Tarmac v SMA (stone mastic asphalt)

Rugger13

Hi ,

I'm Currently in the process of getting my driveway and around my house priced for tarmac. The area is approx 700m2.

I've had 3 prices back so far.... for regular tarmac and SMA.

All 3 suppliers have priced it similar. The regular tarmac is coming in around the 10,500 before vat....the sma is around 13,500 again before vat.

Just wondering if any of you guys have experience with SMA and would you recommend it over regular tarmac considering the difference in cost? Is it really worth it?

I'll be honest I didn't even hear of sma before I started pricing around

Thanks for your help!

selfbuild17

SMA is the way to go if the budget allows. It’s much more resilient. What thickness are they pricing for? Makes sure you get a reputable company, there’s a lot of cowboys floating around in that trade

There’s an excellent thread here:

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056809036/1

Rugger13

Thanks for the reply selfbuild17 & the link to the thread - i'll check it out !

One of the tarmac guys told me there is a sort of finishing treatment that can be done on top of the tarmac once its done. It really helps durability and is very good (cheaper than SMA). Anyone ever come across something like that?

landcrzr

Rugger13 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply selfbuild17 & the link to the thread - i'll check it out !

One of the tarmac guys told me there is a sort of finishing treatment that can be done on top of the tarmac once its done. It really helps durability and is very good (cheaper than SMA). Anyone ever come across something like that?

A surface course should not need any sort of finishing treatment. SMA is a common road surface course and is durable when done correctly. I'd stick with it.

macadam

Stick to the SMA, my suppliers will only stand over Tarmac for footpaths as it is not suitable/strong enough for Driveways where cars jeeps etc are turning in small areas and causing it to ravel. With SMA this should not happen, you may have some light scuffing, but the material will harden as it matures over the weeks after installation.

Rugger13

Thanks macadam, sound advise and good to hear from someone in the industry. Looks like SMA it is !

clarechippy

Hi Macadam,
What estimate cost would I be looking for a 500m2 driveway supply and labour of SMA/Asphalt.What tonnage would cover that?Is 50mm enough where an oil truck or tractor could drive a few times a year.

macadam

[QUOTE

One of the tarmac guys told me there is a sort of finishing treatment that can be done on top of the tarmac once its done. It really helps durability and is very good (cheaper than SMA). Anyone ever come across something like that?[/QUOTE]

I would really like this guy's name company name and address, to find out this finishing treatment.
Can you PM me his details pls, Im interested in this product he has !!!

macadam

clarechippy wrote: »

Hi Macadam,
What estimate cost would I be looking for a 500m2 driveway supply and labour of SMA/Asphalt.What tonnage would cover that?Is 50mm enough where an oil truck or tractor could drive a few times a year.

Its all down to your foundation/ sub base if its soild 50mm is the recommended minimum depth.
500m2 at 50mm will require 60 tonnes of sma. Price cost etc will depend on your location and distance from supplier, and also on the amount of prep required and the access etc.

clarechippy

macadam wrote: »

Its all down to your foundation/ sub base if its soild 50mm is the recommended minimum depth.
500m2 at 50mm will require 60 tonnes of sma. Price cost etc will depend on your location and distance from supplier, and also on the amount of prep required and the access etc.

Cheers,
I ll have it prepped myself,housed built 10 years ago,ground fairly compacted now,but will need a top up of 804 and whacking and some drainage work and services which I ll do as I'm on elevated site, I ve the Kerbs laid a few years ago.Luckily Lagan is only 2 or 3 miles away.3 truck loads at €2000 each roughly and a reputable contractor at €15/18 a square meter I d be looking at maybe ? thanks for your earlier swift reply ðŸ‘

macadam

clarechippy wrote: »

Cheers,
I ll have it prepped myself,housed built 10 years ago,ground fairly compacted now,but will need a top up of 804 and whacking and some drainage work and services which I ll do as I'm on elevated site, I ve the Kerbs laid a few years ago.Luckily Lagan is only 2 or 3 miles away.3 truck loads at €2000 each roughly and a reputable contractor at €15/18 a square meter I d be looking at maybe ? thanks for your earlier swift reply ðŸ‘

Just sent you a PM..

Gillerno1

Hi all. Has anyone used MLP Tarmac, based near Navan? Just wondering if anyone can recommend them (or otherwise)?

Many thanks

moyvilla1

Hello,
Would anyone have a rough cost to do a fairly rectangular carpark 2000 m2 in SMA in the west of the country. Lining and drainage work can be done/priced separately.
Thanks in advance

macadam

moyvilla1 wrote: »

Hello,
Would anyone have a rough cost to do a fairly rectangular carpark 2000 m2 in SMA in the west of the country. Lining and drainage work can be done/priced separately.
Thanks in advance

What part of the west you talking might have a contact or two for you

moyvilla1

macadam wrote: »

What part of the west you talking might have a contact or two for you

Athenry in Galway. Thanks for the reply

macadam

moyvilla1 wrote: »

Athenry in Galway. Thanks for the reply

PM sent

antocong

Is there much difference between Sma and tarmac getting quotes of just over 12k for 600 sq meters

clarechippy

antocong wrote: »

Is there much difference between Sma and tarmac getting quotes of just over 12k for 600 sq meters

Hi there,have nt been on this forum in a long time.Still have nt my place done.Seemingly sma harder wearing and better,especially if doing a big area like yours,not sure price difference though,never got a detailed quote.

hero001

Did anyone ever look at Resin Bonder Gravel as an alternative to Tarmac/SMA? The cost looks similar, but I'm not sure how it would hold up to cars turnings, etc.

macadam

hero001 wrote: »

Did anyone ever look at Resin Bonder Gravel as an alternative to Tarmac/SMA? The cost looks similar, but I'm not sure how it would hold up to cars turnings, etc.

You need to lay tarmac or base course 1st so you may double the cost.

Quoted 9500 for 500sqm SMA including a couple of gulleys. Should I bite their hand off or look around a bit more. More or less ready to go but in no rush

macadam

Deleted User wrote: »

Quoted 9500 for 500sqm SMA including a couple of gulleys. Should I bite their hand off or look around a bit more. More or less ready to go but in no rush

Finished depth? Guarantee and reputable contractor??

macadam

macadam wrote: »

Finished depth? Guarantee and reputable contractor??

50mm. Was expecting a bit more, but was from a crowd referenced herr. Was over the phone rather than on-site. Not easy at the moment to find someone to come out and see. It’s over compacted gravel so not a huge amount of prep to be done. County Galway

peterofthebr

planning to resurface part of farm laneway 300 meter long by 8ft wide. it was done 25 years ago by council. a few bad potholes in places but good base i believe. what kinda costing would i be expecting?cars, tractors and lorries would be driving on it and cows sometime would walk it. looking for approx idea of what i would need to do etc... grass and moss in centre part but mostly in good shape.

I guess a few loads of scrapings (gravel from scraping and resurfacing some nearby public main road) would do...with tarmac or SMA to bind it all together and a vibrating roller? thanks

BobC88

Any reviews good or bad on Fitzpatricks Driveways in Louth? They have a FB page but very little else online about them. They are very reasonably priced & the man who came to measure up was absolutely sound.

Girl Geraldine

If you are getting SMA then make sure you have someone around that can verify that you are actually getting SMA.

This industry is awash with cowboys. If they though they could pass off cheap ass tarmac as SMA they would.

Any shenanigans and fúck them out through the gate.

Richard308

Bring back this thread as funds allow tarmac. I’ve 280m2 drive. What would love ball cost of black chip tarmac or sma? Straight forward drive way. Good base of stone been down 15 years.