Tarmac Drives

Networkguy

I have lived in my house for 12 months. It was new build and the tarmac drive is shared by 3 houses.

It does not get major use but after just 12 months, the drive is starting to show quite bad wear with manhole covers sinking and rusting and bits of tarmac lifting.

The builder claims this is "normal" wear and tear and is probably due to people with power steering turning on the drive. Not sure how that addresses the rust but hang on this is a drive. And surely a drive is built for cars to drive on. So how can they claim that the damage is due to cars using the drive. My view is the drive should be built to cope with this sort of wear considering what it is built to do.

So has anybody come across this sort of thing before and have any advice?

red40

Speak directly to the house builder and get them to investigate it further, 12 months isn't a reasonable time for a tarmac drive to deteriorate.

If that fails get in touch with trading standards and ask their advice.

MORPH3US

Agree with the above, 12 months for a drive to start falling apart is rubbish!

M

Alfrescodave

Power steering is a particular problem for "new" drives in their first few months before the tarmac has really started to harden but sinking manhole covers, lifting tarmac is usually due to poor workmanship.

Definitely complain to the house builder and also ask them to contact the tarmac supplier for their input (and a visit )to your problem.

ryanlenihan

Hi there, we are currently having the same problem with david wilson homes. The tarmac is lifting and the contractor and david wilson have refused to re-lay the tarmac.

We got the NHDC involved and their reports says it the power stearing on our cars fault and that its expected with modern cars........!? How can this be? Im not sure where to go next, the NHDC have agreed with the house builder and its left us with a driveway that is really going to be needing a re-lay in 5 years time.

When we moved in they were using the same grade of tarmac to do the paths as well as the driveways. No wonder it cant take a vehicle.

Has anyone had any luck with resolvng the same problems?

Thanks

grizzly1911

ryanlenihan wrote: »

Hi there, we are currently having the same problem with david wilson homes. The tarmac is lifting and the contractor and david wilson have refused to re-lay the tarmac.

We got the NHDC involved and their reports says it the power stearing on our cars fault and that its expected with modern cars........!? How can this be? Im not sure where to go next, the NHDC have agreed with the house builder and its left us with a driveway that is really going to be needing a re-lay in 5 years time.

When we moved in they were using the same grade of tarmac to do the paths as well as the driveways. No wonder it cant take a vehicle.

Has anyone had any luck with resolvng the same problems?

Thanks

Just been looking at getting a drive relayed. We considered "Tarmac".

I specifically asked this question.

I was assure that providing it was dug out to the correct depth, proper sub base( 6 inches of "hardcore") properly compacted. Covered with two layers of tarmac -the top one comprisinga hard stone in the mix, all properly contained in a brick border set in concrete. There woul be no problem.

My existing drive, the original, is 18 years old. I don't know what the base thickness is but it is contained by wood edging (gravel board) on both sides and a kerb at the road edge.

It has had two cars on it all that time. It has started to go, over the last 2 years, on the one edge where we have overrun by a wheel width onto the grass occasionally.

Apart from that it is fine with just cosmetic wear.

I would question whether both of yours were fit for purpose in that it should last a servicable time under normal wear and tear - I would say 10 years minimum.

As for the excuse of "it is still soft" I believe it should have been laid hot, if they are doing big pieces of work and I understand that goes off pretty quickly. At least they should have told you not to use until ready.

You can google it under "Pavingexpert" IIRC gives loads of information.

stolt

ive been looking at a hot tar and gravel driveway, half of the driveway is already tarmac but i dont want it laid on top i want it dug out and started again although its reason such as OPs that ive put off having it done.