The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Fri Mar 18, 2005 7:19 am**

Hi
Over the past few weeks I have been getting in quotes for a new drive which has ranged from concrete to block to tarmac. I have now got one which seems ok price wise and content. Can anyone tell me if this quote seems ok in terms or price and the materials used etc etc.

Excavate 34.80m2 of spoil from front garden
Excavate 2m of existing front wall and make good.
Cover area with 1200 gauge membrane.
Fill area with type one aggregate stone and compact to form sub base.
Base area to existing concrete level.
Seal cracks in existing concrete driveway with bitumen and remove loose concrete area's
Apply a cold seal bitumen leatack to existing concrete drive.
Tarmac all (113.0m2) with 6mm 125 Penn close graded wearing course.
Compact with 1.5 ton roller and vibrating plate
Remove all waste and clean site.

The price comes in at Â£3300 inc VAT.

The company is a member of the local councils approved list in conjunction with trading standards.

Thanks for any help you can give me.
Thanks for the great site as over the past few weeks I would have been lost without it

Regards

Posted: **Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:32 am**

Sorry I should have said I have another option which is the same as the above but the existing drive taken up and a new concrete drive laid including the new bit in the front garden. This comes out at Â£4200. Which would be the best option for me? and is the price ok?

Regards

Posted: **Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:59 pm**

Price for the bitmac seems ok - the only thing that worries me slightly is the suggestion that the damp proof membrane (1200 gauge membrane) would be laid beneath the sub-base. That's a BIG no-no. If a DPM is to be used at all, and I don't know why one would on a construction of this type, it should be ABOVE the sub-base.

I wonder if they meant a permeable geo-textile??

I'd like some clarification on the tack coat (Apply a cold seal bitumen leatack to existing concrete drive). It's either cold pour or it's tack coat, but it can't be both.

And I'd like to see a minimum thickness specified. They may say 20mm, which is, technically, acceptable, but I much, much prefer 25mm as a minimum for overlays.

Have they mentioned the risk of differential settlement in the bitmac? The material laid over the existing concrete won't settle or compact as much as that laid over the flexible sub-base. It may well take 5-10 years to become apparaent, but there is a real and genuine risk that you will eventually be able to spot where the old concrete is and where the flexible sub-base begins, because there'll be a minor dip or lip along the joint.

I'm a little more surprised that the concrete option is a grand more expensive. 4.2K for 113 mÂ² is 37 quid per metre, which is not bad, but is at the upper end of what I would deem reasonable.

Posted: **Fri Mar 18, 2005 5:15 pm**

Thank you very much Tony

I will ask him about the points you made. I did ask him about the differencial settlement in the existing drive and the new bit. His reply was "yes it can and does happen but we will make the mix with cement which gives a firmer base" I have checked with trading standards and Hampshire county council and he is a member of fair traders so he is ok in that repect. I will ask about the tack coat and the membrane.

Thanks again

Posted: **Sat Mar 19, 2005 8:53 am**

Tony
Just to let you know he has answered all the points to my satisfaction and the depth of the tarmac will be 30mm.

Thanks for your help in this and without this site I would have been totally lost. He has given me addresses of other jobs he has done and I am totally confident he will do a good job

Thanks again

The Brew Cabin

Tarmac drive - Help needed