You can expect a gravel driveway to last up to 100 years if well maintained and weeded regularly. Pros

Although you can usually walk on a new Tarmac driveway after a few hours, DON’T drive on it until all the solvent has evaporated and the surface is fully cured. Usually, the surface won’t be strong enough to support a car’s weight until three days have elapsed. But, take advice from the contractor because depending on the weather, it might take as many as seven days. Installation of edging – Installing timber edging will take less time than kerbstones or concrete but will have a shorter lifetime and won’t look as good. Because Tarmac is an unbroken surface, it is tough for grass and weeds to gain a hold. This is especially true because of the weed barrier and compressed hardcore used in the foundation. However, there will always be a few weeds that root inside a small surface hole, so remove them as soon as they appear.Usually, a Tarmac driveway is considered a cheap option. And this is one of its biggest advantages. You can generally buy a cheap Tarmac driveway for about the same price as a gravel drive, but it looks much cleaner and more professional. The UK government’s regulations on the types of surfaces used for driveways describe all the approved and prohibited variations. They advise on how to minimise flooding and pollution of watercourses by urban development and surface water runoff. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. A well-built Tarmac surface is also relatively easy to repair in the future if it becomes damaged. Any DIY enthusiast can buy a bag of cold lay Tarmac and patch a few holes. However, don’t expect the repair to be seamless; you will always notice. Low machinery and set-up costs invite inexperienced installers, who probably will do a substandard job.

Unfortunately, the contractors are usually unskilled and want to finish as soon as possible. Generally, they cut corners, forget preparation work and do a shoddy job. The prices of all materials vary depending on where you are in the country. As a helpful tip, choose the material that is plentiful in your area. There are other makes that come with a cold bitumen sealant, also known as a tarmac repair kit. With these you ideally need to square off the area to be patched and dig down until you get to firm ground. Then you apply the sealant to the bottom and sides of the area to be patched. And then you put the contents of the bag into the hole and flatten down with a spade. The cold bitumen sealant seals the bottom and sides of the hole after you patch it. This prevents water from getting in and damaging the underlying foundation. Strictly speaking patching holes in your driveway with this method is the tried and tested way of patching potholes. It should therefore last longer… but there are some amazing products on the market today so it is best to ask around. You can use many types of driveway surfaces, but a Tarmac driveway is probably one of the best for affordability and durability. However, installing a Tarmac driveway isn’t a job for the local handyman or a DIY project. Instead, you need a professional and qualified installation company to ensure you have customer service in case anything goes wrong. Never pay in cash. Usually, reputable contractors provide a written quotation, supply an invoice, and accept a cheque.Lay hardcore, followed by gravel/sand ballast into the excavation. Then compress the ballast to provide a firm and stable base of the required depth. Typically, most UK driveways take between 1 to 2 days to install. However, various tasks will increase the duration:

The first and best alternative to a complete Tarmac driveway installation is to re-lay Tarmac onto an existing driveway surface. However, this isn’t always possible. So, speak to your local contractor and get the professional’s advice. If you decide to go ahead with this, and the existing driveway is sound, it can take only a few hours. Concrete Driveways Provide a suitable foundation. This step might involve excavation and removal of the current driveway, or if the existing driveway is of good quality, leave it in place. Lay a 50mm deep base coat of Tarmac, followed by an additional top layer. Spread, roll and compact the Tarmac to provide a smooth finish.

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There are many different tarmac repair products available today and for advice on which would be most suitable for you to use you should ask your local supplier. However, having said that some makes are a complete solution in themselves. All you have to do is sweep the loose debris out of the hole to be patched and then dump the stuff into the hole. Flatten it down with a spade and off you go. Tarmac repair has never been simpler. When assessing the scope of the project, it’s essential to consider the preparation work involved. Sometimes, the existing driveway is in good condition and can be used directly as the foundation. Alternatively, the extent of the foundations and subsequent costs often won’t be evident until the contractor excavates and you find out what’s below the surface. Therefore, be prepared for this and ask the contractor for a worst possible case scenario estimate. Alternatively, agree to an hourly rate for excavation and a set price for Tarmac laying. Dropping the Kerb Here are some of the different factors that influence the price of your new Tarmac drive. Raw Material

This cookie is used by Issuu analytic system to gather information regarding visitor activity on Issuu products. A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. Excavate foundation to reach suitable subsoil. If the ground contains deep topsoil, the excavation must be deeper than usual. Usually, a driveway installation contractor supplies their own machines and equipment and will factor the cost of these into your quotation. However, for your information, here are the typical prices for the following pieces of equipment:As with every home improvement project, each one is unique and will involve varying details. However, we can summarise them all into a few steps. Below is a typical generalised overview of the process involved in laying Tarmac. It is acceptable to pay 10% of the total price in advance to show you’re committed to the project. But, do not pay any more until you are happy with the finished job. Not surprisingly, many homeowners jump at the chance of a cheap driveway and readily agree to the proposal. Dropping kerbs and strengthening pavements is a job for a professional contractor in conjunction with your local council. You must apply to the local council for the work to be done, and it must be carried out by a local authority approved contractor. Probably, your local tarmac driveway company is already on the local authority approved contractor list. After inspection by the local authority’s surveyors, the council will send you an invoice for the work carried out. Next Steps Usually, these affect the overall price because of the increased complexity of the project, labour and material costs they incur.