Tarmac - advice needed on recent work - Driveway advice on quality of work

Jeli · Post: # 98806Post **Jeli** Fri May 23, 2014 3:57 pm

Thanks, I have sent an email to Tony. Hopefully he will respond and say he will be able to write me a report for a reasonable fee in return.

Fri May 23, 2014 6:07 pm

well it depends what you call reasonable
i would hazard a guess at Â£350 +
LLL

Jeli · Post: # 99054Post **Jeli** Wed May 28, 2014 4:51 pm

These are the latest pics from the driveway. You'll see lot's of wheel marks where it appears to have sunken into the tarmac. I've seen these happen after a relative visited for a few hours in a VW golf.

I presume this is not normal and what would be the cause?

I'm finding it difficult to understand how the guy who did the work wants an experts report in writing...

[IMG]http://i707.photobucket.com/albums....MG]

[IMG]http://i707.photobucket.com/albums....MG]

[IMG]http://i707.photobucket.com/albums....MG]

[IMG]http://i707.photobucket.com/albums....MG]

Wed May 28, 2014 5:52 pm

looks a shoddy job o me
either take up and relay or overlay with 50 mm of non retarded stuff
LLL

bobbi o · Post: # 99063Post **bobbi o** Wed May 28, 2014 8:38 pm

I suspect that the sub-base is defective and this is why it is sinking where cars are sitting on it.

Do you know what's underneath and what depth the sub-base is ?

Kuts · Post: # 99067Post **Kuts** Wed May 28, 2014 10:10 pm

looks to me like more of a compaction issue with the way you can see the tread of the tyres.

did he put down two layers of tarmac or just the one? any ideas of how deep it was?

also did the roller have an engine on it?

lemoncurd1702 · Wed May 28, 2014 10:39 pm

Are there two layers of Tarmac I.e. can you remember if there was a base layer with larger aggregate.
You could take a core sample with a masonry hole saw to see what the make up is.

Jeli · Post: # 99123Post **Jeli** Fri May 30, 2014 4:48 pm

Thanks for the information and to try and answer the questions:

I left him to it for most of the day but a relative stopped by and thinks he did add a base layer and then a finer surface to it.

Briefly when I returned home I did see the roller. It was noisy so I'd say yes.

The cheeky **** has photos on his website where my driveway does look good. Sadly as my photos show its not actually the case and not wearing well!

Here is a pic he has taken. To me I don't think much tarmac could have been added - prob an inch tops in places? It is level to the paving.

[IMG]http://i707.photobucket.com/albums....MG]

I like the idea of taking a sample...

Fri May 30, 2014 4:55 pm

that subbase looks massively high to me
LLL

Jeli · Post: # 99125Post **Jeli** Fri May 30, 2014 4:57 pm

lutonlagerlout wrote:that subbase looks massively high to me
LLL

Yes, he did seem to be a fair amount down. Actually a lot.

Kuts · Post: # 99135Post **Kuts** Fri May 30, 2014 9:56 pm

I can't really tell from the pic on my iPad but the stone doesn't look like the stuff that would fail in a week or so with domestic use.

Think my money would be on not enough compaction for the surface course.

Or a long shot could be too much tar added to the bitmac mix.

Could you pm me his website?

lemoncurd1702 · Sat May 31, 2014 12:08 am

Looking at the image, as LLL says the sub-base looks pretty high. It looks as though there is no base tarmac which should be at least 50mm plus the wearing course which should be at least 25mm, a make up of 75mm altogether which does not appear achievable looking at that image. The topping or wearing course is possibly not 25mm and is slipping on the unbound surface below creating those dishes where your wheels turn.
As I previously mentioned take a core sample to see the make up layers of the tarmac.
One other thing, are there cracks appearing where the ruts occur?

Jeli · Post: # 99147Post **Jeli** Sat May 31, 2014 3:56 pm

Kuts I have sent you a PM with website address.

lemoncurd1702 I can confirm there are no cracks where the rut are seen. These are only obvious when it rains and hold some water.

At the time I thought he couldn't be putting much tarmac down as the base was high but I had zero knowledge and trusted him. From this forum I've now got an understanding. I remember that there could only be around 2cm in places which makes me think there is no base tarmac.

I'll try calling him next week and ask him what the make up is before I arrange / take a core sample. He may not answer the call or again be full of sarcasm. If he does advise it will be interesting to compare it to the sample to see if he had told the truth.

He also fitted the Marshall security bollards and I've now got doubts about whether he cemented these in like he said he did. Interestingly he is listed as a Marshalls approved landscape contractor and driveway installer.

Sat May 31, 2014 4:53 pm

2 cm of tarmac is not acceptable under any circumstances
LLL

Jeli · Post: # 99408Post **Jeli** Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:06 pm

...well I emailed the guy again last night asking him about overall dig depths, tarmac depths and layers, compaction of the tarmac etc.

He responded he would pop round asap to look then contact me.

Last night the locks to the security bollards had araldite poured into them with them locked upright... Police not interested.