Asphalt advice needed

[Nic2358]

Hi there. I apologise for coming on here and asking a stupid set of questions - I am a total newbie and need some advice.

I live in Camden, North London. We have two front steps to our house and a concrete "step-over" about 1600mm square between the pavement and the front door. Both the steps and the step-over have been leaking into the basement area.

The basement area is being tanked, but the contractors have recommended that we have mastic asphalt covering to the steps to stop water coming in from above.

So far so good. The thing is, I don't know who to go to for this kind of work or even what to ask a quote for - let alone what I should expect to pay for this type of work.

Several houses in my street have had this mind of work done in recent years, but some of it looks terrible, with the asphalt "melting" badly. In other cases, the work looks good several years later - but the owners of the house can't remember who they went to, so I can't tap them for a phone number.

Can anyone advise what I should be asking for and expect to pay? I should add that there are railings (16 in total, about 4-5 inches apart) on each side of the main concrete platform, which means there would be a need for "collars" to each of the rails. I presume that makes life more complicated for an asphalter?

Any help/advice would be very welcome.

Many thanks,

Nic

[Tony McC]

That type of work is normally undertaken by mastic asphalt contractors, who are a different bunch to the lads that lay asphalt/macadam to the highways. You should be able to find a suitable contractor in the Yeller Pages, under asphalt.

[Dave_L]

Also the same type of stuff found on skittle alley floors.