Chris Hogan 
When laying a block paving driveway or path you need to decide what way to fill the joins between each block. Essentially there are three methods: Loose Fill, Slurry and jointing with mortar. This last method, where mortar is applied directly into the gaps between the blocks of the paving, …
Formwork is essential for making driveways, particularly if the concrete is to be poured on. Let’s face it, only the very shortest driveways are going to be constructed by shovelling on barrow loads of concrete by hand. What is Formwork? This refers to the barriers erected at the borders of …
The paving over of front gardens for driveways, particularly in densely populated urban areas, has been a source of growing concern for some time, and the government acted at the beginning of October 2008 to introduce new regulations in England. Flooding and Other Environmental Problems The problem is three-fold, and …
Many people are aware that the regulations in England for paving over front gardens for driveways have changed to persuade people to put in permeable driveway surfaces. The other countries in the UK have separate arrangements but are likely to follow suit. Permeable surfaces are defined as being permeable to …
A garden path made from stepping stones is one where the blocks, stones or flags that make up the path are laid down individually with gaps in between them. You need to take a step to get from one to the next, hence the name ‘stepping stones’. And although they …
Getting the levels right on a patio is a time-consuming and pain-staking job, but putting effort into it will give you a patio that looks good and drains well. The alternative is a patio where the flags don’t line up correctly, there are height differences at the gaps that get …
It is likely, to be honest, that the contractor is trying to fob you off with a bodge job to fix an error on his part, and you shouldn’t stand for it. What is a Soakaway? A soakaway is basically a trench filled with a semi-permeable substance or structure which …
Faced with a growing weed problem in the gravelled section of the garden of his rented property, David Enstone* was looking for ways around the problem that didn’t involve spending huge amounts of money. The Plan and the Reasoning “It’s not that I resent spending money, it’s just that we …
Living in a classic suburban street in Greater London, Mr and Mrs Jardine felt, just like almost every other person in the street, that their car would be more secure if it was parked off-road. It would also mean that they would have a chance of actually parking close to …
People who regularly tinker with cars, motorcycles or other mechanical devices at home will be familiar with the problems caused by spilt petrol. On concrete drives it’s just a case of mopping it up (see Removing Stains From Concrete Drives), which is why you’ll see concrete rather than tarmac used …