The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:27 pm**

Hi
I am desperately seeking some advice regarding the emergence of 'horse tails' through my (relatively) new tarmacadam driveway.
I had the new driveway installed late July/ August 2010...a tarmacadam driveway with perimeter setts & kerbs.
The Contractor dug down 300mm and installed a 'geotextile' membrane and min. 150mm sub-base, laid to Highways Agency "Specification for Highways", prior to the tarmac and paving.
The Contractor is a reputable local company and I never doubted his workmanship. Whilst I didn't see the geotextile membrane go down, the Contractor claims it was installed and may have some progress photos to prove it.
My problem is that just 10 months after the installation, 'horse tail' weeds broke out through the tarmac surface in 6 random locations across the driveway.
After several calls to the Contractor, he has visited the Site and whilst he sympathises with me, claims that he installed everything correctly and its just bad luck! He's never had it happen to him before and can offer no further assistance, except to advise me to treat it with weedkiller!

I feel I must start to push the Contractor to provide proof that the geotextile membrane went down and if so, what is it's specification. Do I then have any cause to complain against the membrane manufacturer?
Either way, is it reasonable to ask for the driveway to be relaid?
Remember, I paid almost Â£4k for this 11 months ago and I am understandably a little upset!

I've enclosed photos of the driveway as initially installed and also some of the dreaded weeds.

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.
Thanks for looking.

Posted: **Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:10 pm**

Hi, firstly your drive looks really nice and for what you paid id be happy. As for them damn weeds well if they can get thru 100mm of tarmac then a membrane wont stop them neither. Weve had our drive to the farm tarmac'd last year using road laying machine and the same weeds have come thru! Now i dont know too much about tarmacadam but i suspect your contractor hasnt done anything wrong and these weeds are well known to get thru just about anything. We have used a heavy duty (agri) type weed killer on the spots where it has come thru, rub your foot over them to break the surface off so they will absorb the fluid. its done the trick. just remember though this is Britains worst weed!!

Posted: **Sat Jul 02, 2011 2:05 pm**

http://ext.pavingexpert.com/cgi-bin....;t=9465
A recent thread

Posted: **Sat Jul 02, 2011 10:12 pm**

asphalt looks a little bumpy to me. a bit of a shame if an area that size was compacted with just a whacker plate.

any investigation would cause a degree of damage to the drive, would that annoy you more than treating the odd weed?

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 11:48 am**

mares tail is a survivor but like phil says asphalt could have been rolled a little better, does it puddle after rain?

was there any mares tail before installation? what was there before? did he clear a bit of lawn? as id be intrigued if there was no mares tail before where its come from?

what subbase did he use? crusher run? or virgin quarried aggregate? as id want to know if no mares tail was present before how it got under your drive? might be unlucky spread on the wind etc or brought in on the machine tracks etc?

id ask to see the photos of the drive in progress to se the membrane but mares tail has been around 60 odd million years. as pablo says a serious agricultural weed killer will sort it out.

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 7:23 pm**

get some old fashioned creosote on them.its the only thing that kills it apparantly ???

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 8:19 pm**

Creosote is now banned and can't be bought for love nor money Dan.

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 8:48 pm**

The quality of that surfacing is appalling!

My money is on the subbase containing the weed.

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:03 pm**

Creosote is now banned and can't be bought for love nor money Dan

I brought some. You have to be a fencing contractor and buy 25litres!

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:04 pm**

Dave_L wrote:My money is on the subbase containing the weed.

Its quite remarkable that the stuff can grow through tarmac

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:13 pm**

Pablo wrote:Creosote is now banned and can't be bought for love nor money Dan.

buildbase builders merchants sell it over here. you have to have 25 litres though, what difference that makes, god knows. think its suppose to mean you are a contractor and not a diy'er.

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:13 pm**

Is it not a substitute Dan i've used the big cans but they've never been the old school stuff.

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:19 pm**

pour enough creosote on the tarmac and you'll be rolling it for the next 10 summers.

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:22 pm**

Is it not a substitute Dan i've used the big cans but they've never been the old school stuff.

nope. see creosote

Edited By dig dug dan on 1309724829

Posted: **Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:24 pm**

Your link doesn't work but I believe you it must just be banned over here then.

The Brew Cabin

Horse tails in new tarmac - Advice required please