Open Association of Landscape Industries
Tarmac???
Hello all,
Can someone tell me what depth of base and tarmac should be for a normal driveway. We have gypsies carving up the market here with 25mm of crusher base and a screed of tarmac topping. I have never done tarmac before so would just like to know what would be the correct amounts of each?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Simon Smith on -
Its needs an independant sub-base as any driveway of at least 150mm then a binder and a wearing coat. Generally both of these together make up a further 100mm ish
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Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by John Cavill on -
oh no, will you translate this for me? So the base needs to be 150mm then something that binds the Tarmac to the base, then the tarmac. is this right?
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Permalink Reply by Simon Smith on
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The sub-base would typically be compacted hardcore MOT type 1 or even concrete this is the structural layer to spread the load.
The binder course is then a thicker base maybe 70mm of bitmac, (technically tarmac is a brand name) then the wearing coat is a thinner may 30mm thick layer of 'nicer' more dense bitmac
In comparison for example to block paving where the sub-base would be the same 150mm hardcore then a 30mm layer of sand then the pavers.
Oh and a sub-base doesn;t always need renewed sometimes the existing well be fine.
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Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by John Cavill on -
Cheers for that Simon, I have had a few run ins with these idiots over the past few weeks and a recent drive was type 1 (50mm) then the finished tarmac over the top. The customer drove onto the drive and it left tyre marks in it. Then they gave him diesel to wash the drive down with and it all seemed to go like jelly? They are sum standard beyond belief!
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Permalink Reply by Simon Smith on
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It was probably road planings diesel'ed in.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Mick Gammage on -
rather than reinventing the wheel, read it the correct way
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Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by John Cavill on -
Blimey Mick, they are missing most of the sub base, no membrane, no base course, no binder course and half the surface layer! No wonder people are sinking! But the word is getting out and it wont be long until they have to move on! They are getting crafty though as they have websites and all sorts!
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Mick Gammage on -
I have it most evenings John where I am under cut by £1,000's but I always say get a like for like quote and when they do they can see the difference with what we are offering them when compared to others, I am 3 months in front with work so I don't see it as an issue but a lot of the cheap and cheerful guys are struggling for work in my area
most people do buy on quality and service which we have always given
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Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by John Cavill on -
This one in particular is an ex copper and when I tell him what his drive should look like tomorrow I am going to have a laugh at his expense. Even the blooming block paving around the drive doesn't match up, it looks like a set of steps where it joins. Thanks for the info, I only design the gardens but now I know what I am talking about!
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Permalink Reply by Andy Kenney on -
Just goes to show that quality and good news travels fast with advance work and cowboys and bad news travels even faster!! After watching Watchdog with the 'tree surgeon' who butchered a number of trees and rather than filling up the chain oil tank on his chainsaw, poured it directly on the chain with his spare hand(!), im waiting to see what's next!
Mick Gammage said:I have it most evenings John where I am under cut by £1,000's but I always say get a like for like quote and when they do they can see the difference with what we are offering them when compared to others, I am 3 months in front with work so I don't see it as an issue but a lot of the cheap and cheerful guys are struggling for work in my area
most people do buy on quality and service which we have always given
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Permalink Reply by Colin Hunt on -
We were installing a fairly large driveway 25 years ago(crazy paving) and were asked to price up an in-out drive next door. To our surprise, two days later a massive lorry pulled up an out 'rolled' 8 blokes and proceded to remove the next door front garden. They then asked if they could use the hardcore out of my skip (no argument there from me!), which they then rolled with a garden roller. IN THE AFTERNOON the lorry came back with a steaming load of Tarmac, which was spread on the hardcore, rolled with the garden roller - and job done, leaving a smiling, smug neighbour as he had saved lots of money and we had already been on site for 1 week with another 2 to go!
2 weeks later, he called over the fence, 'do you know what all of these lumps are, coming up on my drive?' - a couple of days later he found out - daffodils, dandelion, dock etc....!
So what has changed in 25 years!?
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Pro DesignerPermalink Reply by John Cavill on -
25 years ago! great story though. In my case they quoted the customer £800 when it should have been £6K then as the customer has come to pay them they have added a zero and say its now £8K and all the drive is 50mm of type 1 and a screed of tarmac topping which can only be 10mm thick in places! This guy knew who he was dealing with too but he still let them do it, its all about "cheap" and when I see him later I am going to laugh I am sure!
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