Extend driveway - sub layer advice please

[conflax]

Hi,
Please can I get some advice on my driveway project?

Background
I have a 1930's detached with a front driveway of 50% concrete on the left hand side and 50% bare earth.

The concrete side is the original driveway, about 10cm thick and looks like it’s been laid directly on bare earth. Used to have a very poor thin bitmac layer on top but this has been chipped off and it is a sound concrete base underneath.

Tthe bare earth side is 10cm lower than the concrete, and previously was filled with gravel and used to park a car on so is hard wearing but there does not appear to be any sub-base or hardcore anywhere - even under the concrete part.

On the far right there is a small border, currently not held up with anything, about a foot higher than the bare earth.


Project

I want to build a small retaining wall on the right hand side for the border, then cover the entire driveway space so we can park two cars on it.

The final surface layer will either be bitmac or resin bound (my wife doesn't like block pave and I think bare concrete is awful).

I expect I’ll need to get someone in to do the top layer but I want to keep my budget to a minimum so want to do all the base layers myself but I’m not sure what to do about the 50/50 situation I currently have.

I have been given different advice varying from ripping up all the existing concrete and starting again with a proper sub-base, to just extending the concrete on the extra bit and bitmac over the top or resin over the top.

What is the best sub-base layer for either bitmac or resin bound ? It seems simpler to just extend the concrete but would the connecting line down the middle of the drive eventually create a crack?

Advice appreciated

Thanks

[seanandruby]

If the concrete has been down that long and is still sound, taking the weight of cars, then i would leave it in place , if money is tight. Start the new area and build it to spec, ie, subase, membrane etc. There will be a joint which will act as a crack joint, along the old and new. This joint can be brought up through your intended resin bound material. Seems pretty straight forward. You will have to dig a little extra depth for the retaining wall. all this is explained on the concrete jointing page, no doubt some genius will direct you there easier than i can, at the touch of a button. good luck.

[msh paving]

the genius has arrived to the site , read me please

MSH :p

[seanandruby]

the genius has arrived to the site , read me please

MSH :p

Jaysus that was f****** fast msh

[conflax]

Wow thanks for the speedy reply. definitely sounds simpler to leave the existing concrete down.

Cheers

[msh paving]

customer service is the name off the game sean......lol

MSH

[seanandruby]

....and i,d like to play this game with you, ole! Brucie bonus for that :laugh: