GRAND DESIGNS INSPIRING HOMES. How to build on a tricky plot 50 PAGES OF. Secure funding and spend less! Self-build mortgage tips and tricks

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1 EXTENSIONS RENOVATIONS SELF-BUILDS SMALL PROJECTS INTERIORS GRAND 4.40 April 2018 DESIGNS How to build on a tricky plot Stunning sloping site solution THE UK S BEST-LOVED SELF-BUILD BRAND Secure funding and spend less! Self-build mortgage tips and tricks IMPROVE & UPGRADE Driveway design ideas Showers for every space Kitchen layout solutions KEVIN MCCLOUD S Grand Designs top projects 10 TV HOUSE EXCLUSIVE Come and experience the way of life here Stay in a one-of-a-kind country self-build 50 PAGES OF INSPIRING HOMES EDWARDIAN RENOVATION TIMBER-CLAD DETACHED COASTAL HILLSIDE HOUSE GETTING STARTED GUIDE Plot-fi nding Hiring an architect Design Planning permission Finance APRIL18 COVER_FINAL_v2.indd 1 13/02/ :26

2 Design the PERFECT DRIVEWAY Create a great first impression and enhance the exterior of your home with beautiful landscaping SHARP AND SMOOTH The curved driveway takes into account the angular building and mature trees. Project by Snug Architects ( ; snug architects.co.uk). Find similar White Limestone gravel, around 32 per sqm, at Stone Warehouse. ( ; stone warehouse.co.uk) Designing a driveway is a fine balance between function and aesthetics; most importantly it should be in proportion to your house and garden. On a practical level, a mix of attractive hard landscaping and clever planting will not only make the exterior of your home look more inviting, but allows for drainage, too. Opt for a solution that is both striking and complements the architecture of the property, says Paul Wagstaff at paving specialists Bradstone. But while you should approach the driveway s position, size, shape and layout as part of a whole-front garden design, there are important practicalities to consider. Does the drive lead to a garage? Where is it in relation to the house? And how will you access the road? It should be a minimum of three metres wide to allow for an average-sized car, perhaps wider if you are catering for multiple cars and turning. It is also crucial to consider how to make the journey to the house as direct as possible on foot from the front gate and from the car when it is parked in the driveway. Finally, is your site flat or sloping? Each will suit different materials and have their own drainage issues. Position and shape Take into account any mature planting you want to keep, as well as the parking area. Cars should be parked to one side of a driveway or on a forecourt so access to the front door isn t obstructed. Equally, ensure the view from any rooms overlooking the driveway is of planting or landscaping, not vehicles. For a large site, a long, straight driveway lined with planting will look grand and formal, while a curved one 114 APRIL 2018 / granddesignsmagazine.com APRIL18_Small projects.indd /02/ :39

3 MIXED TONES This StoneMaster driveway paving contrasts with the painted render of the house exterior. It has been coated with Surface Protection, which provides longlasting resistance against oil, grease and moss stains. From 40 per sqm, Bradstone. ( ; bradstone.com) SMOOTH OPERATOR If the exterior of your home has plenty of character, a simple poured concrete driveway will bring visual relief. Find local suppliers at The Concrete Network ( ; theconcretenetwork. net). Front E80 hinged and garage bi-fold doors, from 21,600; walnut Parma front door set, from 7,056, Urban Front. ( ; urbanfront.com) granddesignsmagazine.com / APRIL APRIL18_Small projects.indd /02/ :39

4 NEAT FINISH Resin-bound gravel has all the textural interest and colour of loose gravel, without the need for maintenance. This 10mm Barley Beach tones with the garage and costs around 60 per sqm, including installation, Sureset. ( ; sureset.co.uk) SLEEK STYLE Neat concrete block paving laid in a brick pattern contrasts with the more rustic finish of the black wood cladding and sandstone brickwork of the house to create a highly contemporary feel. Similar Drivesett Argent Priora Permeable Blocks in Light finish, from around 48 per sqm, Marshalls. ( ; marshalls.co.uk). Terano E80 hinged RAL painted black door set, from 5,544, Urban Front. ( ; urbanfront.com) NEED TO KNOW PERMEABLE PAVING If you are going for paving but want an eco-friendly finish, permeable paving is the best option. This allows rainwater to pass through the blocks into the sub-base to drain away naturally into the garden. Rio Permeapave, from around 58 per sqm, Stonemarket. ( ; stonemarket.co.uk) will give a more informal finish. For a mid-sized setting, a semi-circular shape with an entrance and exit is practical for multiple cars; for smaller properties a teardrop shape will allow for two cars and turning space. Floor filler When choosing a material, consider the effect its colour will have. The shade should be driven by the look, style and age of the house, and the surrounding landscape, says Wagstaff. Grey tones bring a contemporary feel to outdoor spaces, while traditional properties team well with brown and terracotta hues. Using more than one type of material in your scheme and including different paving patterns adds interest, especially if your home s architecture is pared-back. Alternatively, plain, poured materials provide a contrast to detailed brickwork. When choosing between poured and block materials, bear in mind that it is easier to replace damaged blocks in isolation than to repair patches in a poured surface. Gravel creates an informal look that is perfect for a rustic setting. It comes in a range of colours, with harder stones such as granite coping better with heavy traffic. It is water-permeable, costs as little as 30 per sqm and is quick and easy to lay, too. A cellular grid (try Marshalls or Nidagravel) will keep the gravel in place to minimise movement in a driveway used by three or more cars. Put down angular gravel in three or four layers, each rolled and left for a day to settle. There will be some ongoing maintenance, such as raking loose stones back into place and topping up with new gravel every few years. And if your site is on a slope or subject to heavy snowfall, gravel won t be a practical option. Resin-bound gravel has the natural look of loose gravel, but the particles WILL I NEED PLANNING PERMISSION? n New homes usually require provision of off-road car parking. However, you will have to get permission for new or enlarged driveways that are more than five square metres between the front of a house and a highway, unless the surface is Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) compliant. This means using permeable materials or matching impermeable materials with appropriate drainage. Consult your local council before starting any work. n Permission is also needed for a crossover (access across the pavement from the road) the work for which will be performed by, and payable to, your local council. granddesignsmagazine.com / APRIL APRIL18_Small projects.indd /02/ :20

5 IN FOCUS CURVES AND CORNERS The shape of your driveway may be determined by existing planting, including protected trees. This may be a good opportunity to create a driveway with characterful curves, like this one. Architecture by Nicolas Tye Architects. ( ; nicolastye architects.com) Granite setts, around 80 per sqm, Stonemarket. ( ; stonemarket.co.uk) FINISHING TOUCHES n Edgings such as kerbs, bricks, setts, stones or treated timber add interest, create a neat finish and, in the case of gravel contain the driveway material. n Uplighters that highlight planting or low posts illuminating the driveway entrance make practical and decorative additions. For a subtler finish, pick flush, drive-over lights that can withstand a car s weight. n To boost security choose lights with motion-sensors that come on as you approach. Other inconspicuous security measures include telescopic posts. n Planting softens hard edges and provides effective drainage. Go for evergreens for year-round interest with little maintenance. FAST FINISH This contemporarystyle, stone-look driveway sett has a patented base and comes with just the right amount of ready-mixed jointing compound both designed to reduce laying time. Templeton driveway setts, around 80 per sqm, Stonemarket. ( ; stonemarket.co.uk) are set in resin. The finish is neater and contemporary, while still permeable. Suitable for slopes, it comes in a range of colours and texture, and can be laid over a new base and often over existing asphalt and concrete. Expect to pay from 55 per sqm. Self-binding gravel is another natural-looking and permeable option that can be used on slopes of less than one in 15, and can cost as little as 10 per sqm. Try Breedon s Golden Amber Gravel, a natural limestone material with a high content of marl which, once compacted, knits together to form a solid base and surface. Poured concrete is contemporarylooking, low-maintenance and hardwearing. Available in a range of colours, it can be stamped to give a blockeffect pattern. Permeable concrete for driveways is now available. The downsides of concrete are cracking caused by freezing conditions and tree roots, and it can fade and stain. Poured concrete costs around 60 per sqm. Tarmac, or asphalt, at upwards of 15 per sqm, is less aesthetically pleasing than other options but it does perform well in extreme temperatures, is low-maintenance, suitable for slopes and can be laid over existing materials. There are now porous options available such as Tarmac s Ultidrive Porous. Paving comes in both permeable and impermeable materials, and can be laid in a variety of patterns. Concrete blocks are hard-wearing and available in a wide variety of colours, textures and finishes, but will fade over time. Clay blocks are a durable option, and come in a range of colours that won t fade over time. Natural stone is durable but can be expensive, although Indian sandstone is a cheaper option. Prices start at 10 per sqm for concrete and stone-effect paving, to around 50 per sqm for granite or Yorkstone. Check whether the paving is slip-resistant and whether it needs sealing, which may alter its appearance slightly. Expect to pay more for patterns to be laid. Grass can be used to create a permeable surface resembling a lawn if used with a product such as Marshalls Grassguard Permeable Paving. It is easy to lay, but unsuitable for steep slopes. Priced 12 per sqm (excluding grass and soil). GD 118 APRIL 2018 / granddesignsmagazine.com APRIL18_Small projects.indd /02/ :20