Problems with tarmac driveway - Tarmac driveway problems

[Giacomo]

We had a new tarmac driveway put down a year ago by a local tradesman. The surface of the drive has started to deteriorate particularly where the car is parked. It is a shared driveway and the same has happened to the area used by our neighbours but to a lesser degree as they tend to park their car in their garage.
After contacting the tradesman he arranged for samples to be taken and has said that if there is a problem with the tarmac after sampling it will be replaced. However, even if the sample is ok the problem remains in that the driveway has deteriorated after a year. What can I do?

[Pablo]

It sounds like it could have been caused by power steering which can tear up even a well installed driveway especially in warmer weather. You can either patch it or replace it all you can't fix damaged tarmac.

[Giacomo]

I first noticed the problem in around May this year. Would you expect to see this after 1 year of having it resurfaced?

[Pablo]

if you turn the wheels whilst stationary the tarmac can start to cut up as soon as it's installed.

[Stoker]

My contractor advised us against manoeuvring the car on the tarmac because of the effect it would have. Best to reverse in and drive straight out.

[Giacomo]

When I contacted the Trading Standards Institute I was advised by Consumer Direct that I had a claim against the contractor under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 and that I should write to the contractor giving them reasonable time to rectify the problem.

[DNgroundworks]

If it was done correctly, then i cant see how you have got a claim.....as was said power steering and new tarmac dont go together, did he tell you this?

[Giacomo]

No absolutely not. The only advice was not to use the drive for some days after the tarmac was laid which we followed to the letter. In fact left it longer than advised. We now park the car on the road when we can so as not to make the problem worse.

[rab1]

Can you please post a few pictures of the problem areas along with a photo of the whole drive.

[Big Phil]

agree with DN. asphalt will stay a little lively in warm weather for at least the first year, and i'd advise against any static power-steering.

[Giacomo]

Sorry for the delay. Please see below.
[img]http://www.pavingexpert.com/images/brew ... bitmac.jpg[/img
]

[local patios and driveway]

[Dave_L]

Is the surface actually loose? Can't say I like the look of those lines!

The patches look like areas where tarmac has been thrown back to possibly correct low-spots whilst it was being rolled.

[Giacomo]

Many thanks for your comments. The patches are where the surface has come away.
The contractor who did the work (not the tarmacing though - the contractor arranged for another company to do this) forwarded a report from the company who did the tarmacking who visited our drive whilst we were on holiday recently.
The report from the tarmacing company calls the problem "scuffing" of the material surface which he thought was due to the movement of vehicle tyres. The report also says that it would be highly likely that if this had happened within the first few weeks of laying it would be as a result of the bitumen still being relatively fresh, and combined with any warm weathe and the heat from car tyres after a journey.

[Big Phil]

that's a fair comment, asphalt can 'liven' up months after laying in warm weather. it's annoying when you are scared of using the drive for fear of damaging it though, but this is a common occurrence.