Designing a new driveway in Gerrards Cross
Karl and the team have designed and professionally landscaped a front of house scheme. With materials that work harmoniously with the character project to include retaining wall with handrail, new drive, planting and lighting. The existing drive has been more than doubled in size to create a huge welcome to the property. This driveway landscaping in Gerrards Cross was completed in 8 weeks in some of the most difficult weather in recent years.
The client said “Its amazing, as before the house was hidden by the overgrown hedge and it was a bit of a mess. It looks so welcoming now and it’s opened it right up, we love it”
Designing a new drive and front garden
A comprehensive site survey which took reference from the many changes in elevation allowed for the creativity to begin. The widening of the drive was the easy consideration, the challenge was the steps and retaining walls.
The materials were new but reclaimed looking bricks, porcelain paving and block paving in an autumnal colour palette.
Landscaping the front garden
By adopting the Industry Best practice for the drive construction based on BS5733-101 the construction was designed for up to category 3 traffic. The retaining walls were built after consultation from a local Structural Engineer who specified the structure. 15 tonnes of ready pour concrete and hundreds of concrete blocks stitched together with the appropriate reinforcing made for a structure to outlive all others. A soak away to accept the discharged water from the drainage is hidden under the drive. The drainage was fully test by the appropriate “percolation” test, which of course it passed.
Karl said “The team call it the Jewson job as they (Jewson) supplied almost all of the materials”
Lighting a driveway
The lighting had to be something that illuminated the drive in a wash of warm white. It kept the steps and general space safe at night and gave a welcoming look the property. The step arrangement also included lighting to the sides in the same style.
Planting a front garden driveway
The hedge to the right side of the drive proved to be worth saving and only required minor additions to offer ground cover. The immediate left raised planting area was evergreen hedging and shrubs with the minor edition of hardy flowering perennials. The clients roses were retained and replanted after the main works and as a result look resplendent beautiful.
The landscaping detail
To highlight the amounts, quantities and volumes these are the materials both removed and imported to the project.
Total excavation 128 tonnes
Concrete footings 14 cubic metres
Concrete blocks 720
Bricks 3500
Block paving 120 sqm
In all, the project entailed over 175 tonnes of materials were excavated, removed, delivered and installed. The weather was horrific, from minus 7 through to plus 16 degrees, from bone dry to a monsoon and everything in between. The job took two weeks longer than expected because the weather was terrible. It didn’t cost the client a penny more either. Nevertheless, the team thoroughly enjoyed this one.
So, if you are searching for Driveway Landscaping in Gerrards Cross then you should give Karl a call. The team are based in Amersham and have provided a Garden design and Landscaping service since 2003.
