I'm having my driveway re-laid. Anyone else had this done ?

[presta]

It is my understanding that use of polymeric sand eliminates much of the weed problem.

Google's telling me that polymeric sand stops weeds because it amalgamates into a solid that's impermeable to water, if that's the case, I can't see why that would be exempt from planning permission.

Tarmac is the best maintenance free solution

Not for long, mine turned into a nursery for every weed going within a few years. Sweep it with a broom, and you're left with a couple of barrowloads of loose tarmac to dispose of, and don't put ramps, jacks or axle stands on it unless you want holes poked in it.

It amuses me how much aggro people will put up with rather than just use maintenance-free concrete that lasts a lifetime.

 

[fossyant]

Our tarmac has been down 30 years. I did paint it about 3 years ago as my son spilt oil, gearbox fluid and dripped petrol on it (which burnt a hole in the tarmac). I'd repaired the hole but the drive was terribly patchy, so the paint did the trick. Very little maintenance is needed TBH, annual jet wash. Then again, it was probably well laid with a substantial substrate. With everything, it's the prep that's important. Plenty of neighbour's block paved drives have subsided. Other neighbour's imprinted concrete drive looks OK, but it's stained quite badly - needs a good scrub.

 

[Dan Lotus]

I thought painting tarmac was a joke when I read it on page 1 - but it appears to be serious.

Do you have a choice of colours, or must it be tarmac colour - could you go british racing green for example?
How do you apply it?

Genuinely interested.

 

[teeonethousand]

We have block paving. It was laid properly and with thick blocks and the edge blocks cemented down... so hasn't sunk or flooded...about 120 squareM. It does look good when clean but it's an every year job to scrape it plus every month weed killer it.

I have considered alternatives, block edges with tarmac middle tempts me but everything has it's downsides

Good luck deciding but whatever you do make sure it's done well.

 

[fossyant]

I thought painting tarmac was a joke when I read it on page 1 - but it appears to be serious.

Do you have a choice of colours, or must it be tarmac colour - could you go british racing green for example?
How do you apply it?

Genuinely interested.

No joke. Pretty sure it only comes in black. It's not expensive either - literally paint the edge with a brush if you want a neat job, then roller it on.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Quick-Drying-Drive-Seal---5L/p/240296

Makes a huge difference to a scruffy stained drive. It wears eventually - i.e. the 'stones' start to show again, but you still have an even colour !

 

[oxoman]

No joke. Pretty sure it only comes in black. It's not expensive either - literally paint the edge with a brush if you want a neat job, then roller it on.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Quick-Drying-Drive-Seal---5L/p/240296

Makes a huge difference to a scruffy stained drive. It wears eventually - i.e. the 'stones' start to show again, but you still have an even colour !

Not to be confused with the tar slurry that some local authorities insist on spreading on pavements under the guise of resurfacing them. This stuff doesn't always dry properly in warm weather and does cause a mess.

 

[Dave7]

We have block paving. It was laid properly and with thick blocks and the edge blocks cemented down... so hasn't sunk or flooded...about 120 squareM. It does look good when clean but it's an every year job to scrape it plus every month weed killer it.

I have considered alternatives, block edges with tarmac middle tempts me but everything has it's downsides

Good luck deciding but whatever you do make sure it's done well.

I had a 'meet' with one of the contractors yesterday (they are 2 with similar price and experience. This one has provided photos and a list of addresses we can look at. The other one promised to give us jobs we could look at but failed to come up with them.
I had a lengthy list of questions from sub strate, type of bedding etc through to waste removal. I was happy with all the answers.
Something else that impressed me was......before they start the job he will get us filmed while he spells out everything they will do etc..... and send me a copy of the video.
I am as satisfied as I can be.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Four cars, blimey how big is your daughters family? Enough transport for 20 of you.

 

[fossyant]

Four cars, blimey how big is your daughters family? Enough transport for 20 of you.

Dave, two other adults and an adult child - easy done.

We had six at one point... our two cars, a 'spare' runabout for the kids, my son's track car, his daily car, and one he was fixing up to sell.

I'm so glad he's moved out. He currently has 4 cars, two of which are track cars, one he's fixing and his 'daily'.

 

[Dave7]

Four cars, blimey how big is your daughters family? Enough transport for 20 of you.

I have a car
Daughter has a car, required as her reflexology business involves house visits.
'They' have a van, converted to camper van.
Grandson has a car.

 

[Once a Wheeler]

Have you thought about Grasscrete?

Resistant blocks for parking, strim once a month in summer, environmentally friendly:
allows water to penetrate to surrounding gardens and to keep the subsoil moisture
levels in trim. More info here.

 

[Dave7]

Have you thought about Grasscrete?
View attachment 819158
Resistant blocks for parking, strim once a month in summer, environmentally friendly:
allows water to penetrate to surrounding gardens and to keep the subsoil moisture
levels in trim. More info here.

Thanks.
I haven't thought of that.
It should be good in certain applications but I wouldn't want it for my drive.

 

[SteveH80]

maintenance-free concrete that lasts a lifetime.

Although I do like concrete it catch some weird diseases if it's not done right.