We would recommend you have the concrete driveway resealed every 2 to 3 years, especially for the first reseal. Patios should be resealed every 3 years.

There are 20 main colours, but this can be mixed and match in any combination you require, making the colour possibilities in the hundreds.

There are 8 main patterns, but like the colours can be laid in any style or design you desire.

The concrete is laid on a bed of MOT type 1(clean limestone), the concrete is laid to a thickness of approximately 100mm.

There can be a lot of dust depending on the weather, but it is normally concentrated to the area we are working, all areas are cleaned using a mild detergent and a pressure wash.

Pattern imprinted concrete is very low maintenance and will keep its looks for many many years by following 3 simple rules, The first step is not a necessity; it is an option if you like your drive to look its best all year round. 1: wash you drive. Wet your drive, this can be done with a hose pipe or pressure washer, it is easier and quicker done on a damp day, plus you will use less water. Apply mild detergent (washing up liquid or TFR) brush on and wash off, it’s as simple as that. 2: Reseal your drive. This is a very important part of keeping you drive in top quality condition. We recommend a reseal every 2 years for drives and 3-4 years for patios. We can do the maintenance for you or you may do it yourself. 3: In frost and snowy conditions. We strongly urge everybody who has pattern imprinted concrete NOT to use rock salt, this product can seriously damage your concrete sometimes beyond repair. There are other products on the market these days to help with the winter conditions, one particular product that we have found is called ENVIRO THAW.

No, all imprinted concrete needs maintaining. To keep your imprinted concrete looking its best, we recommend washing the concrete 2-3 times a year with mild detergent, washing up liquid is fine, we use TFR (traffic film remover). As described below reseals are very important in protecting your concrete, this is inexpensive and can be done by the customer or ourselves.

We do everything possible to prevent cracking, an expansion line is cut into the concrete surface to relieve the stress, however if cracks do appear they should not cause any problems.

We cut lines into the concrete to control the possibilities of cracking, this is a British Standard Board requirement to relieve the stress on the concrete.

Yes, there are many different types of concrete for many different applications. We however use a fibre enriched concrete at a strength of 35 Newton’s.

Yes, we are controlled by weather conditions, and cannot lay concrete in rain or extreme cold or hot spells. I hope we have covered any questions or concerns you may have regarding pattern imprinted concrete. If you have any further queries please don’t hesitate to contact me. Mobile is usually best 07866 729 966 or email paul@peakuk.net

Regards Paul Morris

Your new macadam surface properly care for will give you many years of service. The aftercare tips have been written up to help you look after your macadam surface and help with problems should they arise. Your new drive is made from a mixture of hard aggregate bound together with bitumen, a flexible black waterproof substance derived from crude oil. There are many types of macadam and asphalt surface courses available, the more common being Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA), dense or close – graded Bituminous Macadam (DBM) and Hot Rolled Asphalt (HRA). Some of these are stronger and more durable than others but the same basic principles apply to looking after all of them. Most macadam we lay is black, as I am sure you are aware black absorbs heat in sunny weather and the surface becomes quite hot. Under such conditions the bitumen binding agent becomes softer, the surface becomes more prone to scuffing from tyres and indentation from point loading from ladders and the like. It is sensible to take care not to overstress the surface in hot weather particularly by sharp turning of wheels with power steering when your vehicle is not moving, this can distress the surface. This is particularly important in the early curing stages (first twelve months) when the macadam looks black and shiny and prone to soften. As it ages the surface will turn grey and the material will harden and the risk of damage will be much less. It is however wise to remember that there is always a risk of such damage in very hot conditions. Whilst scuffing damage may give you concern, it is only superficial and will largely disappears as the surface weathers into a uniform appearance. This is more common with south facing projects where the surface retains heat for longer periods of time. Bitumen bound surfaces are resistant to occasional oil droppings but can be softened and damaged by significant oil, petroleum and solvent based spillages if left in contact with the asphalt will dissolve into the bitumen binder and soften it. Where oil spillages have occurred, the best course of action is to soak up the oil before it has time to damage the surface. Use the best available material close to hand, cat litter, sawdust, dry sand, paper or cloth. If the oil has already penetrated the asphalt you should protect the surface from stress and give the contaminant time to evaporate away. With petrol this will be very rapid unlike diesel fuel and oil which can take several months to evaporate but should eventually return to normal. Such spillages will leave marks which should diminish with time. Great care should be taken trying to wash such marks away especially with a pressure washer as this could wash away the asphalt itself. If an oil or petrol spillage has occurred, apply water to the area with a hose pipe and as the oil floats on the surface of the water you should see rainbow colours appearing, this is the oil lifting out of the macadam surface. You will need to carry out this procedure until the rainbow colouring diminishes. Where appropriate, it may be recommended to wash the surface with luke warm water and a brush. Alternative cleaning products are available from DIY stores but it should be noted that water – based solutions are preferred and a small discrete area should be tested before treating larger areas. If chemicals such as gardening products have been spilled onto the surface care should be taken to read the guidelines on the bottle regarding dilution. In most cases simply washing the surface with lots of water is recommended. The jockey wheel of trailers and caravans and the feet of ladders concentrate a large load over a small area and can give rise to indentations on the macadam surface. Protecting these vulnerable areas with a block of wood or a sheet of plywood to spread the load over a larger area is recommended. If weeds are present before a new macadam surface in laid, these will be excavated out and weed killer applied before installation commences. We do our very best to remove all weeds, however it is not always possible kill the most stubborn of weeds such as docks, dandelions and especially mares tail. I hope I have covered any questions or concerns you may have regarding your new macadam surface. However if you do have any other queries please feel free to email me or just give me a call.

Regards Paul Morris