Tarmac options

[Border]

Hi Folks,

I've saved a few quid and am looking at getting the driveway tarred. I live in a house i built about 3 years ago and the driveway is 750m2. The drive is currently covered in 2inch stone which was rolled about 3 years ago. We have 2 cars and need to turn the cars on the drive at the back of the house.

I've received 2 quotes and different advice from 2 companies and i'm interested in peoples views on which they feel is the best option:

1. Blind the drive and lay a Bitmac base course (20mm agr) at 50mm - hoping that this would last 5 to 7 years when an SMA wearing coat could be added or

2. Blind the drive and lay a 10mm Bitmac course at 50mm thick - hoping that this would last 5 to 7 years when a wearing coat could be added, and would look better for this time than option 1.

Thoughts on the above would be appreciated...........

[msh paving]

Davel will be along soon our resident tarmac expert,
in my limited tarmac experiance 50mm single course is not good, i would say 50mm base course and 20-25 surface course, but not wait to do surface course as the base will degrade MSH

[Big Phil]

get more quotes, as both options are pretty crap unless you are on a tight budget and not bothered about performance & aesthetics.

50mm minimum of a 20mm DBM binder course, then 30mm of a 6mm SMA surface course. leaving a 20mm DBM as a running surface may lead to durability issues, and a 10mm surface course at 50mm thick is down right silly.

try to choose a good reputable contractor and only pay once happy with completed work. just be aware that your drive will mark under turning traffic, especially in the first summer.

[Border]

Thanks lads, as you'd expect a 750m2 drive with blinding, base and wearing courses are pretty costly.
Whilst i accept the 20mm base course at 50mm thick should have the wearing course laid straight away, on average do you think i'd be ok for a few years with just the base course. Durability issues would then be covered by the weraing course when its laid??

[Dave_L]

You'd be absolutely fine with 20mm binder laid at 50mm thick - we have done countless drives/access roadways in this manner ready for a surface course either when building works are complete or funds allow.

750m2 is going to swallow up the best part of 90 tonnes of tarmac after stoning up the driveway - so it won't be a cheap job.

How's access? Enough room to back a wagon in? Any overhanging trees? All these could have an effect on costings....

Whereabouts in the UK are you?

[Border]

Thanks Dave,

89ton needed, so you are not far off the mark:)

Would 5 years be too much to expect out of this base course?
And do you think this is a better option than one course of 10mm wearing at 50mm thick?

House is in Northern Ireland.

[Dave_L]

It will last far longer than 5yrs aslong as the preparation works are up to scratch!

And yes, far better option than surface course at 50 thick! Put the right stuff down first (20mm binder) then it's ready for topping off in the future.

[Border]

Thanks Dave,

Final question - do you think this binder course would be better with 14mm or 20mm agr?

[Dave_L]

20mm.....

[loudog]

I agree with dave, If done right the base course will last until you are ready to put down your wearing course

[Dave_L]

We've laid haul roads at a local quarry with 20mm Dense Binder, they are still looking good 3 years down the line.......and these take some pretty heavy traffic.

How did you get on in the end, Border?