Guides for homeowners

Block paving vs resin vs tarmac: which driveway is right for youTarmac is the cheapest, resin is smooth and permeable on the right base, and block paving costs most but is the easiest to repair; the base underneath matters more than the surface. Do I need planning permission for a driveway?Most house driveways need no planning permission if the front is permeable or drains onto your own land, but flats, listed buildings, classified roads and Article 4 areas change the answer. Fence facing a road: the 1m ruleA fence, wall or gate adjacent to a highway used by vehicles, including its pavement, is limited to 1m without planning permission; corner plots and visibility splays are where most problems start. How high can a garden fence be?In England a garden fence can be up to 2m high without planning permission, including any trellis on top, and 1m where it is next to a road used by vehicles. How to get a dropped kerbA dropped kerb needs the highway authority's consent before any work, a site assessment and usually a contractor the council has accredited; apply before you build the driveway. How to measure your drivewayMultiply length by width for each rectangle of the drive, add them up, and note the existing surface, slope, covers and where rainwater goes. How to measure your garden for a fence quoteMeasure each fence run along the boundary, note the height, slope, gates and what needs removing, and take a few photos; that is enough for an accurate price range. The 5m² rule: permeable paving and front gardens explainedIn England, new front-garden paving over 5m² must be permeable or drain onto a lawn, border or soakaway within the property, or it needs planning permission. Who owns the fence? Left, right and the deedsFence ownership comes from the deeds and any referenced T-marks, not from left-or-right rules or which way the posts face; if the deeds are silent, treat it as shared and agree it in writing. Why cheap driveways fail: sub-base, edge restraint and drainageCheap driveways usually fail underneath: too little sub-base, no membrane, no proper edges and nowhere for water to go; doorstep "leftover tarmac" offers are the worst case.