Making a Tarmac drive pretty.
Discussion
I've had a quote from a company who usually seems to do large contract work and highways to do a Tarmac drive. It's a fairly big area of 90m square. I find large expanses of Tarmac can look a bit sparse and unattractive.
There's already a tree in the front corner so I'm going to have a curved edging here and then about 18 inches up the side of the fence, I was going to replicate that at the other side to make it symmetrical, and plant some nice plants/bushes up both sides. I also don't want the red brick edging as looking around I think a natural stone edging looks better, I think the thicker the better also, maybe two or three deep. Also I'm thinking of running cables down in the flower beds to have a bit of lighting.
Other than that is there any other tricks I should be doing to make it a bit prettier. I know paving would be prettier but it's more expensive, by some margin. I was thinking grass may be a nice contrast but it would be fairly thin strips which would make mowing a bit of a faff really.
There's already a tree in the front corner so I'm going to have a curved edging here and then about 18 inches up the side of the fence, I was going to replicate that at the other side to make it symmetrical, and plant some nice plants/bushes up both sides. I also don't want the red brick edging as looking around I think a natural stone edging looks better, I think the thicker the better also, maybe two or three deep. Also I'm thinking of running cables down in the flower beds to have a bit of lighting.
Other than that is there any other tricks I should be doing to make it a bit prettier. I know paving would be prettier but it's more expensive, by some margin. I was thinking grass may be a nice contrast but it would be fairly thin strips which would make mowing a bit of a faff really.
My suggestion is to as it always is on this topic, think carefully about using asphalt for a drive.
I work in the industry & it's not really recommended due to the lateral movements caused by car tyres turning at low speed that picks out the aggregate. The scrubbing effect it causes isn't ideal, asphalt is designed for roads where tyres are generally in one direction.
I work in the industry & it's not really recommended due to the lateral movements caused by car tyres turning at low speed that picks out the aggregate. The scrubbing effect it causes isn't ideal, asphalt is designed for roads where tyres are generally in one direction.
acme said:
My suggestion is to as it always is on this topic, think carefully about using asphalt for a drive.
I work in the industry & it's not really recommended due to the lateral movements caused by car tyres turning at low speed that picks out the aggregate. The scrubbing effect it causes isn't ideal, asphalt is designed for roads where tyres are generally in one direction.
If that's so, how do car parks cope?I work in the industry & it's not really recommended due to the lateral movements caused by car tyres turning at low speed that picks out the aggregate. The scrubbing effect it causes isn't ideal, asphalt is designed for roads where tyres are generally in one direction.
theaxe said:
mybrainhurts said:
If that's so, how do car parks cope?
From many of the car parks I've seen, not well. I guess you have to compare wear/mile of traffic, car parks must see a tiny proportion of the miles that a road sees before failing.Being commercial enterprises car parks are often repaired or replaced regularly, which helps.
Also as there's a mix of fronting in & reversing there's a decent mix, whereas many drives are always parked the same way.
Trying not to turn the wheel tightly can significantly help.
Believe it or not technically there's a lot to asphalt, certainly a lot more than you'd think than simply the two constituent parts.
For me the proof is ask someone in the know in the industry if they have an asphalt driveway, and no will usually be the answer.
Also as there's a mix of fronting in & reversing there's a decent mix, whereas many drives are always parked the same way.
Trying not to turn the wheel tightly can significantly help.
Believe it or not technically there's a lot to asphalt, certainly a lot more than you'd think than simply the two constituent parts.
For me the proof is ask someone in the know in the industry if they have an asphalt driveway, and no will usually be the answer.
I have a Tarmac drive, it came with the house. It's now 12 years old and it's as good as the day it was laid, slightly faded but not damaged in any way. It always has at least two cars parked in it or a car and a van. It's at a right angle to the approach road so whilst not tight there is some manoeuvring to get on and off. I probably wouldn't have chose it but it's served its purpose well.
Thanks for so many replies.
In my opinion, and I'm no expert, Tarmac drives are very good if done properly and total crap if done poorly. As someone stated above, look at any supermarket carpark, cars parking all day and manoeuvring, they are nearly always perfect after many years. I've seen this company's work as they block paced my friends drive and did a section of Tarmac for a dropped curb. It's some of the best work I've seen from the local driveway companies close to me, which ranges from total crooks to very reputable companies.
Also the comment on flora/weeds above, I can't believe any Tarmac drive would be worse for weeds than even the best block paving. By the very nature of its construction a block paved drive is perfect for weeds to get a hold.
Another point is that we will be in this house for another 2-4 years. The drive really lets the property down at the moment and for the cost I think it would lift the saleability of the house. If I was staying for twenty years I would go for block paved but right now I'd be basically buying it for the next owner. I expect a well done Tarmac drive could last anything from 10 to twenty years.
In my opinion, and I'm no expert, Tarmac drives are very good if done properly and total crap if done poorly. As someone stated above, look at any supermarket carpark, cars parking all day and manoeuvring, they are nearly always perfect after many years. I've seen this company's work as they block paced my friends drive and did a section of Tarmac for a dropped curb. It's some of the best work I've seen from the local driveway companies close to me, which ranges from total crooks to very reputable companies.
Also the comment on flora/weeds above, I can't believe any Tarmac drive would be worse for weeds than even the best block paving. By the very nature of its construction a block paved drive is perfect for weeds to get a hold.
Another point is that we will be in this house for another 2-4 years. The drive really lets the property down at the moment and for the cost I think it would lift the saleability of the house. If I was staying for twenty years I would go for block paved but right now I'd be basically buying it for the next owner. I expect a well done Tarmac drive could last anything from 10 to twenty years.
I heard Betterware do great tarmac...;)
My neighbour is a brick salesman, and would get the bricks and labour for free - biggest brick manufacturer in Europe, and they wanted to take pics of his drive as a "show home" driveway for the company.
He turned them down, and had the old tarmac stripped off, and a new one laid. Took the best part of a week, and it only just has room for two cars, it is a 3-bed semi with a very small driveway. That must be 10 years ago, and it still looks great. Seals it once a year and weedkills once a summer with Ammonium Sulphamate as a precaution. Never a weed to be seen, except the ones I throw over the fence to wind him up!
The bugger got the tarmac drive done for free as well - I think it helps a lot if you know a lot of people in the building industry!
My neighbour is a brick salesman, and would get the bricks and labour for free - biggest brick manufacturer in Europe, and they wanted to take pics of his drive as a "show home" driveway for the company.
He turned them down, and had the old tarmac stripped off, and a new one laid. Took the best part of a week, and it only just has room for two cars, it is a 3-bed semi with a very small driveway. That must be 10 years ago, and it still looks great. Seals it once a year and weedkills once a summer with Ammonium Sulphamate as a precaution. Never a weed to be seen, except the ones I throw over the fence to wind him up!
The bugger got the tarmac drive done for free as well - I think it helps a lot if you know a lot of people in the building industry!
If you think about it when you turn the wheel of a car the tread has the potential to pick out the aggregate, especially true when it's warm & the bitumen is trying to return to its original state. The type & size of stone & mix can make a lot of difference.
All this said as has been mentioned above the most important thing is how & who lays it; no matter the quality of asphalt a bad job laying will result in the inevitable.
All this said as has been mentioned above the most important thing is how & who lays it; no matter the quality of asphalt a bad job laying will result in the inevitable.
I'm thinking that there must be a really big variation in the quality of Tarmac laid for driveways if people are experiencing problems with theirs. I've never had a problem even with occasional use of trolley jacks and axel stands. Turning the wheels while at standstill doesn't do any harm.
It doesn't stay as black as when new if you're very particular you can always use the Tarmac paint stuff.
I don't think I'd consider anything else but maybe because I never had, or know anyone who's had a problem with it.
It doesn't stay as black as when new if you're very particular you can always use the Tarmac paint stuff.
I don't think I'd consider anything else but maybe because I never had, or know anyone who's had a problem with it.
Ive just had 2 quotes to have mine done, theres over a grand in diffence.
The easy answer for me is the one that's the dearest is and has been recommended by 4 builders I know and a number of people that had used him before.
The other guy has done a few jobs locally but nothing like the other chap.
id rather have a proper job and spend the cash.
The easy answer for me is the one that's the dearest is and has been recommended by 4 builders I know and a number of people that had used him before.
The other guy has done a few jobs locally but nothing like the other chap.
id rather have a proper job and spend the cash.
ZDW said:
I've never had a problem even with occasional use of trolley jacks and axel stands. Turning the wheels while at standstill doesn't do any harm.
Particularly interested in this as I tend to use a jack a fair amount. Given the option of block/tarmac/concrete what would people go for? Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff