Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:53 am
Hi all, firstly what a great website and supporting forum: I would very much appreciate some advice on what to do about my recently laid ‘tarmac’ drive.
I have been in the property for 12 years and the drive was tarmaced and the surface to the side of the house was a little uneven. As I was having a patio re-laid and extended, the contractor in question could also do the drive as he had done tarmacking for 25 yrs etc etc. I had previous quoted for this and the existing contractor was twice the price as a previous quote by a ‘knock on the door, I am in the area etc trarmacer’. As my existing contractor has done a splendid job with the stone patio I gave him the job, which was to remove the top layer of tarmac as it looked like there had been 2-3 layers over the years and wanted to keep this away from the damp course. He would also install additional drainage etc.
The drains were installed however with a lot of input from me to ensure they were correct, also the top two layers of material removed and the base was still rock hard and looked solid. I then left on business as all that was remaining to do was the lay the tarmac.
Unfortunately after 5 weeks I have the following issues:
1) The ‘tarmac’ is still very soft and if a car if left on the drive overnight it was leave a tyre impression.
2) At the weekend I parked had my motorcycle on its side stand for no more that 5 minutes while I opened the gate and it sank into the tarmac
3) I have weeds growing out of the tarmac in two places
4) There is a join right in the middle of the gate area.. the gates were open throughout the job but they used two batches of tarmac
5) The water flows under the drains and not over and into the drainage channel is many places
6) The tarmac can easily be broken up / crumbles at the edge.
7) The tarmac can easily be broken up by car tyres or if kicked by a boot (ie testing how hard it is)
After threatening the contractor with a solicitor I got him to come around who tells me it is a good job etc etc. Anyway he has offered to coat the whole drive in a tarmac type paint to seal and give a uniform look etc.
Before proceeding I would appreciate the advice of the members of the forum please.
a) What has the contractor used on my drive? The previous surface would happily accommodate skips, trucks, motorcycle stands etc.
b) Will this stuff ever go hard?
c) Am I being impatient, so do I wait longer?
d) Do I proceed with the tarmac sealer?
e) Should I just get the whole job done again, and if so what surface do I ask for, ie type / grade / pen of tarmac? (I appreciate this a trade name, but using it to describe the material)
Looks OK!?
But weeds growing
Crumbles easily at edges
Still soft after 5 weeks... (motorcycle stand impression)
Join
I have been in the property for 12 years and the drive was tarmaced and the surface to the side of the house was a little uneven. As I was having a patio re-laid and extended, the contractor in question could also do the drive as he had done tarmacking for 25 yrs etc etc. I had previous quoted for this and the existing contractor was twice the price as a previous quote by a ‘knock on the door, I am in the area etc trarmacer’. As my existing contractor has done a splendid job with the stone patio I gave him the job, which was to remove the top layer of tarmac as it looked like there had been 2-3 layers over the years and wanted to keep this away from the damp course. He would also install additional drainage etc.
The drains were installed however with a lot of input from me to ensure they were correct, also the top two layers of material removed and the base was still rock hard and looked solid. I then left on business as all that was remaining to do was the lay the tarmac.
Unfortunately after 5 weeks I have the following issues:
1) The ‘tarmac’ is still very soft and if a car if left on the drive overnight it was leave a tyre impression.
2) At the weekend I parked had my motorcycle on its side stand for no more that 5 minutes while I opened the gate and it sank into the tarmac
3) I have weeds growing out of the tarmac in two places
4) There is a join right in the middle of the gate area.. the gates were open throughout the job but they used two batches of tarmac
5) The water flows under the drains and not over and into the drainage channel is many places
6) The tarmac can easily be broken up / crumbles at the edge.
7) The tarmac can easily be broken up by car tyres or if kicked by a boot (ie testing how hard it is)
After threatening the contractor with a solicitor I got him to come around who tells me it is a good job etc etc. Anyway he has offered to coat the whole drive in a tarmac type paint to seal and give a uniform look etc.
Before proceeding I would appreciate the advice of the members of the forum please.
a) What has the contractor used on my drive? The previous surface would happily accommodate skips, trucks, motorcycle stands etc.
b) Will this stuff ever go hard?
c) Am I being impatient, so do I wait longer?
d) Do I proceed with the tarmac sealer?
e) Should I just get the whole job done again, and if so what surface do I ask for, ie type / grade / pen of tarmac? (I appreciate this a trade name, but using it to describe the material)
Looks OK!?
But weeds growing
Crumbles easily at edges
Still soft after 5 weeks... (motorcycle stand impression)
Join
