Resin bound and extending driveway - What to do about the grassed area?

[Jonah]

We've currenty got a single width, two car length bitmac driveway. We want to double the width of this driveway and the space which the drive would be extended over is currently turfed.

We currently like the resin bonded aggregate coverings you can get now as it's aesthetically pleasing and everyone else seems to have gone for block paving, which we aren't really into.

What would be the best option for doubling the driveway size? I've read the gen in the main site and you need to have a monolithic base for the resin based covering to sit on top of. But if we get a concrete "slab" put down in place of the turf, this would then be essentially a two piece monolith, or rather, a bi-lith consisting of the old bitmac drive and the concreted area.

What would be the most appropriate method to lay this kind of drive in this scenario? I'd like to be prepared before I get any quotes so I can hopefully spot any cowboys before their spurs damage anything.

Thanks.

[Rich H]

The best bet is to get quotes and let the contractors tell you clearly what they would do. Get and check references. I'm more than happy for prospects to visit previous clients who've had similar work done and there's no reason why any other reputable contractor can't do the same thing.

If any of them tell you it's alright to leave the bitmac insitu, bin them!

[bobbi o]

excavate to 300mm depth the area you want to extend,lay approx 240mm hardcore and 60mm tarmac flush with existing(if existing is good)
clean surface and apply tack coat of bitumen emulsion,overlay whole area with close graded 6mm dense bitmac or similair(resin bond contractor will advise)

if you cannot overlay existing - spec as above but excavate existing tarmac surface. whether you can overlay depends on condition of existing,whether it may add drainage problems,go above damp course etc

if in doubt,dig it all out and start from scratch. good sub-base and drainage is the key to everything