Other option to tarmac

StarBright01

Apologies if this has been recently asked. Does anyone have any idea of a cheaper/ just as good alternative to tarmacing around a house. Been quoted €6K for tarmac.

looksee

Are you talking about digging out the area and filling with hard core and a sub layer before a layer of tarmac? Depending on the area to be done and whether it will need drainage, edging etc, that doesn't sound too bad.

Is this a firm that you have sourced and have recommendations for (as against someone who came knocking on the door)?

You could throw down a few tons of gravel, but the preparation would be the same as for tarmac, and the result would not be as good. Concrete is another option but it also needs prep work and does not usually look as nice.

Honestly, if there were a cheaper / just as good as tarmac alternative, no one would use tarmac.

krissovo

If you have gravel already there is a resin spray that can be applied, seen it a couple of times locally and it looks and feels ok.

macraignil

When the public roads are resurfaced the old tarmac is skimmed off and sometimes is available from the companies that do the work for the council. Much cheaper but probably not as good as well finished new tarmac. That's what we got for our driveway. It is a bit more like having gravel as there is no longer enough tar to give the material a solid surface but in our situation new tarmac would have been way too expensive.

RiderOnTheStorm

Have heard concrete is bit cheaper than tarmac, and you can power spray it. Also, you can get colour mixed into concrete and get pattern imprinted when wet. eg cobble stone, flag stone, etc. I imagine the colour & pattern pushes up the price however.

StarBright01

Thanks a million to everyone to replied here. Definitely need to look at concrete options too, never even considered it

StarBright01

Thanks to everyone who replied here, I definitely need to look into tarmac too I never even considered it

pwurple

What are your requirements? Is it a front of house where you want it to look good, or do you want something practical?
Tarmac is a fairly industrial finish for something like a carpark or yard.


Cobblelock, natural stone paving, redbrick are a good looking alternative, usually far more expensive than tarmac. These are generally considered the best, looks good, wears well.

Gravel is also for surfaces that look good, and I like the crunch of it... it is more insect friendly as well. However, you need to top it up, so it has more maintenance.


Practical for high wear where looks don't matter
Tarmac is the expensive version and concrete the cheaper
Various other unpleasant options are painted printed concrete


Looks good but not suitable for industrial weigh vehicles
Cobblelock, bricks and flagstone= expensive, gravel = cheaper.


Loads of other options, cellular systems, bark mulch, resins...

Look here:
http://www.pavingexpert.com/pavguide.htm