Diy tarmacing

johnegrey · Post: # 7168Post **johnegrey** Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:23 pm

I have an area approx 15m2 of drive which I would like to tarmac. Having read the info on the site I feel I could give it a go myself, I have a materials wholesaler down the road from me and access to a 3.5 tonne tipper. My question is, should I be giving it a go? and if I do should I be hiring a mechanical roller or will a hand-roller sufice? The site is virgin, and I will be following the guidelines on the site for layers and thicknesses. Thanks for the help.

j

Post: # 7171Post **Tony McC** Thu Feb 24, 2005 2:27 pm

A materials wholesaler? Wossat?? Tarmac comes from a batching plant - if you mean a Builder's merchant, they only sell the deferred set rubbish that I could NEVER recommend for anything other than emergnecy or short-term patching. For a driveway, you really do need hot-lay materials.

johnegrey · Post: # 7177Post **johnegrey** Thu Feb 24, 2005 4:22 pm

Hi Tony,

No I don't mean a builders merchant, I mean a 'what you said'. They sell mainly to the utility boards and Council road gangs but they will also sell 1 tonne plus loads to the general public. All hot-lay, base and wear.

Post: # 7179Post **Tony McC** Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:19 pm

Well, if you feel you could handle a couple of tonnes in 30 mins or so - go for it!

It'd be a lot better if you had another rake-hand and someone on the roiller, rather than trying to it it all yourself. Tonne and a half of base should only take 15 mins to lay, level and roll, and then you need around a tonne of surface course, which will take a bit longer because you need to be more accurate.

Have you got steel rakes and/or a lute, and could you rustle up a firebox?