Page 1 of 2
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:15 am
by Forestboy1978
Just finished a load of work on some peoples garden and front garden, fencing, soft landscaping etc. I've told them that I have never done tarmacing before but they are adamant that they want me to tarmac the drive. Obviously this is a nice compliment as they have absolute faith in my ability to do a sterling job but I don't. However with winter approaching and no hard and fast time to schedule it, it's nice to have a medium job in reserve for when the work starts to dry up ie december.
So...
They have already got a tarmac drive way that has been good for 15 years already and in good condition. They want it extended widthways and re covered so the new and old match up. The whole area could handle raising up an inch so could I prep the new area an inch higher and bind it and tarmac it and then run the new tarmac over the old as well or would I need to somehow scrape away the top surface of the old driveway and re do it. Or should I take away everything and start again. As I said the old drive way is in good condition after 15+ years so the sub base must be good.
Any advice would be grand
Thanks
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:39 am
by Dave_L
"It's only a bit of tarmac!"
Sounds ripe for an overlay but this isn't the type of work anyone should carry out without the proper tools and knowledge, it can all go wrong in minutes, leaving you a right mess to deal with.
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:07 am
by Pablo
I couldn't stress highly enough that you shouldn't be doing this there's no way you'll do be able to do a proper job if you've no tools or experience. You can still be the contractor though and do all the prep and sub the finishing to a decent tarmac firm. That way the it's still your job and the clients happy.
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:07 am
by Forestboy1978
Yeah I can imagine...
I guess trying to find a good tarmacer that is out of work is a futile task? Happy to split up the quote and be someone's errand boy if I learn a thing or 2.
Anyone want a weeks work in southampton over december, I can get hold of the plant required?
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:12 am
by lutonlagerlout
as the lads said ,its not something you can learn in a day
and quality tarmaccers are really hard to find, I only know 2 and they both work for multinationals (local to me i mean dave L etc)
I am sure that big phil mentioned that block paving is almost as cheap as tarmac now due to the massive price increases in tarmac
food for thought
LLL
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:14 am
by Forestboy1978
Pablo wrote:I couldn't stress highly enough that you shouldn't be doing this there's no way you'll do be able to do a proper job if you've no tools or experience. You can still be the contractor though and do all the prep and sub the finishing to a decent tarmac firm. That way the it's still your job and the clients happy.
That's what I was thinking. Any recommendations in Southampton by chance?
My worries are though that if I prep it, ie fit concrete edging and drainage, maybe compact the sub base that would remove responsibility to the firm that finishes the job. Ultimately I'll be the one having to go back and sort it out.
If I just gutted the area and fitted edging and drainage would that still leave room for the old it wasn't me it was him scenario. Re edging, would you, could you do that before commencing the job or after?
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:19 am
by Forestboy1978
lutonlagerlout wrote:as the lads said ,its not something you can learn in a day
and quality tarmaccers are really hard to find, I only know 2 and they both work for multinationals (local to me i mean dave L etc)
I am sure that big phil mentioned that block paving is almost as cheap as tarmac now due to the massive price increases in tarmac
food for thought
LLL
Unfortunately block paving is out of the question as they already have a fairly workable tarmac drive way. If they were to have block paving the whole lot would have to come up. Job would be 3 times bigger.
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:23 am
by local patios and driveway
I think you are crazy to risk your good reputation with your customer by trying to do something that youve never done. Especially specialist work, they trust you, so you should be honest and decline the work.
Best for you, best for the client.
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:41 am
by Forestboy1978
I agree with you.
shit, hate turning down work!
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:54 am
by michaelthegardener
Forestboy1978 wrote:I agree with you.
shit, hate turning down work!
Better to turn it down than balls it up and lose your good name its why i dont (well hardly ever) do anywork with trees i tell people i can kill em but i aint qualified to do anything else with em 
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:54 am
by GB_Groundworks
im an experienced groundworker and laid lots of asphalt, but now unless its a small path etc we get our surfacing lads in. they just d such better job on anything wider than 1.5metres. we base up laying the base with excavators etc but all our finished work is done my surfacing lads. try and find a good medium sized firm that has a paver,(you wont need it for this job) as that tends to be an indication of the serious lads from the potential rogueish elements. they will have smaller crews who patch and do domestic work, get them to quote for you, see previous work etc then use that as your base for your quote. if its only an overlay add your mark up etc so only your choice of contractor is going to affect your reputation.
Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1319367342
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 1:38 pm
by DNgroundworks
I usually try and talk them round to something else, worked on the last job, the wanted 70m2 of tarmac with red chippings rolled in, did the salesman pitch and persuaded them to have bradstone blocks 
they were glad with their final choice lol
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 7:26 pm
by specialbranch
As the others have said you need to find your self a good surfacing team. Get them to quote for the overlay then you do all the groundwork. You still get a couple of days work out of it kerbing and stoning up and you can put a mark up on the top coat. Unfortunatley the good guys I use are in West Yorks. I found a guy who does a lot of work for the council, he has a decent size company but still small enough to want the domestic work.
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:32 pm
by Forestboy1978
Cheers guys, I'm gonna think on it.
I may just edge what's there and fit some drainage for the pooling area they currently have and recommend that mesh stuff that you can drive on without damaging your grass!
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 12:17 am
by simeonronacrete
How about laying a new tarmac base and then put RonDeck Resin Bound Surfacing on top of both?