Most of the splashes on the wall were already there. Some of it was made by the cutter they used to remove the concrete that was already by the house.
Having three people turn up made me more determined to be honest but next time my dad might be popping round for a cup of tea!
I have just phoned the aggregate company, but I didn't ask them if it was machine of hand laid. I did talk to them about the sealing grit. They agreed with you guys that it shouldn't be needed but it is not uncommon. Its usually used to cover up of for a quick rejuvenation on a bad surface. Either way it isn't going to hold out long and cars are just going to erode it away.
They also said that the edges should have had a bitumen applied to seal them. They are quite rough at the moment. So the edges are going to start failing quickly.
They only supply hardstone asphalt so it shouldn't be grey, so that rules the material out. Which we kind of knew anyway.
Yes I am embarrased to say I have paid. We queried the state of the drive before we paid but we believed them when they said it was ok. Then I started to think about it more and more and started to investigate and here I am.
Asphalt driveway question - Just had a driveway done is it right?
-
lutonlagerlout
- Site Admin
- Posts: 15184
- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:20 am
- Location: bedfordshire
-
marky
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:59 am
- Location: Stockport
I don't want to name and shame until the issue is resolved.
The company is established where I live and they don't just do driveways. They do other forms of construction and I believe have happy customers.
I don't think they are purposefully trying to con me, I genuinely think they believe they have done it right. They are obviously more used to laying paving blocks not tarmac.
Hopefully they will learn and fix there ways from this.
Maybe not but I think it would be unfair to name them at the moment.
I don't mind if people have a made mistakes (Ive made shed loads) Its how you handle fixing the problem that matters.
Or im just too trusting!!!!!
The company is established where I live and they don't just do driveways. They do other forms of construction and I believe have happy customers.
I don't think they are purposefully trying to con me, I genuinely think they believe they have done it right. They are obviously more used to laying paving blocks not tarmac.
Hopefully they will learn and fix there ways from this.
Maybe not but I think it would be unfair to name them at the moment.
I don't mind if people have a made mistakes (Ive made shed loads) Its how you handle fixing the problem that matters.
Or im just too trusting!!!!!
-
lutonlagerlout
- Site Admin
- Posts: 15184
- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:20 am
- Location: bedfordshire
you are 100% right there marky
we were ripping out a bathroom yesterday and my labourer went straight through the kitchen ceiling
(luckily the joist broke the fall ,1 leg either side :O )
the other lads were panicking but i rang the client,apologised, told them what had happened ,cut the plasterboard back to the joists,tacked some new board up and cleared up the mess (thoroughly)
tomorrow it gets reskimmed and monday it will be repainted
its a pain in the rear but as the man was working for me ,i am obligated to put right any damage he does,thats the nature of the building game
its only the second time its happened since 1984 and once you have done it once you are unlikely to do it again(very sore)
the fact that these guys came back and looked after being paid shows some willing on their part ,and is a good sign
I do feel they are going to have to swallow it and redo the top layer,once its cost them money they wont do it wrong again
cheers LLL
we were ripping out a bathroom yesterday and my labourer went straight through the kitchen ceiling
(luckily the joist broke the fall ,1 leg either side :O )
the other lads were panicking but i rang the client,apologised, told them what had happened ,cut the plasterboard back to the joists,tacked some new board up and cleared up the mess (thoroughly)
tomorrow it gets reskimmed and monday it will be repainted
its a pain in the rear but as the man was working for me ,i am obligated to put right any damage he does,thats the nature of the building game
its only the second time its happened since 1984 and once you have done it once you are unlikely to do it again(very sore)
the fact that these guys came back and looked after being paid shows some willing on their part ,and is a good sign
I do feel they are going to have to swallow it and redo the top layer,once its cost them money they wont do it wrong again
cheers LLL
-
irishpaving
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:14 pm
- Location: uk
Agreed Tony...... If tarmac is indeed a new area for them then fair enough we are not hitting at that point. But if you want to take the cost of there first few mistakes then so be it. They will have learnt a cheap lesson and it wont be one for the porfolio or reference i doubt. But for those of us who think it is only fair that a customer should get what they have paid for then we are the ones who learn the expensive lesson but what we gain is a reputation of been honest and a happy customer.
You leave that drive as it is and you will be kicking yourself after the summer. Now is the only time you are able to dispute.
If money is no object then you will be that little bit wiser next time.....GL :;):
You leave that drive as it is and you will be kicking yourself after the summer. Now is the only time you are able to dispute.
If money is no object then you will be that little bit wiser next time.....GL :;):
"I'm spending a year dead for tax reasons."
-
marky
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:59 am
- Location: Stockport
I think you may be missing my point.
I will be persuing them to get the driveway fixed. And it WILL get fixed.
But I don't want to name them if they fix the problem in a reasonable manner. It would not be fair as mistakes happen.
On the other hand if it turns out to be a battle to get the job done properly, then they don't deserve any more business by treating people that way. And I will name them.
I will be persuing them to get the driveway fixed. And it WILL get fixed.
But I don't want to name them if they fix the problem in a reasonable manner. It would not be fair as mistakes happen.
On the other hand if it turns out to be a battle to get the job done properly, then they don't deserve any more business by treating people that way. And I will name them.
-
marky
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:59 am
- Location: Stockport
Ive had two bits of news today:
1) I have found out what material was bought for the drive. 5T of binder material and a quantity of 6mm dense wearing course with limestone. The wearing couse is for machine laying but the aggregate company said its ok to use for driveways. I guess its just harder to lay by hand.
2) We have had a 'confirmation' letter from the driveway contractors. They confirm out last meeting and our unhappiness over the work done. They confirm they will comeback on friday pm or saturday am to clear the sealing grit. They confirm they will review the drive after 3-4 weeks (the time taken for the grey discolouration to clear).
Though this letter does not go as far as I wanted it is good news. If they were a dodgy company they wouldn't do this.
1) I have found out what material was bought for the drive. 5T of binder material and a quantity of 6mm dense wearing course with limestone. The wearing couse is for machine laying but the aggregate company said its ok to use for driveways. I guess its just harder to lay by hand.
2) We have had a 'confirmation' letter from the driveway contractors. They confirm out last meeting and our unhappiness over the work done. They confirm they will comeback on friday pm or saturday am to clear the sealing grit. They confirm they will review the drive after 3-4 weeks (the time taken for the grey discolouration to clear).
Though this letter does not go as far as I wanted it is good news. If they were a dodgy company they wouldn't do this.
-
lutonlagerlout
- Site Admin
- Posts: 15184
- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:20 am
- Location: bedfordshire
-
irishpaving
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:14 pm
- Location: uk
Hence why i asked if the material used was machine laid. A medium cure is more suitable for hand laid. I am sure Dave can explain more on this.
Tbo Mark leaving it a few weeks to see how it turns out is a load of crap. If it was a professional job you would never have posted the situation on here in the first place. Although they are in contact with you the problem remains and will not be cured until it is re-surfaced.
In the meantime put your car on the drive and keep turning your steering in different areas and see how it holds out.
Tbo Mark leaving it a few weeks to see how it turns out is a load of crap. If it was a professional job you would never have posted the situation on here in the first place. Although they are in contact with you the problem remains and will not be cured until it is re-surfaced.
In the meantime put your car on the drive and keep turning your steering in different areas and see how it holds out.
"I'm spending a year dead for tax reasons."
-
Dave_L
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4732
- Joined: Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:47 pm
- Location: Somerset
- Contact:
If it is a normal AC6 surface course 100-150pen then it is suitable for hand laying - you'd never machine lay most driveways anyway.
It's only when you get to 50pen SMA etc (quite stiff gear to rake about) that machine lay becomes necessary - but in the right hands, it can be hand laid too. The lower the pen, the stiffer the product will be to lay etc.
A limestone wearing course isn't the best - it whites up under compaction (to an extent) whereas a hardstone material doesn't. But that shouldn't have any detriment to the durability of the surface.
It's only when you get to 50pen SMA etc (quite stiff gear to rake about) that machine lay becomes necessary - but in the right hands, it can be hand laid too. The lower the pen, the stiffer the product will be to lay etc.
A limestone wearing course isn't the best - it whites up under compaction (to an extent) whereas a hardstone material doesn't. But that shouldn't have any detriment to the durability of the surface.
RW Gale Ltd - Civils & Surfacing Contractors based in Somerset
See what we get up to Our Facebook page
See what we get up to Our Facebook page
-
colordrives
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:49 pm
- Location: Solihull
Marky. yes many of the photos are taken just after the driveway was finished hence the water, so no they are not "ponding" as incorrectly pointed out by isishpaving.
I still say you should press for a resurface don't know why some people are so down on it if its done properly its a reasonable compromise, Try and make em rip it all up and I tell ya they will refuse and walk away with your money!
good luck
I still say you should press for a resurface don't know why some people are so down on it if its done properly its a reasonable compromise, Try and make em rip it all up and I tell ya they will refuse and walk away with your money!
good luck
-
lutonlagerlout
- Site Admin
- Posts: 15184
- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:20 am
- Location: bedfordshire
color the clue is in the name of this website "pavingexpert"
why on earth should the OP compromise on their Feck up??
he asked for a price for a proper job ,accepted it and paid the hard earned money
why would he want a bodge,which is what it is?
I wouldn't accept that from anyone tarmacking for us ,its poor
if they haven't got the correct training/tools/experience they shouldn't be doing the job
LLL
why on earth should the OP compromise on their Feck up??
he asked for a price for a proper job ,accepted it and paid the hard earned money
why would he want a bodge,which is what it is?
I wouldn't accept that from anyone tarmacking for us ,its poor
if they haven't got the correct training/tools/experience they shouldn't be doing the job
LLL
-
seanandruby
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4713
- Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:01 am
- Location: eastbourne
-
irishpaving
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:14 pm
- Location: uk
You stated to overlay the surface Colordrive when you said there would be no need to take anything off. You need to stand up when you state things like that or i wont be able to hear you talking through your ass. Masking over badly laid tarmac is a cheap cop out especially on a newly laid drive.
Good luck Marky and i hope they will resolve the issue :;):
Good luck Marky and i hope they will resolve the issue :;):
"I'm spending a year dead for tax reasons."
-
colordrives
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:49 pm
- Location: Solihull
Sheesh you guys do get you knickers in a twist, I've done hundreds of overlays, granted most are on driveways where the tarmac is old, but they where done professionally and will last just as long, and in reality peeps don't always want to have to pay the money to have a perfectly sound sub-base ripped for up the sake of a slight lip over on the edges.
Granted in this case it is slightly different HOWEVER my point was, that demanding they rip it all up could well result in them saying $%% off and walking away in which case the poor guy is stuck with the mess its in, I simply suggested a compromise that could work, yes yes i know they should do it properly and all that blurb, but better my suggestion than nothing at all!
irishpaving dunno what you problem is but I am not talking out of my ass, I stand by anything I have said, I am simply making an alternative available in a situation where a compromise unfortunately may need to be made unlike you not all firms will come back rip it all up and redo it.
Granted in this case it is slightly different HOWEVER my point was, that demanding they rip it all up could well result in them saying $%% off and walking away in which case the poor guy is stuck with the mess its in, I simply suggested a compromise that could work, yes yes i know they should do it properly and all that blurb, but better my suggestion than nothing at all!
irishpaving dunno what you problem is but I am not talking out of my ass, I stand by anything I have said, I am simply making an alternative available in a situation where a compromise unfortunately may need to be made unlike you not all firms will come back rip it all up and redo it.