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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:23 pm
by janewhite
I have a long - half mile - driveway that is in dire need of resurfacing. The plan is to use cold tar molasses and then cover in 10mm shingle. I have been told that we are crazy doing this in winter because of the wet weather and the frost. Could you advise please.
many thanks
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:21 am
by lutonlagerlout
what on earth are cold tar molasses
this sounds like the dreaded road planings
if it is beware they are cheap and very nasty
better off with crushed concrete and shingle
cheers LLL 
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:22 am
by lutonlagerlout
btw weather is no prob for this type of surfacing
cheers LLL
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:17 am
by Dave_L
I'm as lost as you are Tone!
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:06 am
by janewhite
many thanks for the comments. Having asked for clarification cold tar molasses is a cold tar emulsion. The spec we have is for holes to be filled with basecoat ashphalt and then for tar emulsion to be spread and then topped with the 10mm shingle. Does this sound any better?
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:02 pm
by surreyhillslandscapes.com
Found this at "askthebuilder.com" , hope it helps
"Weather conditions are very important when it comes to these surfaces and their installation. Hot, dry early summer weather almost always offers the best conditions. The liquid asphalt sticks best to warm dry surfaces. It also sticks to falling leaves and flower petals! This means that you don't want these things around when you are installing a tar and chip surface.
Air and surface temperature are critical. It is important that once the hot liquid asphalt is sprayed that it does not chill or cool before the loose chips are scattered across the asphalt. In fact, in most applications, the chips are usually installed within 1 to 2 minutes. The faster the chips are installed, the better chance they have of sticking to the liquid asphalt cement.
If you have to use an emulsified asphalt, be careful of rain. If it rains before the emulsifying agent evaporates, your asphalt can wash away!"
...................................................................................
I used to work for a company that did "tar and chip" The preparation could be carried out anytime of the year, we only ever did the top coating from March through till October/ September. If it was too cold there was trouble with the tar going cold too fast and sometimes solidifying in the machine hoses.
The only thing with tar and chip driveways is that after a year or two or the chippings start wearing where the car has been driving (especially turning) and your left with bald spots that need topping up. Also If you have overhanging trees, when it comes to autumn trying to sweep up leaves is a complete nightmare, and using a leaf blower can blow small loose chippings away, in my humble opinion 20mm shingle on a crushed lime type 1 base would be better.
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:23 pm
by lutonlagerlout
janewhite wrote:many thanks for the comments. Having asked for clarification cold tar molasses is a cold tar emulsion. The spec we have is for holes to be filled with basecoat ashphalt and then for tar emulsion to be spread and then topped with the 10mm shingle. Does this sound any better?
i think 10mm shingle would be to big to stick to a thin layer of asphalt
what is the existing surface?
i would have thought that with a tar and chip the aggregate would have to be quite small,say 4-6mm
regards LLL
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:32 pm
by Dave_L
The surface dressing will need to be done on a dry, warm day for it to be a success. This is why you see so much surface dressing work on the roads during the summer months.
Forget doing it on a damp cold day......
tbh, I'd suggest the whole job is left until spring. I could post up a pic of a tar and chip job we were involved in a few weeks ago, when it was dry and warm!
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:31 am
by seanandruby
a stretch of road between seaford and newhaven gets done almost every year.
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:27 pm
by Dave_L
seanandruby wrote:a stretch of road between seaford and newhaven gets done almost every year.
Would be cheaper to channel plane it and resurface it in it's entirety!!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 7:52 pm
by Pablo
My old man feeds his cows molasses it's a by product of sugar cane refining and they go mad for it. You could smear it on a brick and they'd eat the whole thing so think your contractor has his wording mixed up or else it would make a good you tube clip. Cow eats driveway :laugh:
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:18 pm
by lutonlagerlout
who do you think produces the most top soil in the uk?
british sugar!!
its a by-product of sugar beet production
strange but true
LLL
:;):
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:39 pm
by Pablo
Nice one mate you should have a spot on this site titled random sh*te and after dinner anecdotes a spot called top tip for the day would be good too. Don't think I'd be putting any of that stuff in my tea though. :;):
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:58 pm
by Dave_L
Pablo wrote:Nice one mate you should have a spot on this site titled random sh*te and after dinner anecdotes a spot called top tip for the day would be good too.
Pablo - not one to mince his words!!
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:34 pm
by James.Q
when working darn sarf the worst sand we got for back filling . wos the stuff they blasted through the furnacess to clean them . really hated doing services but it woz as cheap as chips