A P IMPROVEMENTS

Welcome to A P Improvements and feel welcome to check out what we can do.

We can help you to acheive a more comfortable home.

From wallpaper hanging to replacing light fittings and from fitting complete kitchens to renovating your outside space we can do all of this and more.

We are experienced in many aspects of home improvements.

Garden landscaping to constructing flat pack furniture, our skilled tradespeople are able to visit and discuss matters before organising the job. All work is guaranteed and carried out with due care and attention.

Some of our work is displayed here for inspiration so feel welcome to take a look. If you would like to speak about any ideas you may have for your home and would like some friendly advice, we are on hand and would love to hear from you!

Recent works : – Driveway installation in Rainham, Kent

Before

New wall foundation

The existing wall was removed and a wider foundation installed for the new one. It was decided to use the same bricks which the house had been built with to ensure it would be in keeping with the original build.

Wall during construction

The new wall was planned so as to allow a car door to open without the possibility of damage or obstruction.

Locating services below ground

The underground services were carefully located by hand.

Removing existing concrete

Experienced and competant JCB operator in action removing the existing drive.

1.5 ton JCB digging out for new driveway in Rainham

The site was kept tidy and we used grab hire services to remove all waste.

Construction of new wall

New 9 inch wall construction.

Staffordshire blue header course

Last one going in 🙂

Soakaway hole dug out

Through soil, clay then chalk; the soakaway pit was dug.

Aquavoid soakaway being wrapped

1.3 m3 Aquavoid soakaway being wrapped in a geotextile fabric to prevent soil ingress.

Trenching out soakaway pipework

Being mindful of a gas pipe, a trench was dug in order to connect the rainwater downpipe to the soakaway.

Installation of channel drainage into soakaway

Pipe from channel drain to soakaway later backfilled with shingle.

Soakaway pipes

Pipe from downpipe to soakaway later backfilled with shingle.

Channel drainage

Clarke channel drain with cast iron grilles suitable for use up to 20 tonnes. New kerb edging to finish.

Levelling

After site clearance, 15 tonnes of Type 1 limestone was spread and levelled out.

Radial kerb

The client wished for some garden to remain and so we designed and built kerbing to shape the drive and to offer a place for plants. The kerbs were from Marshalls Tegula range and we used a mixture of straights and internal/external radials.

Compacted Type 1

The Type 1 was compacted several times after which the entire drive area was covered using a geotextile ground stabilising fabric.

Venetian fencing

A new boundary fence was purchased from a reputable supplier (Jacksons in Ashford) and installed. It is a Venetian style and was chosen to allow air to move freely between the slats and also to permit sunlight through to the plants.

Laying blocks over screeded sand

The area was screeded using sharp sand then the blocks (Marshalls Tegula Pennant Grey 3 size) were unpackaged and laid.

Step construction

A step seemed appropriate to allow easier entry/exit. This was consructed using more of the kerbing and a couple of external corners.

Marshalls Tegula Pennant Grey

Whole blocks laid with the cuts remaining.

Marshalls Tegula doorstep in construction

Driveway Gillingham

Front door step

Marshalls Tegula doorstep

Client was over the moon with their step as were we 🙂

Marshalls Tegula kerb around window

Radial kerbing

Marshalls Tegula Pennant Grey driveway

View from above once completed

Once everything was sanded and compacted it was ready to drive on.

Planting to finish

Marshalls Tegula driveway Rainham

Couldn’t help but return to do some planting.

Driveway in Rainham – Marshalls Tegula Pennant Grey

The finished product. Value of the home has definately increased. Superior installation of a Marshalls Tegula driveway, Jacksons venetian fencing, soakaway and boundary retaining wall. Really, really pleased with this job, it looks awesome. It took a month or so on and off and the feedback we received was the customer was so very pleased it wasn’t just thrown in over a few days or so like many are.