Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are control joints cut into the driveway?
2. Can the product be installed all-year round?
3. How long must I stay of the new driveway?
4. How strong is the concrete?
5. How deep do you go down?
6. Is it a messy job?
7. How many colours and patterns are available?
8. How do I deal with accidental spillages?
9. How do I deal with accidental spillages?
10. Is it true P.I.C. is the best product on the market??
11. How long will my driveway last?
12. How long will it take to install?
13. I would like a quote for a new driveway, what do I
do next?
14. Is it necessary to have a skip outside my house?
15. How can I pay for my drive?
16. Do you do commercial work or is it just domestic?
17. Does the choice of Pattern and Colour affect the price?
18. Is P.I.C. more expensive than other products?
19. Why are no two drives the same?
20. Do you guarantee against cracking?
1. Why are control joints cut into the driveway?
British Standards recommend the introduction of control joints, thus allowing the expansion and contraction which naturally occurs in Cocrete during temperature change, the control joints absorb this movement and help to prevent the driveway from cracking.
2. Can the product be installed all-year round?
Yes with dry and warm conditions, the job will take between 3 – 5 days and, during winter, when it can be wet and damp, between 5 – 10 days.
3. How long must I stay of the new driveway?
Between 24 – 48 hours for pedestrian traffic, 6 days for cars (weather permitting), and 48-days for heavy goods vehicles. We will maintain foot access to your home at all times.
4. How strong is the concrete?
Concrete is the strongest product that can be used and is guaranteed to a minimum of 30 Newton’s, which is the same strength as used on motorways. All installation use concrete reinforced with fibre-mesh and air entailers for frost protection.
The actual driveway concrete is around 4 inches deep and the base between 5 – 8 inches.
You may experience some dust on the day the concrete is put down, however, all traces of chalk and dust are removed the following day using a pressure washer.
7. How many colours and patterns are available?
There are a large variety of colours, patterns and designs available and we will be happy to discuss these with you by offering an appointment to visit our showroom and see for yourself our office base and showsite. We can offer a large portfolio of photographs, large outdoor sample areas, and a large selection of colour concrete samples.
8. How do I deal with accidental spillages?
For most spillages including oil, washing up liquid is fine, however if it is paint or cement, call us on 01706 218111 and we will advise you.
9. Are there any do’s and don’ts?
Yes. Don’t apply salt to your driveway in icy conditions.
10. Is it true P.I.C. is the best product on the market?
Yes! If you have ever visited America or Europe you will notice the majority of the commercial work is P.I.C. because of its strength and durability and its all round superiority.
11. How long will my driveway last?
We give a 10 year structural guarantee on all our work, however we are confident that the re-inforced concrete will last a lifetime.
12. How long will it take to install?
In an ideal world an average installation should take 7-10 days from start to finish, weather permitting, but please see our ‘Installation’ page for more information.
13. I would like a quote for a new driveway, what do I do next?
Call us FREE on 0800 389 1455 and one of our office staff will be happy to arrange an appointment for you.
14. Is it necessary to have a skip outside my house?
No –we have a contract with a company who provide ‘grab’ wagons to remove all debris from site on the day of excavation ( in 99.999% of installations)
15. How can I pay for my drive?
We operate a stage payment system (which is used by the majority of reputable installers) these payments can be made by cash, cheque(yes we still accept them)debit card or credit card (we apply a small charge to credit card payments)
16. Do you do commercial work or is it just domestic?
We do both – we have carried out work for local councils, utility companies, insurance companies and builders, an example of our work can be seen at Golden Days Garden Centre, Back Lane, Standish just off Jct 27 M6.
17. Does the choice of Pattern and Colour affect the price?
Not at all – you can choose whatever Pattern and Colour you want, our only extra charges would be for acid etching as this work requires additional visits. See our Patterns and Colours for examples.
18. Is P.I.C. more expensive than other products?
It can be more expensive than other products but the long term benefit of being virtually maintenance free far out weigh these other products.
19. Why are no two drives the same?
The application of both the colour hardener and release by hand and the stomping of the mats to imitate the natural texture of your chosen pattern ensures that each drive is unique.
20. Do you guarantee against cracking?
No, no company be it an installer or even a ready mix concrete manufacturer such as ours, Bardons concrete and Hanson Premix, will ever guarantee against this, if they do they are lying to you and that should give you a great first impression. We are honest and upfront, and so we put an emphasis on this, we do however, more importantly use materials and practises in accordance with the Concrete Society (as we are full members of this Membership No 21001), which greatly reduce and minimise the risk of cracking such measures are, specialist prescribed concrete mix, laying on the best MOT hardcore with a slip membrane, depth and levelling of concrete, use of crack inducers in the installation procedure, wet cutting prior to setting, and many more reducing procedures. Please speak to our surveyor for further information, but remeber it may crack but it will NOT sink, spread, crumble or fail!
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Galleries
Let our Galleries be your source of inspiration. Includes images of show drives, circle features, patterns, colours, drainage and edging.