This guide uses facts already published on the RKG site: free site visits, measured quotes, access checks, drainage routes, material samples, engineered sub-bases, edge restraints, fixed written quotes, staged payments and 10-year written product guarantee references.
Quick answer
Before the visit, think through where vehicles need to park, whether water sits anywhere after rain, which thresholds or garage edges matter, what surface finishes you like, and whether access for materials or waste removal is restricted. The visit should turn those details into a written specification rather than a rough surface-only price.
Before the visit: note the practical constraints
| Check | Why it matters | What to point out |
|---|---|---|
| Parking layout | The measured area should match how the driveway will actually be used. | One, two or three-car parking, turning space, paths and apron sections. |
| Access | Restricted parking, tight entrances and long carries can affect labour and programme. | Narrow lanes, shared access, skip position, material delivery and neighbour constraints. |
| Levels and thresholds | Door heights, garage edges and kerbs affect excavation depth, falls and drainage. | Any damp, step, garage, path or pavement edge that must be protected. |
| Drainage | RKG guidance repeatedly flags falls, channel drains, soakaways, permeable surfaces and water moving away from the house or highway. | Standing water, blocked gullies, slopes towards the house, or front-drive planning concerns. |
| Existing surface | Old concrete, tarmac, lawn or settled blocks can change removal, sub-base and disposal work. | Cracks, sinking, loose edges, weeds, previous repairs and buried service covers. |
During the visit: compare surfaces in context
You do not need to choose every detail before the visit. RKG's published service pages say material samples can be brought to free site visits, so resin aggregates, block paving ranges, shingle colours, tarmac finishes and borders can be compared against the house, kerbs and existing paving.
Use the visit to ask whether your preferred finish suits the driveway's drainage, slope, access and maintenance needs. A surface that looks right on a sample board still needs the right base, edging and water route.
Ask what will be written into the quote
- Measured area: what driveway, path, apron or threshold sections are included?
- Excavation and waste: what existing surface is removed and how deep is preparation expected to go?
- Sub-base: what base, compaction and membrane details are specified?
- Drainage route: where will water go, especially on front drives larger than 5m² or non-permeable finishes?
- Edges and borders: what restraints, kerbs or block borders are included?
- Guarantee and payment terms: how do the written guarantee, small deposit and staged payments apply?
What to read before booking
If you are still comparing options, read the driveway cost guide, material samples and colours guide, access and layout checklist, levels and thresholds guide, drainage solutions guide and driveway quote checklist.