Replacing existing tarmac drive - Replacing existing tarmac drive

[mmolyneux]

Hi, I currently have a very untidy and bumpy tarmac drive (10 meters x 5 meters roughly). The surface is cracked in places and has dips in others and look awful! Thinking of gravelling it,tarmacing it or block paving it. Price-wise I guess gravelling (or pebbles etc.,) is the cheapest. I'm assuming that since it's already tarmaced (and has been for a number of years) that the base under the tarmac is OK to re-use. In other words, can I scrape off the top surface of the tarmac and lay gravel down? Same for re-tarmacing or block paving!? One question, the drive slopes towards the house slightly, but near the house it levels off... is this an issue? Thanks for any help/advice.

[Tony McC]

The dips in the existing surface are a concern - they probably indicate settlement in the sub-base, but it's unlikely to be owt serious.

So: if you go for gravel.....

Remove bitmac, re-grade and regulate sub-base with Type 1 material or equivalent to create an even sub-base for the gravel; dressing, which should not be more than 40mm deep.


Bitmac: remove existing, regrade and regulate sub-base as required, bring in specialist surfacing contractor.

Block Paving: remove existing, scrape off existing sub-base to a level of at least 130mm below planned paving level, then regulate with at least 50mm of fresh Type 1 material before laying blocks.

As the drive is backfalling, if you go with the bitmac or block option, you really ought to install some form of drainage.