Tarmac driveway: overlay or not?

DocQuincy

I need our section of driveway tarmacing. Some of it is okay but in other areas there is grass growing through it and one large patch there is earth and stones.

It is part of an access road for a row of terraces and everyone down the street all has the same area, more or less: approx. 21m2.

Some neighbours have had theirs resurfaced recently for £750 inc. VAT. I have tried to get a quote off the same company but they don't seem in a hurry to get back to me. I get the impression they don't like doing smaller jobs as there's not much money in it for them.

I know nothing about this kind of thing but am I right in saying there are three ways to do this:

1. Resurface, as our neighbours have had done; literally just tarmac over
2. Dig up the top layer and put a new surface down
3. As above but put a new foundation down as well

I have had two quotes for option 2, one at £1,000 inc. VAT, the other at £1,200. I can presumably get option 1 done for £750 if I chase the company.

Can someone who knows about this kind of thing please kindly let me know what they think to the quotes and how I can determine which option is the one to go for? I know you haven't seen my driveway but if you could answer in general terms.

My neighbour says resurfacing is fine but from what I've read it may last longer to dig it up and start again give that we have areas with no tarmac in currently. Those that have had it done have had no issues yet but they were all resurfaced in the last three years.

Sorry if I have the terminology wrong; as I say I know nothing about this kind of thing.

jk0

I think option 2 or 3.

DocQuincy

Thanks, mainly for longevity reasons?


Do you know if the £840 + VAT quote is reasonable for option 2 for that surface area?

jk0

Yeah, sounds more than reasonable to me.

Jonesya

Tonnes of info on tarmac and paving on this website:
http://www.pavingexpert.com/tarmac01.htm

DocQuincy

Thank you for the link, which I will read in more detail when I have time.

I scanned it and saw this under “Overlay”:

If the new material is laid over a badly cracked concrete base, old flagstones, or any other unsound base, any joints or cracks will soon be transmitted to the surface of the new bitmac, and the surfacing will fail.

So looks like just covering over it wouldn't be advisable given its current state.

Alfrescodave

Only consider options 2 or 3. It sounds like there are serious problems with the integrity of your drive (grass,earth,stones). Covering over these problems will only hide the problem for a short while .
The small extra cost of 2 or 3 should ensure that you are not in this same position within a few years.

DocQuincy

This is pretty much the question I wanted answering so thanks for that. I think it's just that the drive is really old so needs removing and starting again.