Tarmac Driveways in Kents Hill

Many homes in Kents Hill were built with block paved drives as part of the original estate. After thirty years or more, some have weeds in every joint, rutting where the car parks and blocks that rock underfoot. Some owners decide to relay the blocks, but others prefer to change surface entirely and move to tarmac for its lower upkeep.

Switching from blocks to tarmac starts with lifting the old paving and its sand bed. The stone base underneath is then inspected. In some cases it can be topped up, regraded and compacted again, which saves on excavation. Where it is thin or contaminated with clay, we dig out further and build it back properly.

Estate drives here are often shared at the entrance or sit beside a neighbour's drive with no wall between them. We agree a clean line with you, cut a straight joint against the neighbouring surface and set a kerb or block edge so the new tarmac has a firm boundary and does not spread onto the next plot.

The binder course is laid first, followed by a finer wearing course for a closed, even finish. Each layer is rolled while hot so it reaches its full density.

Drainage on a former block drive needs fresh thought. Blocks let a little water through their joints, while standard tarmac does not. We set falls towards a lawn or bed or fit a linear drain at the low point, and porous asphalt is worth discussing where the ground drains well enough.

Planning sits with Milton Keynes City Council. The usual rule is that a new impermeable front surface over five square metres that drains to the road needs permission, so the drainage plan matters. Some estates also carry covenants in the deeds about front gardens, which are worth checking.