Best option for front path surfacing

NervyBuyer

We have a long footpath up to the front door (~12m) shared half and half with next door, which is currently tarmac in very bad condition. New neighbour is keen to replace, but baulked at the initial quote for replacing the tarmac (over £2k). It's an expensive area and his first house, he's moved from a cheaper part of the country, so I don't think he's yet up to speed on how much things cost, but he gave the impression he'd pay it if he had to. I don't really want to spend that much, but it does need sorting out and I have the money if needed. 
I've asked around and people have advised paving slabs as a cheaper option. Is this a false economy and we will get fed up with weeding them?
Thanks for any advice.

born_again

Let them get some quotes for what they fancy.

bjorn_toby_wilde

12m of paving slabs might not be very different in price. Labour seems to be the biggest cost. Worth getting some quotes.

It’s block paving that always seems to need weeding in my experience.

Cisco001

What exact treatment for the £2k quote?
could it be done by DIY of overlaying repair coating?

Cheslea2010

Use a combination of slabs and gravel in a stepping stone type arrangement. Looks attractive and pretty cheap in comparison.

Albermarle

Cheslea2010 said:

Use a combination of slabs and gravel in a stepping stone type arrangement. Looks attractive and pretty cheap in comparison.

Not very good for pushchairs/wheelchairs.

NervyBuyer

Neither of us want gravel 

NervyBuyer

Cisco001 said:

What exact treatment for the £2k quote?
could it be done by DIY of overlaying repair coating?

Dig all existing stuff out, add a membrane to stop plants (do these ever work?), new tarmac on top.

It really is shoddy, patching up isn't going to cut it.

Slinky

Assuming your path is about a meter wide, 12 square meter, or even 18 square meters if it's 1.5 meters wide, that quote is horrendously expensive. This is our drive from 2 years ago for 64 square meters, rainwater gully, rainwater crates and 2 new tarmac filled drain covers. They did a really good job and we're very happy with it. We're in an expensive part of Suffolk.

 

To excavate area to the necessary depth and dispose of all spoil from site.

To supply and lay geo-textile membrane on compact sub-soil.

To supply and lay 150mm thickness of Type 1 hardcore well compacted to the correct falls and levels.

To supply and lay block paver edging laid on and backed up with 1:3:6 concrete to the lefthand side of the driveway.

To supply and lay channel drains and pipe into new create soak-away.

To supply and lay 30mm thickness of 20mm grade dense bitumen macadam Base course compacted to the correct falls and levels.

To supply and hand lay 30mm thickness of 6mm grade S.M.A wearing course compacted to correct falls and levels.

 

The price for the above work will be ……………..£7,995.00 + v.a.t.

Albermarle

Slinky said:

Assuming your path is about a meter wide, 12 square meter, or even 18 square meters if it's 1.5 meters wide, that quote is horrendously expensive. This is our drive from 2 years ago for 64 square meters, rainwater gully, rainwater crates and 2 new tarmac filled drain covers. They did a really good job and we're very happy with it. We're in an expensive part of Suffolk.

 

To excavate area to the necessary depth and dispose of all spoil from site.

To supply and lay geo-textile membrane on compact sub-soil.

To supply and lay 150mm thickness of Type 1 hardcore well compacted to the correct falls and levels.

To supply and lay block paver edging laid on and backed up with 1:3:6 concrete to the lefthand side of the driveway.

To supply and lay channel drains and pipe into new create soak-away.

To supply and lay 30mm thickness of 20mm grade dense bitumen macadam Base course compacted to the correct falls and levels.

To supply and hand lay 30mm thickness of 6mm grade S.M.A wearing course compacted to correct falls and levels.

 

The price for the above work will be ……………..£7,995.00 + v.a.t.

Not sure if the OP’s quote was £2k in total or £2k each ( so £4K in total)?

bjorn_toby_wilde

NervyBuyer said:

Cisco001 said:

What exact treatment for the £2k quote?
could it be done by DIY of overlaying repair coating?

Dig all existing stuff out, add a membrane to stop plants (do these ever work?), new tarmac on top.

It really is shoddy, patching up isn't going to cut it.

I don’t believe the membrane is to stop plant growth (and no, they don’t in my experience). I think it’s to stop the fine particles in the sub base from washing away into the subsoil. That’s if memory serves me correctly