most robust driveway surface

[eggsarascal]

Tar and precoated chip two layers all the farm tracks out here are hot tar and chip

 

Tar and chip is ok'ish so long as you've got a good base.

 

Used a lot around here (your old stomping ground )

 

It's not really worth two bob mind.

[Dean O]

because the base is OK the quick answer, and possibly the cheapest seems to be tarmac - plopped on top.

services underneath tho, ours and a neighbours.

 

probably most hardwearing would be the concrete paviers, especially the thick (100mm ish) ones - but possibly most expensive?

 

the issue might be that to lay the paviers I may need to dig out the perfectly good base in order to maintain the level between the drive entrance and the house damp course level?

 

to be honest it needs to last 5 years or there abouts as we hope to move by then

[timbernut]

Worked on a Tarmac/ asphalt plant for two years and on road gangs for a couple of summers (hot feet and quality tan!) when a teenager (oh so long ago) and remember Tarmac easier to lay thinner than asphalt (that's all the more dodgy, mobile customers used to collect), but the latter harder wearing, granite better than gravel in all forms. Tar n chip will 'crease in really hot weather. Friend of mine has had his drive doña with ronacrete recently (resin n gravel) which looks like tar n chip but let's water soak away but smooth like Tarmac. Think it's sometimes put round trees in paved areas?

[gensetsteve]

I have the same problem. Big drive way currently scalpings. I have just put 4 inches of clean 20 mm limestone down. Small version of what you see on the central reservation. I did not go for Tarmac due to price also if anything drops oil on it it softens and you end up with a whole after the bobcat has twiddled on it a few times. We get a bit of dust wash down of the road and I would spend my life brushing it up. I think Block pavers would loosen with a skid steer about. £500 goes along way with gravel. I think a proper Tarmac job would be in the region of £30k . The gravel looks good and stops the dust blowing about and walking in the house time will tell when the mud drops of the machinery as it leaves. I was thinking of hireing in a machine to clean it in a year or two.

[TTP]

2 inch beach stone so its not got sharp edges, will take a couple of months to bed in but once its rolled in well it doesn't move what ever you run on it and doesn't wash out with heavy rain

 

 

That will take a few dog walks on the beach and I hope he's not fussy on colour

[Timbermcpherson]

one easy and cheap option would be to lay it out a layer of geotextile, then with tensar triax then 40mm of ap65 then run a compactor or roller over it

[cornish wood burner]

because the base is OK the quick answer, and possibly the cheapest seems to be tarmac - plopped on top.

services underneath tho, ours and a neighbours.

 

probably most hardwearing would be the concrete paviers, especially the thick (100mm ish) ones - but possibly most expensive?

 

the issue might be that to lay the paviers I may need to dig out the perfectly good base in order to maintain the level between the drive entrance and the house damp course level?

 

to be honest it needs to last 5 years or there abouts as we hope to move by then

Slight change in the goal posts here.

You can use 60mm paviors and if your base is good by your house you might get away with 10mm of sand there, and get deeper further away. Alternatively dig it out and do it properly. It depends how big your drive is and whether you want to spend the extra but they have two advantages. As already said if a service needs attention then they will go back with no scar. Also it would add value to your property whereas a cowboy job will not, infact it might put off a buyer with the thought " what else has been bodged". I would get a price from a specialist paver you might be surprised.

First impressions can be important when selling so I doubt you would lose the money it would cost.

Edited July 14, 2015 by cornish wood burner