- 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!
Chathill
Chathill is a village in Northumberland, in England. It is situated about 9 miles (14 km) north of Alnwick and three miles (5 km) inland from the North Sea coast. Chathill is inside the parliamentary constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The village has a permanent population of under 10000 people. It is served by Chathill railway station. The station also serves the nearby villages of Seahouses, Embleton, Bamburgh and Belford. Though located on the East Coast Main Line, the station is served by just two arrivals and departures, Mondays to Saturdays, delivering commuting links to and from Newcastle upon Tyne. The station was for a lot of years served by loco-hauled stopping trains between Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed & Edinburgh Waverley (the British Rail timetable for 1982 had four departures each way from here), however these were reduced in frequency and, therefore, curtailed at Berwick by BR at the latter end of the 1980s and subsequently withdrawn altogether north of Chathill following the introduction of electric working on the ECML in 1991. Chathill is recognised as being home to Preston Pele Tower, which was built between 1392 and 1399. One of its former owners was Sir Guiscard Harbottle of Beamish, who was killed at the Battle of Flodden, the conflict in between the Kingdom of England and Scotland, who was also an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales. The tower features a clock, which was installed in 1864, and it features mechanisms comparable to Big Ben. For all your house upgrades, make sure that you use trustworthy experts in Chathill to ensure you get the most effective quality.
