A new driveway should be handed over with clear instructions, not just a clean finish. RKG's existing service pages already explain several important aftercare points: tarmac needs curing time, sealed drives need time before vehicle traffic, block paving can need re-sanding and sealing, and shingle surfaces rely on good edging and occasional maintenance.
Quick answer
Before using a newly finished driveway, confirm when it can be walked or driven on, where surface water should run, what routine cleaning is suitable for the chosen finish, whether sealing or re-sanding is part of the maintenance plan, and what the written guarantee covers.
Aftercare checklist by surface
| Surface | What to check at handover | Related RKG guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Tarmac | Confirm the taped-off curing window and when vehicles can use the surface. | RKG's tarmac page says the surface is taped off for 24–48 hours to cure before handover. |
| Block paving | Ask about joint sand, future re-sanding and whether sealing is recommended for the finish. | RKG's maintenance guide covers pressure washing, re-sanding and sealing for existing paved surfaces. |
| Resin bound | Confirm the agreed drainage route, base preparation and when the surface can return to normal use. | RKG's resin and drainage guidance ties resin performance to proper base and drainage specification. |
| Shingle or gravel | Check edging, grid/stabilisation choice where used, and how to rake or top up displaced stone. | RKG's shingle and maintenance guidance notes edging, stabilising grids, raking and occasional top-ups. |
| Cleaned or sealed driveway | Keep vehicles off until the sealer has cured. | RKG's cleaning and sealing page says a sealed drive needs 24 hours to fully cure before driving on it. |
Confirm the curing window before parking on it
Some surfaces can look finished before they are ready for normal vehicle traffic. RKG's tarmac guidance is specific: after the surface course is laid, the driveway is taped off for 24–48 hours to fully cure before handover. RKG's cleaning and sealing guidance also says a sealed drive needs 24 hours to cure before driving on it.
If the driveway includes resin, block paving, shingle or mixed landscaping work, ask for the surface-specific handover advice in writing rather than assuming the same timing applies to every material.
Check the water route on day one
Aftercare is not only about cleaning. RKG's planning, drainage and access guidance all stress that water needs a planned route. At handover, confirm where water should go: through a permeable surface, to a border, into a channel drain, to a soakaway or away from the house and public pavement.
For more detail, compare the driveway drainage solutions guide, the permeable driveway options guide and the planning and drainage guide.
Plan maintenance before the surface looks tired
RKG's cleaning and sealing service is positioned as a way to restore an existing driveway rather than replace it. The maintenance guide already explains that block paving can need washing, re-sanding and sealing; tarmac may need seal coats; and shingle may need occasional raking, top-ups and stable edging.
The simplest aftercare plan is to ask what routine cleaning is suitable for your chosen surface, what to avoid while it is curing, and when to consider professional cleaning, re-sanding or sealing later on.
What should be written down?
RKG's site repeatedly refers to fixed written quotes and a 10-year written product guarantee. At the end of the job, keep the written quote, guarantee, surface choice, drainage notes and any handover timing together so future maintenance decisions are based on the actual specification.
If you are still comparing quotations, read the driveway quote checklist, installation timeline guide and maintenance guide before booking.