Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:51 pm
Hi guys,
I need some advice with a drive way that i want laid. The more quotes from contractors and advice from family/friends the more confused I get.
The area is approx 620sq metres. Like everybody I want to pay a reasonable price but I want to ensure I get a good job.
First area of confusion. Machine or hand laid.
I am told that machine laid is the best job but all the contractors lay tarmacadam by hand and they say it is a better job because it wont leave a thin line in the various sections of the driveway (It is a y shaped drive - back, gable end, front and driveway out to the road).
Second area of confusion. Tarmac or SMA
The contractors have all quoted for tarmac and some had never heard of SMA. The qoutes vary from 10mm dense wearing course 50mm depth to 2 inches of tarmacadam (is that the same thing??)
A friend told me to go for 10mm SMA machine laid as it is the best job.
I think my driveway is currently made up of 804 crushed stone. I am pretty sure a good lot of stone was put in to the driveway when I was building our house. But there are a lot of weeds in the driveway and I plan to give it a good dose of round up.
The quotes for tarmac range from €4850-8700ex vat (that includes prepare ground, lay tarmac and provide drainage where necessary). And I am told to expect to pay in the region of €7500+(ex vat) for the SMA.
In summary
should i go tarmac or SMA? and what is the best thickness to get?
and after making that decision what is the best method of laying the drive?
What base should go in and will the round up and the base be sufficent to prevent the weeds growing back up through the finished job?
And finally as a general discussion what do ye think of the quotes?
Thanks in advance
I need some advice with a drive way that i want laid. The more quotes from contractors and advice from family/friends the more confused I get.
The area is approx 620sq metres. Like everybody I want to pay a reasonable price but I want to ensure I get a good job.
First area of confusion. Machine or hand laid.
I am told that machine laid is the best job but all the contractors lay tarmacadam by hand and they say it is a better job because it wont leave a thin line in the various sections of the driveway (It is a y shaped drive - back, gable end, front and driveway out to the road).
Second area of confusion. Tarmac or SMA
The contractors have all quoted for tarmac and some had never heard of SMA. The qoutes vary from 10mm dense wearing course 50mm depth to 2 inches of tarmacadam (is that the same thing??)
A friend told me to go for 10mm SMA machine laid as it is the best job.
I think my driveway is currently made up of 804 crushed stone. I am pretty sure a good lot of stone was put in to the driveway when I was building our house. But there are a lot of weeds in the driveway and I plan to give it a good dose of round up.
The quotes for tarmac range from €4850-8700ex vat (that includes prepare ground, lay tarmac and provide drainage where necessary). And I am told to expect to pay in the region of €7500+(ex vat) for the SMA.
In summary
should i go tarmac or SMA? and what is the best thickness to get?
and after making that decision what is the best method of laying the drive?
What base should go in and will the round up and the base be sufficent to prevent the weeds growing back up through the finished job?
And finally as a general discussion what do ye think of the quotes?
Thanks in advance