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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 2:57 pm
by Swifters
Hi All, I recently employed a firm to asphalt my drive and in my opinion they have done a poor job. It's approximately 74 square metres and they gave me a price of £2124.00 to supply and lay 60mm of 20mm DBM base course and 30mm of 6mm SMA wearing course on top. The trouble is they took ages to do the job, I have been asking since the summer and they eventually started to come a few weeks ago. When they did the final coat it was pouring down with rain and they didn't lay the top coat in one go like I was expecting. I'm now left with three different sections of asphalt and there's a dip where water gathers by the front door. In fairness to the firm, they have said they are going to come back and resurface the lot when it's warm (whenever that will be, April 2015?).
However, one of my neighbours said I was being a bit fussy and that they would have to have a join somewhere? What do people think on here? Many thanks
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 5:12 pm
by Captain Concrete
SMA is very hard to hand lay, we always use a hot box if were hand laying it, did they pitch the joint? Some times joints are unavoidable as for the price its about right.
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 5:29 pm
by Kuts
Can you post a pic?
SMA is pretty tough stuff to lay but should give a far superior finish.......if done correctly.
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 5:55 pm
by Swifters
The base course was only 36 sqm by the way. The rest had a pre existing concrete base
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 6:44 pm
by Kuts
Yeah that's a poor job. i take it they only had a small pickup?
Shouldn't have had a joint in a job that size
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 6:46 pm
by Swifters
They had a 7 1/2 ton pick up lorry. I'd have thought they could have done it one hit? Is putting another coat over whats already there going to be ok?
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 8:52 pm
by msh paving
That dip is a disgrace, whole job is poor, dont pay them MSH 
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 7:33 am
by Captain Concrete
I have seen a hell of a lot worse, when working with SMA by hand at this time of year you can not have a huge working area, due to the fact that it would of gone off significantly by the time you get back to the bit you laid 1st so the joints in my opinion are fine I would off liked to see them get sealed. it also looks like its well compacted except for the open bit at the bottom of the 1st photo. As for the dip it would of been good for that section to be regulated better with the base course but it wont damage the integrity of the drive (as long as its not soft underneath) and SMA is a very good wearing course, maybe a good compromise would be to ask the contractor to pitch the joint and give a discount?
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 10:24 am
by Swifters
Sorry but I'm not sure what people mean by "pitch the joint"? Do you mean seal the joints? Just to clarify, the price was for approximately 36 sqm of 60mm of 20mm DBM base course and 74sqm of 30mm sma. I had compacted down the type one for the 36sqm and the remaining area had an existing concrete base, granted this was not level as in the second picture , but I made them aware of this and they assured me they could level this out. I'm not too concerned over the joints but the dip is quite annoying... I was quoted £2124,00 and I don't really think I've got what I should have?
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 11:55 am
by Captain Concrete
Hi, sorry by pitch the joint I mean seal it with some hot tar, see below.
https://www.meonuk.com/media/wysiwyg/Overbanding/Overbanding_Tape.jpg
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 11:59 am
by Swifters
Looks a bit naff though! I don't know if £2124 is a good/fair/bad price for 36sqm of base and 74sqm of sma but I was expecting more for my money...
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:41 pm
by Dave_L
Shocking job. £28ish inc the VAT a square for that spec, that's at the lower end.......
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 7:30 pm
by lutonlagerlout
to me the laying looks not bad but that price is wildly cheap
the dip :~) not good
MSH to say dont pay them is a bit unfair,we have only heard 1 side of the story here
jonathan
I feel you should discuss your concerns with the company and come to some arrangement
I.E pay up 80% and the rest when they sort that dip out
IMHO
LLL
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 6:03 pm
by neatcon
Looks more like Marshall asphalt and probably not enough depth, agree the dip is disgraceful.
