Driveways in Derby
Tradesmart Driveways & Landscaping
Professional Driveway Services in Derby
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Welcome to Tradesmart Driveways & Landscaping, Derby's number one driveway installer!
We are proud to be a family run business that has been around for over 20 years. We have a team of locally trained, time-served craftspeople, allowing us to completely transform Derby homeowners' driveways.
No job is too big or too small for our talented team, whether it's a full dig out, an overlay, a patch job, we can do it in record time and to amazing standards, while remaining fair on price.
Outdoor spaces often get neglected, but we believe it's important to make these areas look great, as they elevate the rest of your property, and first impressions matter!
Throughout our website, you will find an array of recent projects, from classic, timeless designs to modern, stunning driveway landscapes.
With driveways being our speciality, all the relevant surfaces are within our scope, we provide resin, tarmac, block paving, concrete, and gravel.
We're proud to be based in the wonderful city of Derby, allowing local homeowners to stop worrying about cracks or weeds coming through their front entrance! With our services, the finishes can resist UV rays, they're anti-slip, some are maintenance-free, and all work comes with a 10-year guarantee.
Our Driveway Services in Derby
We are driveway specialists in the Derby area, our team is motivated to provide the best products and services in the local area.
Resin Driveways
We are the leading resin driveway installers in Derby, with our beautiful resin surfaces, we're able to guarantee that lifespan won't be an issue! All our resin drives come with a guarantee (10 years), and our hands-on team always deliver the highest level of service, using the best materials available to us, from Daltex and Vuba. The process leaves you with a porous finish, base, and sub-base. Resin is not the cheapest option available, but it's by far the best. It will outlast other options by decades while requiring almost no maintenance.
Tarmac Driveways
We are the best tarmac driveway installer in Derby, with our experienced team, the surface will last for decades while requiring very minimal maintenance. The design for tarmac is simple and sleek - it's not designed to stand out or look incredible, it's just a cost-efficient and smart way to do your drive or any other surface area. We have local suppliers who provide us with great prices, allowing us to be very competitive with our own pricing. If you like something that won't break the bank but still looks good, this is the option for you.
Block Paving Driveways
We pride ourselves on being outstanding block paving installers in Derby. We have installed block paving driveways forever, it's our bread and butter. This option is among the most cost-effective to surface any outdoor space, and it also looks outstanding. Although maintenance is higher than with tarmac and resin, sometimes the lower cost and aesthetic appeal makes it worthwhile. Professional maintenance services can be offered to keep these surfaces looking fresh and clean all-year-round, although this is not required to keep the structural aspects in check.
Our Story - Derby's leading driveway professionals
We have been driveway professionals for over 20 years
We are a well-established and well-known company in the local area, our team has over 20 years of hands-on experience, and we take extreme pride in our work. We're not thinking about "banging a job out quickly" or cutting any corners, we care about the final result, and the satisfaction that our customers get from seeing everything done properly - nothing rushed or improvised.
From working in the industry so long, we know a lot about what is required to install the perfect driveway - whether it's the excavation process, base build-up, or final surface, we've been through the motions hundreds of times.
A lot of big or new companies are interested in turning jobs over quickly and making as much profit as humanly possible. This takes away from the main goal in the driveway & landscaping industry - doing the job properly and making sure it lasts for decades. We're not worried about spending an extra day on a job, or buying extra materials to make sure every detail is perfectly executed.
Driveway Benefits with Tradesmart Driveways & Landscaping
When installed to high standards, professional driveway services are extremely valuable and can significantly improve your property.
How many colours are available for driveways?
With a wide range of surfaces, we can offer up to 200 different driveway colours. Whether it's with resin bound, tarmac, or block paving. The colours and combinations are endless, all homes can be brightened up with a new drive.
How long will a new driveway last?
If built from the ground up and to a high standard, you can easily expect to get 20 to 30 years from it - sometimes more, depending on materials. Workmanship and quality materials are key here, if not properly executed, some driveways can start crumbling within a year or two! Look for quality reviews and trusted suppliers.
What maintenance is required with a new drive?
This massively depends on the material you choose, surfaces like resin are virtually maintenance free, you'd hardly need to touch them to keep them looking great. Tarmac is also pretty easy to maintain. However, block paving and gravel need regular maintenance to avoid weed growth.
Does a new driveway increase property value?
Absolutely. A brand-new driveway makes a massive difference for prospective buyers. Imagine trying to sell your house with a messy & discoloured driveway that full of weeds. It's not ideal and will definitely impact the property value. We do recommend the more cost-effective options like tarmac or block paving if you're looking to sell the property soon.
What is the most eco-friendly driveway?
Resin bound driveways are the most eco-friendly, they are built from recycled materials, and they also allow the water to drain through naturally. This means no natural resources are utilised and they help to prevent flooding.
What different driveway designs are there?
With a multitude of different materials, the design options are endless when you go with Tradesmart Driveways & Landscaping. From colourful resin driveways to sleek tarmacadam finishes, there is a lot to choose from. Your type of property and desired outcome are usually the determining factors.
Our Exact Driveway Process
FIRST CONTACT
You may reach us through the website or through one of our social media channels, either way we aim to respond within 24 hours.
FREE HOME VISIT
We do a full home visit for all job enquiries, including measurements, groundworks assessment, running through all the products, and providing a written quotation.
AGREEMENT
If our quotation is accepted, you will be given a descriptive floor plan including all works that will take place at the property, ensuring all details are covered and agreed on.
PREP WORK
The preparation phase is critical, and we take it very seriously. The proper sub-base and base is required to create a long-lasting result. This is also the most expensive part of the whole process, which is why some companies don't complete it to the full specification. We spend extra time on this phase to ensure everything is done properly and built to last.
FINISHED SURFACE
Once the site is prepared, we can get onto laying the resin bound surface. This involves very intricate timings and amounts for the mixing of the resin and aggregate. We make sure everything is planned out to the T so that mixes are installed immediately. We also over-order slightly on resin/aggregate to make sure we never run out halfway before the job is fully completed, avoiding ugly "joins".
CURING TIME
Curing times vary depending on products, but we recommend a minimum of 48 hours for tarmac, ideally closer to 5 days, before driving on it. Block paving is fine after 48 hours. For resin, we recommend a minimum of 72 hours, 5-7 days is even better. It's vital to respect these drying times, otherwise you could have issues with the driveway pretty quickly. Light foot traffic is fine on tarmac and resin after 12 hours and after 3-4 hours for block paving.
Our Checkatrade Reviews
"Resin driveway", DE21
10/10
"Micheal came with all the samples needed to show us what we wanted. Advised us in lots of ways. Was polite And knowledgable. Was punctual and polite always as was all the men he employs. The work was done to a high standard from start to finish. Highly recommend. Thank you so much just love the drive now."
"Highly recommend", DE23
10/10
"Can’t thank Michael and his team enough. Fantastic service, super fast and friendly team. Our drive has been transformed. Brilliant. Thank you."
"Patio & new driveway", DE23
10/10
"Michael was very helpful, punctual when he came to give me a quote. The work he & his team carried out for me has transformed my patio & driveway. Would highly recommend him to anyone"
"Driveway, Path, Patio transforming my property", DE21
10/10
"Michael came and visited and provided a quotation. Still undecided, we asked if he would be able to show us the materials that would be used. He came back and showed us what our concept would look like. He was extremely patient and nothing was to much trouble. We booked a slot . The team turned up on time and began to work with professionalism and diligence The team had impeccable manners and worked non stop throughout. The work has been completed to an extremely high standard. The team treated the job with pride I am delighted I chose them and highly recommended. Honest hardworking, thank you"
"Complete garden makeover", DE22
10/10
"Michael and his team did a wonderful job. They paved my large patio area, laid artificial lawns front and rear, made aggregate borders around d the lawns and created a beautiful resin drive. All the extensive preparation work was carried out meticulously and the end result Is beautiful. I am much more than happy with the end result and would recommend Tadesmart Drveways and Landscaping to everyone. You couldn't get a better job. Took about a month because of dreadful weather!"
"Paving Specialist", DE23
10/10
"I looked at 4 local paving specialists as a comparison of both cost and who I felt the most comfortable would be reliable, professional, and confident of a quality final outcome. Tradesmart came round, was a good communicator in an easy non-salesy way, we discussed options, looked at samples and was quick to re-visit with more samples the next day. We decided on block paving, but also consider resin and tarmac. The job was started and completed on the days it was booked for. The final result looks fantastic, the team worked very hard, always checked with me on all the small decisions and coms."
How much does a driveway cost in Derby?
Generally, we say to customers that driveways cost between £2,000 and £10,000 - that's for standard driveways holding anywhere from 1 to 4 cars.
For larger projects, the cost per square meter would usually range from £100 to £150 for full excavation jobs, or £50-£100 per square meter if no excavation or base work is required. This means large-scale jobs generally cost from £10,000 to £40,000.
Optional extras such as borders, recessed manhole covers, lighting, dropped kerbs, and grading can add to the cost.
Please contact us directly to get an accurate price on your driveway.
Frequently Asked Driveway Questions
How much does a driveway cost?
As mentioned above in more detail, driveways generally cost between £2,000 and £10,000 if they are a normal size (1-4 cars).
How are driveways installed?
Every material has a unique installation process, however, the following 3-step process is generally applicable.
Step 1: Excavate existing areas and remove of waste responsibly at a local recycling plant.
Step 2: Prepare the sub-base, base, and edging restraints with adequate depths and materials. Certified Type 1 MOT is commonly used as a sub-base for most driveways.
Step 3: Apply the final surface to the correct depths and leave the area to dry as required.
What is the best between resin and tarmac?
We get this question all the time! It all comes down to price… Resin prices have got significantly more reasonable in recent years, since more installers and suppliers have come about. That said, resin is still more expensive than tarmac because it is a superior product, whether it's the finished surface of the specification of the basework. Resin also looks better in most peoples' opinion.
However, tarmac is a tried and tested method which does not fail, it does exactly what it says on the tin - lasts a long time, looks clean and sleek, doesn't cost as much as resin.
Can you give me a quote on the phone?
Sometimes, yes. If you have the full measurements, desired product, and required basework, we can indeed get you a price on the phone.
However, for anything within a 50-mile radius of Derby, we will happily drive out and see the job in person so that we can do an in-depth survey and find out exactly which option will suit you best.
What affects the price of a new driveway?
The excavation and preparation work is by far the biggest factor to consider. For example, you could plesantly surprised when finding out that a 15-year old, dull concrete driveway is actually a perfectly suitable base for a resin bound driveway, and the total cost (in this scenario), would be cheaper than installing block paving, seeing as it would save a lot of excavation, waste removal, and base work.
Before & After Resin Transformation
This is a great illustration of the transformational power of a resin driveway.
The driveway is what you see when you first arrive, after all.
Your property's overall look can be significantly improved by a stunning driveway.
There is something for every type of home, whether it is modern or traditional, with more than 100 colours to pick from.
You can either make your driveway stand out or blend in with the rest of the neighbourhood.
Our Favourite Driveway Colours
Sienna - Resin
Beautiful oranges, reds, and browns are all present in Sienna.
The stones are naturally round, though some are angular, and the atmosphere is cozy and welcoming.
Gunmental Grey - Tarmac or Resin
The naturally rounded stones in Gunmental Grey, some of which are angular, really draw the eye.
There are both light and dark greys in this blend.
Titan Silver - Resin Bound
Titan silver is aesthetically pleasing and contemporary.
There are angular silver stones scattered throughout the mixture.
Tradesmart Driveways & Landscaping Blog
