- Prepare the sub-base The driveway company will excavate, or dig, the existing surface down to a depth of around 200mm. They will remove any debris from the area may place it in a skip or arrange for it to be removed in another way. When they dig down to the sub-base of your previous driveway, they will assess how much hardcore they need and arrange for that to be delivered to the site. They will then spread the hardcore across the sub-base to create a level surface to pour the concrete on. Most good contractors will apply a gel to any walls and doors to protect them from concrete splashes. They will also add any gulley tops, manhole covers or shuttering that’s required.
- Installation and imprinting Next, the tradespeople will have the concrete either poured from a large mixer vehicle or barrow it in from a mixer and pour onto the surface. They level it with rakes, then add a colour surface hardener in a colour of your choice. This will give the driveway its permanent colour. They will then wait until the concrete has hardened to the correct consistency for imprinting the pattern, then will use special tools and stencils to make the pattern that you asked for. They will then spread a colour powder called a release agent over the surface, and leave to dry for 1 to 2 days depending on the weather conditions.
- Cleaning When the contractors return, they will add crack control cuts into the concrete. This is important because concrete expands and contracts in the heat, so there needs to be some give to stop any larger cracks from forming. Then everything is power washed clean, and a chemical wash is also used on the concrete to ensure it’s completely dust-free. The installers will ensure all your walls and doors are clean, which will hopefully be an easy job if they used wall gel.
- Sealing The final step is to seal the driveway. There needs to have been at least two dry days before the tradespeople can do it, so you might find it’s best to have your pattern imprinted driveway installed in the summer. The contractors will blow any debris away from the surface and dry any damp areas where necessary. They will then add an anti-slip agent to the sealant and brush it on. It’s best to not walk or drive onto your new concrete driveway for about 4 days after sealing to allow everything to set. But after that, you’re ready to use your new driveway!
Berriedale
Berriedale is a little estate village on the northern east coastline of Caithness, Scotland, on the A9 road between Helmsdale and Lybster, near the boundary in between Caithness and Sutherland. It is protected from the North Sea. The village has a parish church in the Church of Scotland. Just south of Berriedale, en route to the north, the A9 passes the Berriedale Braes, a high drop in the landscape (brae is a Scots word for hill, a borrowing of the Scottish Gaelic bràighe). The road drops down steeply (13% over 1,3 km) to connect a river, before rising once more (13% over 1,3 kilometres), with a number of sharp bends in the roadway-- although some of the hairpin bends and also various other neighboring gradients have actually been relieved in recent years. The impracticality (as well as price) of connecting the Berriedale Braes prevented the building of the Inverness-Wick Far North Line along the east coast of Caithness; instead the train runs inland via the Flow Country. Berriedale is located at the end of the eighth stage of the coastal John o' Groats Trail.
