I ask because although I am not an experienced builder, I have a situation on which I have an opinion but based on common sense rather than technical experience.
I can post more info (such as photos and more detail) but initially the circumstances are:
A Tarmac laying contractor (supposedly of good reputation and used by local councils etc) has suggested a price to 'repair' sections of the lane outside our house. We are not contributing to the cost - the farmer is paying for that.
However where our property accesses the lane is an access some 7 metres wide and 3 metres from the courtyard to the tarmac on the lane - shown in the image below.
Half the width of the access is laid to tarmac, but is very old and cracked.
The other half is simply soil with a bit of gravel over the top which has been compacted - but does get soft in rainy periods.
As well as a price to repair the lane, the contractor has suggested a separate price to the farmer to tarmac the access (between the 2 blue lines in the photo) - which we have to pay for.
When I queried the the work to be done the contractor said it was to lay about 4" of tarmac over the existing surface with a run off to ensure the water drained onto the lane when it rained.
My initial reaction was that it would be idiotic to pay a large sum of money (£650+) to have a tarmac carpet laid over the existing mixed 'base' as it would be lifting as soon as we had heavy rain or if a farm tractor encroached on it when passing the house.
The contractor assured me that I was wrong and that it would last some years without a problem.
What do you guys think??
View media item 66777
I can post more info (such as photos and more detail) but initially the circumstances are:
A Tarmac laying contractor (supposedly of good reputation and used by local councils etc) has suggested a price to 'repair' sections of the lane outside our house. We are not contributing to the cost - the farmer is paying for that.
However where our property accesses the lane is an access some 7 metres wide and 3 metres from the courtyard to the tarmac on the lane - shown in the image below.
Half the width of the access is laid to tarmac, but is very old and cracked.
The other half is simply soil with a bit of gravel over the top which has been compacted - but does get soft in rainy periods.
As well as a price to repair the lane, the contractor has suggested a separate price to the farmer to tarmac the access (between the 2 blue lines in the photo) - which we have to pay for.
When I queried the the work to be done the contractor said it was to lay about 4" of tarmac over the existing surface with a run off to ensure the water drained onto the lane when it rained.
My initial reaction was that it would be idiotic to pay a large sum of money (£650+) to have a tarmac carpet laid over the existing mixed 'base' as it would be lifting as soon as we had heavy rain or if a farm tractor encroached on it when passing the house.
The contractor assured me that I was wrong and that it would last some years without a problem.
What do you guys think??
View media item 66777