Tarmac drive price 600m2 .

tigerboon

893bet wrote: »

I assume if laid correctly and thick enough then these type of weeds will never come through?

I have seen this weed growing through blacktop 300mm thick.

tigerboon

tigerboon wrote: »

I have seen this weed growing through blacktop 300mm thick.

Dis the surface crack due to ground conditions or did the weed force its way all the way through?

tigerboon

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Dis the surface crack due to ground conditions or did the weed force its way all the way through?

Grew through. Appeared on the surface about a year after the roadway was built. Don't know what the existing ground was like. They might not have known it was there and so didn't excavate enough to get rid of it. Maybe it was brought in with imported fill material.

Pinky123

Howdy,
Looking for opinions on a chip and tar driveway - how durable are they and what kind of questions should I be asking - quote that I have is coming in at 9k incl VAT vs 4.5k for gravel.

All advice is really welcome

cocoman

Pinky123 wrote: »

Howdy,
Looking for opinions on a chip and tar driveway - how durable are they and what kind of questions should I be asking - quote that I have is coming in at 9k incl VAT vs 4.5k for gravel.

All advice is really welcome

How big is the driveway?

tigerboon

what about in the summer when it fattens up, sticks to shoes and is brought into the house.

Pinky123

cocoman wrote: »

How big is the driveway?

It's 500sq mts for the driveway, contractor said it was a double layer of chip and tar.

cocoman

Pinky123 wrote: »

It's 500sq mts for the driveway, contractor said it was a double layer of chip and tar.

If the kerbs are already done and there is already compacted stone down then you are getting ripped off.
I got 680 sq m of tarmac done last summer for about €8.5-9k (Galway). Kerbs had been down already and the area stoned.
If you have kids on bikes tar and chip can be slippy and stones can be brought in on shoes scraping timber floors etc.
Tar & chip will not last as long as tarmac and weeds can grow up through it. Pot holes may also form.
I'd ring around and get quotes from a few contractors. If you're in the west pm me and i can give you a few names.

tigerboon

Pinky123 wrote: »

It's 500sq mts for the driveway, contractor said it was a double layer of chip and tar.

At €15-€16 per sq.m you should have 50mm of macadam/sma by a competent contractor

macadam

The guys above are spot on dont be wasting your money on T&C its surface dressing thats all it is and thats all its good for. Also a doube layer of T&C is normally around €7per m2, its not suitable for around a house.

Pinky123

Just some more detail on the quote I got.
At the moment it's just compacted stone from when we built the house 8 years ago. The quote is €7500 including a limestone kerb for the gravel drive and €12,000 for the chip and tar with kerbing incl vat @13.5%

If this is way over the top can anyone suggest someone in north cork that I could contact to get a quote for proper Tarmac.

The contractor has already done some amazing hard landscaping for me

patsyrockem

I have renovated an older house and now need to tidy up the outside. I would have liked to have put down coloured gravel but the driveway is on a hill and I have been advised that this is not practical. (gravel will move down the hill, cars spinning etc etc) Some parts of the yard are higher than the rest but is all rock and would create an awful lot of work if it had to be taken out.
I need to know if it is ok to lay tarmac on an uneven yard? Some parts of the yard are as high as the footpaths but are well away from the footpaths. I hoping that gulleys on the edge of the footpath will take the water away. Is their anything that I need to be looking out for before I get a quote? Thanks.

macadam

Ideally you need a 1:60 fall for hand laid Tarmac and 1:80 for machine laid, can you not hammer out the high spots with a rock breaker?

patsyrockem

macadam wrote: »

Ideally you need a 1:60 fall for hand laid Tarmac and 1:80 for machine laid, can you not hammer out the high spots with a rock breaker?

Don't really want to get rockbreaker in, the whole house is built on a rock:(
I will discuss it with the contractor. I am sure he will have no problem with it? I just need to know what problems it may cause in the future before I commit to the job.
One contractor offered to pull out the rock but this added a lot of work to the whole job and expense.

macadam

I would rather chip away at it with a rock breaker than to attempt to pull the rock, you just need to lower the level of the rock enough to get a clean 50mm mat across it.

Hunt

Hi, I have learned a lot from reading everyone's reply's and questions, thanks.
I am hoping to get my driveway tarmac'd soon. From looking at other tarmac'd driveways I have noticed that the majority of them haven't held the black colour and have turned grey. I think tarmac looks well after been done but in time it loses its dark colour. Is it possible to get a SMA supplier who manufactures with a black or darker coloured stone? Is there something that can be done other than painting for it to hold its colour?
Could anyone recommend a contractor in East Galway or surrounding area?
Thanks in advance

tigerboon

Hunt wrote: »

Hi, I have learned a lot from reading everyone's reply's and questions, thanks.
I am hoping to get my driveway tarmac'd soon. From looking at other tarmac'd driveways I have noticed that the majority of them haven't held the black colour and have turned grey. I think tarmac looks well after been done but in time it loses its dark colour. Is it possible to get a SMA supplier who manufactures with a black or darker coloured stone? Is there something that can be done other than painting for it to hold its colour?
Could anyone recommend a contractor in East Galway or surrounding area?
Thanks in advance

The black is the bitumen coating. The bitumen will wear off the surface with use and the colour of the aggregate (stone) will show through. Different quarries will have different colour rock.

macadam

tigerboon wrote: »

The black is the bitumen coating. The bitumen will wear off the surface with use and the colour of the aggregate (stone) will show through. Different quarries will have different colour rock.

What you're mentioning is "delamination" this does not happen every driveway, yes it is a problem with some driveways, the main cause is unwashed aggregates.

Hunt, The reason for the change in appearance is, when oxygen and water, which constantly bathe the driveway in our climate, start to combine with the bitumen (tar) of the pavement, a chemical change takes place. At first, this process is necessary for the pavement to become hard and firm.
Heat & Sunlight will accelerate the deterioration process; salt will act as a catalyst.
Water which penetrates the surface can get into the base course to cause trouble, and at the same time start oxidizing the asphaltic binder inside the pavement.
All these above factor we can have in a given day in this country, s you should take care of your driveway.

Any decent contractor will know the remedy for this and it will extend the life of your driveway x 2, so if a tarmac driveway laid correctly lasts approx 15-20 years by treating it every 3-4 years it should serve you another 15-20 years.

slipshod

Hi folks - I'm about 12 miles from Galway City. My driveway is ~500m2 and I'm seeking a machine-laid SMA job. I've called 3 contractors but they are either not in favour of working with SMA on a driveway or will hand-lay only. I'm willing to pay a bit extra for a quality job as I'm looking at this as a ~25-30 year investment.

Any recommendations?

macadam

slipshod wrote: »

Hi folks - I'm about 12 miles from Galway City. My driveway is ~500m2 and I'm seeking a machine-laid SMA job. I've called 3 contractors but they are either not in favour of working with SMA on a driveway or will hand-lay only. I'm willing to pay a bit extra for a quality job as I'm looking at this as a ~25-30 year investment

Why are they not in favour of working with SMA or what exactly are they proposing to lay?? Have you tried Maddens or Slatterys, both lay with paver, if your driveway suits a paver .

Hunt

slipshod wrote: »

Hi folks - I'm about 12 miles from Galway City. My driveway is ~500m2 and I'm seeking a machine-laid SMA job. I've called 3 contractors but they are either not in favour of working with SMA on a driveway or will hand-lay only. I'm willing to pay a bit extra for a quality job as I'm looking at this as a ~25-30 year investment.

Any recommendations?

@ tigerboon and macadam thanks for the info

@slipshob
I’m based in Galway myself and I hope to get quotes from Belville Tarmac Athenry, Flynn M & J Contract Ltd, Athlone and Pete Hillary Tarmac, Ballymacward.

Going to request SMA manufactured with Bunratty Black stone and machine laid. People have recommended these contractors to me but I haven’t seen their work yet.

macadam

Hunt wrote: »

@ tigerboon and macadam thanks for the info

@slipshob
I’m based in Galway myself and I hope to get quotes from Belville Tarmac Athenry, Flynn M & J Contract Ltd, Athlone and Pete Hillary Tarmac, Ballymacward.

Going to request SMA manufactured with Bunratty Black stone and machine laid. People have recommended these contractors to me but I haven’t seen their work yet.

Its best if you look at work that has been done for a number years this will give you an indication what it will look like, also have a chat with the householder re the work. Good luck with your new driveway, I would leave it until next April on if I was you..

Hunt

macadam wrote: »

Its best if you look at work that has been done for a number years this will give you an indication what it will look like, also have a chat with the householder re the work. Good luck with your new driveway, I would leave it until next April on if I was you..

Thanks for the info. Is it because of the cold and frost weather I should wait until April?

macadam

Hunt wrote: »

Thanks for the info. Is it because of the cold and frost weather I should wait until April?

Ground temperature has a lot to do with it, I personally wont lay tarmac in temps under 4-5 degrees as my supplier will not guarantee the product.

Hunt

macadam wrote: »

Ground temperature has a lot to do with it, I personally wont lay tarmac in temps under 4-5 degrees as my supplier will not guarantee the product.

Thanks for all the info.

Audioslaven

Hey Mcadam,

I was reading where you stated about apply a sealer to the tarmac/sma drive to protect it. Have you an name of a product that I could use on a sma driveway.

Audioslaven

macadam

Audioslaven wrote: »

Hey Mcadam,

I was reading where you stated about apply a sealer to the tarmac/sma drive to protect it. Have you an name of a product that I could use on a sma driveway.

Audioslaven

Sent you a PM

Hunt

I had a contactor give me a price and he was up front with the area and tonnes that he would be using. He said he would do the work next April.
I had the area measured myself and he was spot on with his calculations.

Area is 445m2, he said it would require 48 tonnes of 10mm SMA and he gave me a price of 7k + VAT.
What approximate depth compacted would I get for this tonnage?
Very little preparation work is needed, is 7K + Vat going rate for this job?
Is it possible to tell the difference from looking at SMA and Macadam?

touchdown77

macadam wrote: »

Sent you a PM

Hi, can you PM the same to me please, thanks!

macadam

Hunt wrote: »

I had a contactor give me a price and he was up front with the area and tonnes that he would be using. He said he would do the work next April.
I had the area measured myself and he was spot on with his calculations.

Area is 445m2, he said it would require 48 tonnes of 10mm SMA and he gave me a price of 7k + VAT.
What approximate depth compacted would I get for this tonnage?
Very little preparation work is needed, is 7K + Vat going rate for this job?
Is it possible to tell the difference from looking at SMA and Macadam?

Compacted depth for those figures would be 45mm.
Is he laying it with a paver or by hand?
You will get it hard to tell the difference between SMA and macadam but the contractor should be able to show you the fibres in the Sma.

macadam

Touchdown77

PM sent.

Hunt

macadam wrote: »

Compacted depth for those figures would be 45mm.
Is he laying it with a paver or by hand?
You will get it hard to tell the difference between SMA and macadam but the contractor should be able to show you the fibres in the Sma.

He said he can do either and I said I wanted machine laid and he seemed to be ok with that until he was giving me the price. He said might be best to do it by hand because I would have one joint if it was done by machine. I pushed him for machine but he said we'll talk about it closer to the date. He then said SMA is easier done by hand which put me thinking. I then said i was sure SMA is harder laid by hand and he said no.
I wonder would it be the case he will ring me in a few weeks and say he's free and did i want to go ahead. In colder weather would hand be easier than machine?
I asked him about the difference between SMA and macadam and he said about the fibres in it.
Thanks for all the great advise.

macadam

Hunt wrote: »

He said he can do either and I said I wanted machine laid and he seemed to be ok with that until he was giving me the price. He said might be best to do it by hand because I would have one joint if it was done by machine. I pushed him for machine but he said we'll talk about it closer to the date. He then said SMA is easier done by hand which put me thinking. I then said i was sure SMA is harder laid by hand and he said no.
I wonder would it be the case he will ring me in a few weeks and say he's free and did i want to go ahead. In colder weather would hand be easier than machine?
I asked him about the difference between SMA and macadam and he said about the fibres in it.
Thanks for all the great advise.

SMA is harder to lay by hand, I'd be asking him more questions,, what is the layout of the driveway/ Can you PM me a few pictures. Bide your time the price may drop in New year, Im guessing that not 100% sure

Hunt

macadam wrote: »

SMA is harder to lay by hand, I'd be asking him more questions,, what is the layout of the driveway/ Can you PM me a few pictures. Bide your time the price may drop in New year, Im guessing that not 100% sure

PM Sent

jmauel

We recently got our tarmac put down (3 weeks old) .Our site is at the bottom of a hill( a hill that has natural springs in a few places). After the heavy rain fall of the last two weeks, it now looks like water is seeping up through the tarmac in a couple of sections of the driveway. Initially I thought water was pouring off the lawn onto the driveway, but I dried a section and saw the water coming up through it straight away. I called the contractor to let him know and see what could be done. He said that he could do nothing really if there is a spring below that area of the driveway , the only option was to put drainage trenches into the lawn on either side of the driveway to give another route to the water.. The lawn on one side of the driveway is definitely waterlogged. Do installing these drainage trenches sound the like the solution to this problem. ??

macadam

jmauel wrote: »

We recently got our tarmac put down (3 weeks old) .Our site is at the bottom of a hill( a hill that has natural springs in a few places). After the heavy rain fall of the last two weeks, it now looks like water is seeping up through the tarmac in a couple of sections of the driveway. Initially I thought water was pouring off the lawn onto the driveway, but I dried a section and saw the water coming up through it straight away. I called the contractor to let him know and see what could be done. He said that he could do nothing really if there is a spring below that area of the driveway , the only option was to put drainage trenches into the lawn on either side of the driveway to give another route to the water.. The lawn on one side of the driveway is definitely waterlogged. Do installing these drainage trenches sound the like the solution to this problem. ??

It will depend if the springs are directly under the driveway, were they not there previous to Tarmacing the driveway?

jmauel

macadam wrote: »

It will depend if the springs are directly under the driveway, were they not there previous to Tarmacing the driveway?

The surface of the previous driveway was very rough, and water used to gather in potholes at the bottom of it, but I always thought that was water just rolling down due to gravity. The driveway slopes down. I had wondered about a spring but never saw evidence of it ( water bubbling up in a particular spot). The water seeping up through the tarmac now is in a large enough area (that I can make out) , though its hard to tell .
And I note this morning that the water has stopped coming out of the tarmac , so it looks like its finished draining away. Does this indicate its not a spring just water from the hill draining out of the easiest access points??

A2020

Can you give me a rough price for 250m2 for driveway including prep and drangage and kerbing please I'm in Westmeath.

DrPhilG

Might as well hijack this thread rather than starting a new one.

I've been reading up and figuring out a rough cost, my driveway and yard are between 350 and 400 square metres. That's a very rough guess mind you as I haven't measured up as yet.

To complicate things, most of the prices I've seen here are based on changing from bare ground that has been compacted. My yard and drive are actually concrete. Pretty heavy duty concrete too, as the guy who fitted my gates recently had a hell of a time digging some of it up.

Does that concrete base make any difference to the amount of tarmac I would need? We have always found the concrete very industrial looking which we don't like. Also the reason I am thinking about this now is that I may need to tear up some of the concrete to relay/reinsulate the central heating pipes from the boiler to the house as I am losing a lot of heat that way. I'm hoping to justify the work on potentially tarmac-ing the drive because I'll save a few hundred € a year on heat.

I suspect that paving would be more expensive, and my wife hates gravel.

On the subject of concrete, if I decided to just stick with it, I would end up with a track across the back yard from where the concrete was dug up and refilled and that would look crap. Any way to avoid this?

macadam

A2020 wrote: »

Can you give me a rough price for 250m2 for driveway including prep and drangage and kerbing please I'm in Westmeath.

Pm me your details..

macadam

DrPhilG wrote: »

Might as well hijack this thread rather than starting a new one.

I've been reading up and figuring out a rough cost, my driveway and yard are between 350 and 400 square metres. That's a very rough guess mind you as I haven't measured up as yet.

To complicate things, most of the prices I've seen here are based on changing from bare ground that has been compacted. My yard and drive are actually concrete. Pretty heavy duty concrete too, as the guy who fitted my gates recently had a hell of a time digging some of it up.

Does that concrete base make any difference to the amount of tarmac I would need? We have always found the concrete very industrial looking which we don't like. Also the reason I am thinking about this now is that I may need to tear up some of the concrete to relay/reinsulate the central heating pipes from the boiler to the house as I am losing a lot of heat that way. I'm hoping to justify the work on potentially tarmac-ing the drive because I'll save a few hundred € a year on heat.

I suspect that paving would be more expensive, and my wife hates gravel.

On the subject of concrete, if I decided to just stick with it, I would end up with a track across the back yard from where the concrete was dug up and refilled and that would look crap. Any way to avoid this?

Hi,

You could thrust bore under the concrete, this would mean a hole each end though which will still need to be patched or manholes placed for future repairs or pipe laying. Depending on falls etc you could cover the concrete with 30mm of sMA but again you will need the concrete crack free and all joints reinforced with geo grid and the whole area will require a decent tack coat..

macadam

Just a wee note; I will No longer be replying to PM's from people on here with under 25 posts,just had a few time wasters, some of whom are rogue traders taking the proverbial. Post your queries on here and I will help you out otherwise contact your nearest registered contractor .

DrPhilG

macadam wrote: »

Hi,

You could thrust bore under the concrete, this would mean a hole each end though which will still need to be patched or manholes placed for future repairs or pipe laying. Depending on falls etc you could cover the concrete with 30mm of sMA but again you will need the concrete crack free and all joints reinforced with geo grid and the whole area will require a decent tack coat..

Many thanks for the reply.

Sorry to be a nuisance but have you any rough idea of the costs of the thrust bore option?

I'd prefer tarmac to be honest, we've never really liked the concrete. But my wife is worried about cost.

macadam

DrPhilG wrote: »

Many thanks for the reply.

Sorry to be a nuisance but have you any rough idea of the costs of the thrust bore option?

I'd prefer tarmac to be honest, we've never really liked the concrete. But my wife is worried about cost.

What length is involved in the renewing of pipes?
To be honest if your going to cover the concrete you would be better digging the trench and placing the insulated pipes in the trench with access each end, thrust bore is brilliant but it can go a stray, if there was a large stone or other services etc..
Get it measured and Pm Me, Ill give you a guide price ..

connacht1979

HI, just stumbled on this forum. Can anyone recommend a tarmac contractor in the Sligo area??? I've approx 400m2 of gravel/hardcore driveway with drainage installed and want to get a costing for tarmac surface.

Akabusi

Hi Macadam,

Would I be too far away for you to do a job? I'm on the Cavan/Westmeath/Longford border. The area isn't massive at approx 150m2 but its not straight forward. There is a fall from the road to the house so drainage would probably be necessary. The existing drive is compacted gravel that has been down about 20 years. The SMA would be meeting concrete (back and sides of house has concrete and it finishes level with the footpath to the front of the house. There is very little depth between concrete and existing drive in some places (maybe 20mm). There are no kerbs in place yet for existing drive.

Added to this I have to lower part if the front garden by about 75mm. A neighbour of mine who has a mini digger would do this part

I have read the whole thread and see that this is a job that short cuts can be easily done on and would like it done by someone I could trust. As you or someone else previously have said a job well done could see this last 25 years so I'm off the opinion that I'd rather it done right and not skimp.

Just to give you an idea of location I'm an hours drive from Ardee. I can send you on photos if necessary

Thanks
Abakusi

Boaty

Anyone know if tarmac sealer, the one you paint on, would seal in small stones?

Or is the sealer purely cosmetic?

macadam

Akabusi wrote: »

Hi Macadam,

Would I be too far away for you to do a job? I'm on the Cavan/Westmeath/Longford border. The area isn't massive at approx 150m2 but its not straight forward. There is a fall from the road to the house so drainage would probably be necessary. The existing drive is compacted gravel that has been down about 20 years. The SMA would be meeting concrete (back and sides of house has concrete and it finishes level with the footpath to the front of the house. There is very little depth between concrete and existing drive in some places (maybe 20mm). There are no kerbs in place yet for existing drive.

Added to this I have to lower part if the front garden by about 75mm. A neighbour of mine who has a mini digger would do this part

I have read the whole thread and see that this is a job that short cuts can be easily done on and would like it done by someone I could trust. As you or someone else previously have said a job well done could see this last 25 years so I'm off the opinion that I'd rather it done right and not skimp.

Just to give you an idea of location I'm an hours drive from Ardee. I can send you on photos if necessary

Thanks
Abakusi

Send them on an hours drive from louth is no problem..

macadam

Boaty wrote: »

Anyone know if tarmac sealer, the one you paint on, would seal in small stones?

Or is the sealer purely cosmetic?

The only sealer I use, is just that a sealer and all loose chips should be removed. Then you have a chance of sealing ie saving the rest of the driveway.
The few times I had to go back and advise on maintenance, I could see the public road was tar and chipped, the loose chips would gather under here the wheels drive on the driveway these are like a wedge trying to remove other chips and loosen there grip. If you have a loose chip it may have been carried in on a wheel and IT will continue to remove other chips.

Boaty

I've pmed you.