Driveway options

G

Gougane

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Need to surface my driveway it's just loose stone at present, any suggestions with regards to the best type surface, have been approached by guy calling to the door offering bitumen surface for 5K. Driveway is approx 100m long by 3m wide
 
Be very careful who you get to lay it.
For example, some people who travel around doing driveways, sometimes mix the bitumen with Diesel, makes it go further and much easier to spread and work with. Also they don't spray all vegetation with weed killer or lay down a proper compacted base.

It will lift like skin on custard while the weeds grow in from each side and the birds drink from the puddles in it.

So advice is, Do not use a caller to your front door, seek out reputable contractors and get 3 quotes & a Guarantee. And "Buy Local" which saves headaches if there are small problems, its their local reputation and it does not cost them much to return and fix.

Your local council road depot may give you some names of contractors they use.
 
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Thanks Monagt, sound advice. Not really interested in someone calling to the door but would be interested in hearing peoples views on best surface and indicative costs per M2. What are the pro's cons of Bitumen over tarmac?
 
Also, think about Kerbs (heavy ones or a running concrete kerb), it maintains the edges. Bitumen and Tarmac are very different, Tarmac is basically a spray on top of compacted stone & dust and chippings thrown on top of it, probably good enough for 10/15 years and can be touched up later, When the surface wears/tears you will get potholes if not fixed asap.

Bitumen where the chippings are mixed into a spread is better but more expensive so do your sums.

Remember if the preparation and base under either is bad then you will have problems.
 
We have found the cobblelock to be high maintenance with regard to cleaning so I wouldn't get it again.

Our concrete cracked.

I've seen far too many bad tarmacadam driveways and the loose stones would drive me mad. If you get a good supplier the imprinted concrete might be an option but my brother found one or two small cracks in his.

You may get some advice on www.pavingexpert.com

There are many previous threads on this subject so you might get some advice from those. Try running the search option in this forum and H&G.
 
We have found the cobblelock to be high maintenance with regard to cleaning so I wouldn't get it again.
+1
 
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