A carport is something that has become less of a feature on a driveway every year. It is still fairly common on older terrace houses in the UK but you do not really see it much in Dublin anymore.
The purpose of a carport is to provide you a place to park your car whilst still being on the driveway. It will protect the car from the elements and give you a place to step out onto without getting wet. Kind of a like a garage but with no walls or garage door on it!
Now you may wonder, why not just have a garage instead? Well, building a garage is a lot more complicated and will cost you significantly more as well.
Building a new garage, especially if you did not have one previously, will require planning permission. It will require a bricklayer for the walls and a roofer to do the roof. Now you can just get a builder, who can handle that all for you but you will be paying extra for this.
A new garage requires a new base foundation, a concrete or similar styled floor, concrete footings for walling, windows, generally a side door and a main front garage door.
As you can see, this will start to pile up in costs after a while and there is a maintenance required that goes along with it. Oiling the garage door, spring cleaning, guttering systems, regular roof maintenance and more.
No planning permission required, no walling, no new surface, no doors, no windows and very little maintenance. The only maintenance you will require is going to be on the roof.
A car port can be built with no walls by simply using support beams (metal preferably) which are bedded into the ground and will support the roof of the new car port.
If it is backing into a wall, you do not need any extra support, otherwise, we recommend tying it into the side of the house to give it some extra support.
Make sure to pick the right roof for the carport, a nice perplex styled roof will let a lot of light in, unlike a traditional felt roof. Round off the appearance of your carport with a nice gutter, soffit and fascia style to complete the look.
A carport will cost around 1/5th of what a new garage will cost on average. If you already have a carport, the only type of maintenance you will require is making sure the guttering system works, drains away correctly and that the roof is watertight.
If you do need maintenance for your roofing or gutters, we recommend a company such as TC Roofers - Roofing Contractors in Dublin who kindly helped us with some of the technical details for the roofing.
Here at Select Paving, we can install a wide range of carport styles on any driveway without affecting the existing driveway. We can build a new driveway in Dublin around your carport as well.
Options exist for metal frameworks, brick built carports, stand alone or lean to carports and more.
Block paving is something that you can lay yourself, however, it can be quite daunting and unless you have the right machinery and have some previous experience, you are much better off choosing a paving contractor to help you install it in Dublin.
For example, when you choose paving Dublin it is commonly available now as a 50mm paving block but previously the most common was 60mm for paving. This was lowered after it became obvious that for a standard driveway, 50mm will withstand much of the traffic.
On driveway areas that are going to have HGV vehicles on it, the most common type of block paving is the 60mm style. It can easily withstand the traffic from an HGV and other vehicles without any worry about your block paving in Dublin becoming damaged by it.
On roadways, the average type of block paving is 80mm. This is not because 60mm can’t withstand the traffic, it’s the constant traffic and shifting that creates problems. The 80mm block pavior due to its extra weight will not shift like the others.
When you opt for block paving your own driveway, you should try to first narrow down the purpose of it. If it’s a standard Dublin driveway, you can save a little money and go with a 50mm block. If you have lorries that will be delivering oil or goods to your home, go with a 60mm. The 80mm block is simply not needed for a driveway.
The next choice is to choose the style of block paving, you can opt for the Corrib paving style from Kilsaran, which is generally laid in 3 sizes. It is laid in staggered lines to offset the joints. This is important as it will allow better interlocking of your block paving.
The most common type of block paving is still the standard herringbone pattern in a style like Pedesta paving from Tobermore. It is cost effective (slightly cheaper than other variants) and when laid correctly, will interlock very strong to ensure a durable, solid driveway paving.
The other option which is becoming more popular is the permeable paving range. This is for driveways or patios that are going to suffer from flooding. You can read more about driveway drainage here. Permeable is laid like standard paving but has a much more rippled side to allow a bigger joint.
It is laid on a permeable base to ensure water can flow through fast and quickly and be drained away. It is the most expensive option when you include the base preparation required for it work correctly.
Choosing an edging for your driveway can make a huge difference to the overall look of your driveway as it can make the paving stand out and make it more defined.
Edging kerbs are available which are the standard grey, cement colour. The paving range is called block paving kerbs and are available in the most common colours of Charcoal, Brindle and Grey. With block paving kerbs, you can have a rounded front, an angled front or a square look to your paving. You can read more about the types of driveway edges here.
On your driveway or patio are you might have an inspection chamber (manhole cover), which if you are block paving, you really should replace with a recessed inspection chamber. They allow you to sit the block paving into the cover which stops the inspection chamber standing out on your driveway.
Another factor to consider when you are having block paving laid at your home in Dublin, is what type of border and any paving features you want to insert on your driveway. A border is required on every block paving job to allow the paving to be cut cleanly. Without a border there is no edge to cut the block paving into.
Generally, you should use a different colour for your border as it will make the paving stand out and enhance the pattern of it. It is normally laid in a stretcher bond around the entire area. Any paving patterns you are inserting on the driveway should be done with a matching colour so it has come colour coordination.
Now all of the above options you can go through with a builder’s yard or supplier, however, most of the time do not have the experience to give you an exact breakdown of what will suit you. This is why when you are choosing to have Dublin paving installed, we recommend finding a local paving contractor in Dublin who can give you a proper estimate by visiting your property and assessing it.
They should go through with your options on the types and styles of paving including the required preparation and provide you with samples and examples of previous work that they completed using the same type of paving they have installed on driveways in Dublin.
Always get a few quotes but above all, make sure you choose your paving company by reputation, quality of work and how long its in business. Just because you get a cheaper quote from another company doesn’t mean you will get the same job done.
An adequately installed block paved driveway or patio should easily last you the average guarantee period of 5 years before you have any problems. We recommend yearly maintenance on your block paving to ensure it stays in good condition.
During your maintenance of it, if you have power washed it, make sure to top up your block paving joints with fresh Kiln Dried Sand which you can purchase from a builder’s yard in County Dublin.
If you would like to know more, you can view the different types of paving with standard concrete, clay pavers and natural stone.
Select Paving is your best option for installing Tobermore paving in Dublin. Over 20 years of experience installing paving products like Tegula, Roma, Shannon, Pedesta and Retro. We are experts at installing Tobermore paving products in a range of stylish options in Dublin.
5-YEAR GUARANTEE ON OUR INSTALLATIONS
We can install all the Paving flag products from Tobermore creating beautiful garden and patio areas throughout the Co. Dublin area. Create a rustic, traditional, modern or contemporary patio easily using Tobermore paving products.
Tobermore paving makes a great addition to any driveway in Dublin. We recommend using them as they provide a long-term product guarantee, and their materials are produced according to industry-approved standards.
Select Paving ARE equipped to handle any sized PAVING AREA. NO JOB TO SMALL OR LARGE .....
The main advantage of having Tobermore paving installed rather than tarmac or concrete is that individual blocks can later be lifted up and replaced should they become damaged in any way, rather than having the whole driveway re-done.
By adding Tobermore paving to your home in Dublin, which has been installed by Select Paving, you can increase your home's value, enhance your home's outlook and have a functional driveway.
If you live in Dublin and want a Tobermore brick or block paved driveway installed at your home, call Select Paving for a free no, obligation quotation. All work is overseen and handled directly by us. No 3rd party is involved at any stage.
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Select Paving provides affordable and quality installations of gravel driveways in Dublin. We source only the best quality gravel stones to give our customers the best choice in gravel stone colours.
We are experts at designing and installing gravel driveways to suit any outdoor area, ranging from standard gravel driveways to gravel flower beds, gravel drainage areas and gravel pathways.
Gravel driveways can be installed quickly, cost less than paving (huge savings on larger areas), and is a permeable driveway. Hence, surface water is never a problem and provided its maintained once in a while can last for many years to come.
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If you are looking for a low-cost alternative for your driveway or patio area, we highly recommend using pea shingle or gravel. The installation of gravel, including the material cost is significantly cheaper, especially on larger areas like open driveways.
The gravel itself can vary mainly in size and colour. We can provide samples so you can get a feel for the right colour and stone size for your home.
It will enhance the look of any house when it is done right. You can combine it with paving blocks or use a paving border as a restraint to give it an added effect.
Select Paving ARE equipped to handle any size DRIVEWAY AREA. NO JOB TOO SMALL OR LARGE .....
Some owners prefer a smooth surface as an entrance to the house so we provide an option where you can gravel the driveway and directly in front of the house, We can insert a nice paving area to split the gravel area and allow a clean and smooth entrance to the house. For inspiration, you can learn more about gravel stone and/or see examples of gravel driveway installations.
If you live in Dublin and want a gravel driveway installed at your home, call Select Paving for a free no, obligation quotation. All work is overseen and handled directly by us. No 3rd party is involved at any stage.
Select Paving offers a wide range of fencing and brickwork to all our clients in Dublin.
We install both brickwork and fencing at Select Paving. We offer a wide of finishes with both products. Sometimes depending on the situation we would advise one over the other. For example. if you are in need of some privacy from your neighbours and its not in an area that would be danger of high cross-winds, a standard wooden panel fence will do the job fine.
If your driveway or patio is to be laid on a slope or will need to be retained we would recommend a retaining wall to ensure its solidity. A wall or decorative fencing can really be used to high effect when it comes to boundary lines. A masonry wall looks exceedingly well on the front boundary of your property.
A brick wall can be used in the same method and maybe capping it off with a lovely brick edge or coping would really bring it life. You can even combine both brickwork and fencing. A lower brick line with a decorative panel on top!
All the brickwork and fencing that we install are done to the highest standards possible. We will insert new footings if the existing footings are not of the required standard for our work. All our fence work comes fully treated and we can optionally paint the panels if its required. Call now for more details.
Select Paving comes equipped to handle any size project in erecting perimeter walls, fencing or any type of brickwork. We have a skilled team capable of bringing any vision to life. We can handle all styles of brickwork including masonry walls. A wall or decorative fencing can really be used to high effect when it comes to boundary lines. A masonry wall looks exceedingly well on the front boundary of your property. A brick wall can be used in the same method and maybe capping it off with a lovely brick edge or coping would really bring it life.
FENCING
Call us now to avail of our fencing and brickwork skills. We wont be beaten on price, quality or reliability.
BRICKWORK
At Select Paving we offer a wide range of tarmac choices. From asphalt to tarmac, red or black. With block borders or with concrete edge restraints. The style of finishing of your tarmac driveway is your choice.
We aim to make sure that your happy with the finish. Tarmac can be installed on a completely new area or used to cover an existing tarmac or concrete driveway.
Excavate the total area to the required depth and remove all waste from the site.
Excavations are generally undertaken using the correct machines and the work undertaken is to excavate the required area to the correct depth dependant on the specification being used, however there are many specifications for different applications, generally, domestic driveways excavate the virgin ground to a depth of 225mm for new applications.
Install required edging /kerb stones bedded on and backed with concrete.
There are many different types of driveway edging; however, all edgings should be laid using the same specification, for domestic applications it is advised to lay them on a bed of 100mm of concrete and haunched both back and front with concrete for added support. We take care in relation to the levels, and all edgings must be installed to the required falls and cross falls to assist water escape on the finished surface.
At this stage, the bordering and apron will be installed which will be set in concrete. This has to be set to a finished level so the new surface can come in flush with the bordering. For more information, you can visit our tarmac and asphalt bordering styles to see examples.
Treat the total area with weed killer and install a weed preventive and weight stabilising membrane to total area.
A suitable strength weed killer is sometimes used to ensure against re-growth and one which will kill through to the roots, We always use a suitable strength weed and weight stabilising membrane when constructing new driveways, one reason is to fully prevent weed growth and the weight stabilising properties will help to spread the weight of any vehicular traffic, ultimately giving a much stronger driveway surface.
Lay required depth of the crushed foundation to form falls, and cross falls to assist water escape machine rolled.
Dependant on the required specification generally for domestic driveway applications 150-200mm of a certified MOT-type crushed limestone or equivalent material should be used and is compacted using the right weight of compactor, generally this would be a twin drum ride on the roller. When we are laying the crushed hardcore we take into consideration the levels for the proposed water escape are in place to prevent any ponding when the driveway is complete.
Adjust all iron works to the required levels.
Ironwork relates to manhole chambers, water/gas stop tap boxes etc. The iron works are adjusted in height to the required finish surface level suiting the relevant falls and cross falls to assist water escape, the work would involve adjusting the height by means of hiring /lowering where required on a sand and cement mix with suitable spacing materials/ packing pieces as required.
Lay to total area required specification of binder and surface course tarmacadam machine rolled.
Again depending on proposed usage the specification can differ for different applications; generally, the specification for a domestic driveway would be 50mm of 20mm binder course tarmacadam and 25mm of 6mm surface course tarmacadam both materials would be laid to the required area, and machine rolled using the required weight of the roller.
Tar all joints to seal where new surface meets surrounding surfaces with hot pored bitumen.
Sealing the joints where the new surface meets with surrounding surfaces helps prevent any deterioration of the joint and also to protect against ingress of water and or any other adverse weather conditions, the sealing process is achieved by over banding the joint with a bituminous material and can be applied both hot or cold.
The above is used to surface in tarmacadam to a full specification generally for new installations on the virgin ground for drives, footpaths, roads and play areas; however, their required usage would depend on the type and depth of materials used. Learn about the different types of tarmacadam, tarmac and asphalt products. Check out our Dublin tarmac driveway pages for more information.
Select Paving and its team are trained to handle any sized patio project. We offer a huge variety of color, patterns and construction options to cover all your needs. Have a look through our gallery and if you are looking for something specific, don't hesitate to call us.
We are happy to help with any questions. We are here for you from start to finish of your patio or garden area. Select Paving. The patio company you can trust in Dublin. For more information on the types of patios that we can install, check out our patio services page.
Select Paving are patio contractors in Dublin. We provide a range of patio services that include all types of patio installations and repairs.
Get a free quotation on installing everything from natural stone to patios to paved patio areas and custom-tailored garden areas at your home in Dublin.
Choosing a patio can be a confusing prospect. Between the types of patios, the styling of it and the overall function of the patio has to be taken into consideration, along with the size of the area.
Select Paving has over 20 years of experience in helping customers choose the right patios for their homes in Dublin. Just check out some of our reviews to hear what previous clients say.
Our work is constantly reviewed to ensure that the quality of work never drops from the highest of standards that is expected of us. Along with standard patios, we offer options on porcelain tiled patios, limestone patio installations, and granite patios.
5 YEAR GUARANTEE ON OUR INSTALLATIONS
25 YEAR MANUFACTURER BACKED GUARANTEE*
To help you choose the right patio, we can provide you with samples of various natural and manufactured products to help you choose the perfect finish for your patio.
Our 5-year guarantee backs all our patio installations, and depending on your choice, the flagstones or slabbing will also be covered by a long-term manufacturer guarantee.
Select Paving ARE equipped to handle any size PATIO AREA. NO JOB TO SMALL OR LARGE .....
Every one of our patios in Dublin is designed exclusively to customer requirements. Our free consultation will provide you with various ideas and options for your patio area.
If you live in Dublin and want a patio installed at your home, call Select Paving for a free no, obligation quotation. All work is overseen and handled directly by us. No 3rd party is involved at any stage.
After your new driveway paving or patio has been allowed to settle in for a few weeks, it would be a good time to hose down to remove any excess dirt or sand (Especially if it has not been raining much). Make sure to leave it dry first before brushing sand back into the joints.
Your new block paving can have an impregnator applied which helps which penetrates the paving forming a barrier against fading and moss growth whilst enhancing colour and appearance. Paving area must be free from any stains or dirt before you apply a paving sealer. We recommend waiting a couple of months before using any type of paving sealer. Call us for advice before you undertake this task. All our previous clients benefit from a 40% discount when we are called back in to seal a driveway!
Sweeping the paving on your patio area or driveway on a regular basis is recommended to maintain the appearance of your driveway or patio. The average build-up of dirt can be easily removed using a hose and a sweeping brush. If you decide to use a power wash, we recommend sweeping jointing sand between the joints of the paving after cleaning, as a power wash will remove the kiln-dried sand from the paving joints.
This requires normal brushing using a generous solution of hot water and washing up liquid, cleaning it off with lots of clean water. Shaded areas may require repeated treatments. Heavy growth of moss or algae will need to be removed by first applying a paving cleaner (We can give advice on the best options). It needs to be applied to a dry paving surface, the solution can take several days to take full effect. Having your paving area sealed can stop the growth of weeds, grass, algae. It can also enhance the colour, reduce surface porosity and is much easier to maintain in the future.
Areas with traffic will have have very little or no weed growth as it prevents weeds from rooting up. 9 out of 10 times, the weeds that grow from your paving come from lawn seeds falling into the sand joints between the paving. Make sure to brush your paving if you have a lawn near your paving and it has been cut. If you do have weed growth, it easily tackled by using a recommended weed killer solution from garden centres or merchants. Areas to be treated should have larger weeds removed by hand before applying the solution.
This is the appearance of white stains of the surface of the paving blocks (can be seen on freshly done brickwork as well). This is neither a manufacturing problem, materials defect or an installation fault. It is a natural occurring phenomenon in the concrete caused by calcium hydroxide reacting with carbon dioxide in the air. It may seem to disappear when the paving is wet, but the efflorescence salts will return again when the paving dries.
Be reassured, efflorescence does not affect the paving and will generally disappear over time. Depending on the weather conditions and location, it can disappear anywhere between a month to a year. Once it does naturally disappear, it will be stay gone from your paving.
You can learn about the different types of block paving and how we install our block paving on driveways.
If you are interested in having your driveway done by professionals who will help you step by step throughout your driveway project, check out our paving services for more information.
Select Paving are experts at installing tarmac driveways in Dublin. We provide an affordable and professional tarmacadam service throughout the Dublin area. Select Paving are tarmac contractors that have provided a tarmac service for over 20 years in the area.
At Select Paving, we offer a wide range of tarmac choices. From asphalt to tarmac and tarmacadam, red or black. With block borders or with concrete edge restraints. The style of finishing of your tarmac driveway is your choice.
We aim to make sure that you're happy with the finish. Tarmac and asphalt can be installed on an entirely new area or used to cover an existing tarmac or concrete driveway.
5-YEAR GUARANTEE ON OUR INSTALLATIONS
We can provide you with multiple choices on installation ranging from style to combinations of materials. Here is a list of some of the surfacing options covered by Select Paving, your local friendly tarmac contractor in Dublin.
Tar and Chip, Tarmacadam, Re-surfacing, Private roads, Tennis courts, Tarmac driveways, Bitumen Driveways and Asphalt surfacing. The finish of your tarmac driveway will depend on the size of the chipping picked. Check out our tarmac process laying process for installing our tarmac and asphalt, view our tarmac bordering styles and visit our completed projects to get ideas for tarmac driveways.
Select Paving ARE equipped to handle any size tarmac AREA. NO JOB TO SMALL OR LARGE .....
By adding a tarmac driveway to your home in Dublin, which has been installed by Select Paving, you can increase the value of your home, enhance the outlook of your home and have a functional driveway for many years to come.
If you live in Dublin and want a tarmac driveway installed at your home, call Select Paving for a free no, obligation quotation. All work is overseen and handled directly by us. No 3rd party is involved at any stage.
