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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:08 pm
by PhilDS
Evening All,
I'm preparing to start my first block paving project, turning our front garden/old concrete drive into some much needed extra off road parking. After reading nearly every page on this website I feel I'm ready to take on the challenge!
I have one question that I can't find an answer to the site and hopefully one of you helpful people will have a suggestion for me.
Where our garden/driveway meets the council's pavement is a bit "wavey". What I mean is...there isn't a straight line between the existing concrete and tarmac pavement between the two walls of our existing driveway opening, they each encrouh on each other. So the question is, what do I do about this?
I think my best option is to concrete the soldier course as a straight line between the walls then fill the gap between it and the tarmac with concrete. I'm worried this will look rubbish though. Does the board have any suggestions? What is industry's way of dealing with this.
Thanks in advance...
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:18 pm
by Rich H
All fine but you should 'make good' with bitmac rather than concrete to match the council's pavement. You're best off to cut back the old mac cleanly and dig it out so that you have something for the new stuff to key in to.
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:15 pm
by James.Q
concrete edgeing across front of drive patch on pavement side with tarmac . you can buy bags from merchants. follow laying guide on rear side of bag. 
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:42 pm
by Rich H
Good point about the concrete edging - many councils require it.
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:18 pm
by surreyhillslandscapes.com
6x2 concrete path edgings are a must as a strong divide between pavement and driveway, if you just lay a course of paving blocks you'll need a big fat haunch to the pavement side to stop the blocks moving, leaving little depth to re-instate the tarmac, path edgings are typically 150mm deep giving you plenty of room. If it's a cold day leave the tarmac somewhere warm so it's easier to use, I've seen lads seting fire to it in wheelbarrows before with a little petrol to warm the stuff up, wouldn't catch me doin something that stupid..
:;):
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:43 pm
by James.Q
keep tmac bag warm if cold kettle of hot water over bag before you lay helps
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:49 pm
by Dave_L
Better still, use some proper tarmac at the end of the day from one of the utility re-instatement gangs.........£20 should see it done.....
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:21 am
by matt h
any re-instatement on tarmac side must be clean and well tamped.
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:01 am
by PhilDS
Thanks for all the replys.
I'll definately get some concrete edgers then. I didn't know you could buy bags of tarmac. That sould do the job nicely.
I'll let you know how I get on and no doubt I'll have a few more questions along the way. 
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:12 am
by Dave_L
PhilDS wrote:I didn't know you could buy bags of tarmac. That should do the job nicely.
Hmmmmm don't have too high an expectation, it's crap stuff only for temporary repairs.
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:50 am
by seanandruby
.... Depends dave. I repaired my drive 3 years ago with some, it was deepish to and it is still sound. We drive 2 cars over it everyday.
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:26 am
by matt h
surreyhillslandscapes.com wrote:6x2 concrete path edgings are a must as a strong divide between pavement and driveway, if you just lay a course of paving blocks you'll need a big fat haunch to the pavement side to stop the blocks moving, leaving little depth to re-instate the tarmac, path edgings are typically 150mm deep giving you plenty of room. If it's a cold day leave the tarmac somewhere warm so it's easier to use, I've seen lads seting fire to it in wheelbarrows before with a little petrol to warm the stuff up, wouldn't catch me doin something that stupid..
:;):
weakens the mix as well, it never sets right once they,ve put petrol in it. It just speeds up the laying, and so looks good ...but only for a while iykwim :;):
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:37 pm
by surreyhillslandscapes.com
I suppose it must do, we use diesel to keep the Mac from stickin to our shovels, so it must have the same effect. If it's cold we put our bags on the floor of the transit and turn the heaters on, "I love the smell of tarmac in the morning!"
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:42 pm
by lutonlagerlout
when i worked briefly on the black stuff we used gallons of diesel on everything (clothes included)
we had a big pot of bitumen on the go one day and it caught light,the gaffer " big gerry" turned up as we were trying to put it out with shovels
"thats what i like to see, lads,"he chirped "keeping the tools clean"
have to say i didn't like tarmaccing much ,6am till 6pm driving a 3 tonner and i got £125 after various big gerry spurious stoppages for 5 days work,mind you it was in the recession of 1990 and no-one was working
LLL
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:25 am
by Dave_L
The missus complains about the smell I carry home with me - diesel! It makes everything stink, together with the aroma of the material itself it can be quite overpowering at times
On our own jobs we use diesel to keep the barrows, spazzle, boots etc clean and the paver has a diesel sprayer to spray it up. Mustn't use too much and keep off the bloody kerbs with your oily boots!
Out on Highways works, we have to use vegetable oil.........
Mind you, the heated bed isn't a bad place for heating up your pasties etc for dinnertime :p
