How much to have a tarmac drive done?

Tom_d100

Nothing to do with cycling of course, just wondering what the going rate was.

Ours is a 60m2 drive, one quarter of which we'll leave as grass. The rest we want excavating, hardcore laying, and tarmaccing (with brick edging).

We just had a quote for 2,500 plus VAT. Got some more quotes coming next week, but is that about right?

I live in Birmingham by the way.

Thanks

Anonymous

Have you tried the local council?

Ours are about half the price of anyone else and do a fantastic job!

They also did my mum and dad's two triple driveways in Marshall's brick for half the price of private quotes and in half the time!!

Tom_d100

NapoleonD wrote:

Have you tried the local council?

Ours are about half the price of anyone else and do a fantastic job!

They also did my mum and dad's two triple driveways in Marshall's brick for half the price of private quotes and in half the time!!

Thanks for that - I'll certainly look into it.

Frank the tank

Have you tried Pikeies 'r' us?

They can even undercut the local council.

morstar

Seen a great guy on rogue traders about a year ago. He can have it done in a day too.

Mind you, I do think you need to be very old to meet his customer criteria and it's strictly cash only.

markmod

Oh I saw him too, he even gave his customers a lift round to the cashpoint regularly too. What a nice man! You don't get that very often nowadays do you?

Wappygixer

The good thing about asking your local council is that you know it will be done right with no corner cutting.
I got a quote for having my kerbs dropped and it was about half of anyone else.I even had the option to pay in 3 monthly installments.

Lillywhite

Tom_d100 wrote:

Ours is a 60m2 drive, one quarter of which we'll leave as grass. The rest we want excavating, hardcore laying, and tarmaccing (with brick edging).

In case you weren't previously advised, new planning rules that came into force on the 1st October 2008 require that any new/replacement hard surface, exceeding 5 square metres, should either be made of porous materials, or provision made for direct run-off of surface water from the hard surface to a permeable or porous area or surface within the curtilage of your property.

Tarmacadam is not porous!

Suggest you check with your local planning office once you have decided on your exact requirements. since only experienced contractors, and certainly not travelling stock would be aware of this.

tebbit

£2,500.00 doesn't sound too bad, because it is a small job, contacting the council sounds like an excellent idea, +1 with planning and also building control they will have an idea about the best specification. Modern concrete blocks (what you describe as brick edgings) have small "protusions" on them to ensure that they are not tight up and have a gap to enable drainage between the cracks. Also you will want a "terram" membrane in the hardcore layer to prevent weeds coming through, another blinding with science people might try with you, is in some instances tarmac isn't called tarmac any more but bitumenous concrete :? It is still the same product, there are different mixes of tarmac (or bitumenous concrete) some of which will suit you, best of luck with it.

Lillywhite

Jut to clarify my earlier post, if you have a new hard surface that is porous or has suitable surface water drainage run-off then it what is known as permitted development rights under planning laws If you don't conform with the above then a formal planning application will be required.

Anonymous

Lillywhite wrote:

Jut to clarify my earlier post, if you have a new hard surface that is porous or has suitable surface water drainage run-off then it what is known as permitted development rights under planning laws If you don't conform with the above then a formal planning application will be required.

Another reason to do it through the council. They sort all this for you...

tebbit

The council sounds like an excellent idea, even if in your area they don't do small contracting jobs they will be an excellent source of advice, you could also look at the Marshall's website, this is for concrete blocks, but what you will learn from it are the correct type of sub-base to use and the details for the kerbs and the like.

STEFANOS4784

+1 for the pikeys.