to move between the property and the highway. This is called a dropped kerb. To have a dropped kerb installed for your new driveway, you will need approval from the local authority for Medway or wherever you live.

Our company will liaise with Medway Borough Council on your behalf for planning permission.

When would a concrete driveway be the best choice

The installation of a concrete driveway with a dropped kerb for vehicle crossing would be most suitable for those with an intermediate budget but an eye for colour and detail. Colour is produced through a dye added to freshly poured concrete which is then stamped with a textured rubber mat to create the effect of stone, slate, tile, cobbles or timber.

This type of installation is known as a pattern imprinted concrete driveway and it gives Medway homeowners the impressive design excellence of block paving at a price which is affordable and competitive with most other materials.

Would a tarmac driveway be an inferior choice for my property?

No, not at all. A tarmac driveway from Springvale will still be a high-end installation but it will be achieved on a more modest budget. Customers in the Medway area with a little less to spend will be able to have a tarmac driveway laid, complete with a concrete base and a dropped kerb, with an estimated life expectancy of around 20 years but often much more.

Because our company insists on the use of stone mastic asphalt, a tarmac driveway from Springvale will outlive most other types of tarmacadam surfacing.

Call 01634 262093 or 07715 114221 if you have a question about a driveway installation or dropped kerb approvals in the Medway area.