Problems with tarmac driveway - Tarmac driveway problems

[Giacomo]

Not sure where to go from here. Why didn't the contractor tell us not to use the drive for a longer period of time. Tarmac doesn't appear to be suitable for drives that are going to be used to park cars on. If we had this advice we would have chosen a different product.
Any advice?

[Dave_L]

Take the surface course off and relay it with 6mm SMA, properly & fully compacted, no more problems.

[Giacomo]

Would it be reasonable to ask the contractor to do this work at no extra cost to me to correct the problem?

[Pablo]

Yes but be prepared to compromise with something like you pay for the materials and he pays for plant and labour and waste disposal etc. You should have been warned about not turning your wheels on it.

[Giacomo]

Have e-mailed the contractor to ask if he would be prepared to redo the surface layer with SMA but he hasn't e-mailed back. Will send letter.

[Dave_L]

Have e-mailed the contractor to ask if he would be prepared to redo the surface layer with SMA but he hasn't e-mailed back. Will send letter.

Emails can (and are) often ignored.

Send letter via recorded delivery.

[Giacomo]

I emailed the contractor again and resent the previous email. Also gave him details of the website and forum explaining that's where had got the advice from Received email back saying will write. Fingers crossed.Will keep you posted

[Giacomo]

Sorry I havn't provided an update before now.
Received a reply from the tradesman wanting to clear up a few points having seen the thread which I told him about.
Firstly, he said that he tarmaced the driveway not a contractor as we had thought.
Secondly, the report was from the company who manufactured the materials used to resurface the driveway.
Thirdly, that the do's and don'ts for the care of the surfacing were explained to our neighbours who had undertaken to explain the points to us.
The tradesman went on to say that removing the surface layer as we had asked was not an option as both macadam courses had been laid on the same day " to ensure good adhesion and longevity " and that separating them would be extremely difficult without affecting the base course. Additionally, the tradesman said he wasn't prepared to do this anyway as the damage was not a result of his workmanship or the materials used.
He did say that the damaged areas might be removed and reinstated with new base and surface course but he would be reluctant to do this from a visual/cosmetic point. Finally he said that a tarmac restorer could be applied to the whole area which would hopefully disguise the damage as well as make it uniform in colour.
What do you think?

[Giacomo]

Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts or advice regarding my last post?

[Dave_L]

Do you really think you could live with a patchwork driveway??

Surface course could be planed off fairly easily with the right equipment and then relaid.

He's right to a degree - hot on hot paving will give a great bond between the two layers......

[loudog]

Just a question to put out there for you. If a customer phones you up to come price your tarmac drive, and then starts to tell you that tarmac and power steering don't go together, and that tarmac heats up in the warm weather, then that would put them right off I would think. I have been tarmacing drives for 26 years now, during which you get the odd call back due to warm weather and power steering. They say to me "well the roads arn't like it, to which I tell them that roads are machine layed with the pen cut backs. I do a good job and take pride in my work but would never have a tarmac drive, its boring to look at and after time its faded. The price of tarmac now you can do the same job in paving.

[Big Phil]

totally agree. been in the business for 22 years and if you told every customer that it will also fade and look dull and grey in a few years then that would really put them off. looking at some of the quality block work on here, i'd save up that little bit longer and get a quality drive done if it was me.

[WilliamEthen]

The sun and water are your driveway’s worst enemies. If you do not regularly seal your driveway, the surface will become rough and the asphalt will start to crack, causing further damage.

[Driveway]

Apologiesfor apparent delay in posting this but have just joined forum. Have great sympathy for the problems experienced with a tarmac drive having the same problem myself. Old drive had been down 15 years and 90% sound only being treated due to tree root damage. Spent a long time researching being fully aware of issues such as power steering. Product selected claimed to be resistant to power steering and (note) suitable for car parks!! Starting breaking up within weeks, cars parked in modest temperatures damaged surface and areas appear porous which does not look good in the long term. Contractor refuses to discuss and supplier (in spite of their false claims for the product) refuse to deal and refer me to the contractor. Now considering legal action on behalf of myself and neighbour who is equally affected. Really wish we had not bothered and simply patched using a premixed tarmac which proved (in the past) to be first class.

[WilliamEthen]

Your driveway should be seal coated within a year of installation. It is recommended to wait at least 60 - 90 days after installation to allow adequate cure time. Most driveways should be seal coated every other year depending on volume of traffic and weather. A typical parking lot usually does not require seal coating for approximately 3 years after installation. Seal coating also protects asphalt from oil and gas spills which can deteriorate the asphalt. Seal coating is done more on driveways for appearance.