Sinking driveway

[blackandwhite]

Hi guys

I have purchased a new house and the driveway seems to be sinking in the areas where cars must have been sat on! We were advised that since the biggest dip was directly under the drain hole cover, that we should get a drains survey done however the survey came out fine. The house was only built 20 years ago and most of the houses in the street have similar sinking.

I was looking to get this sorted however we would only want to do a cheap fix as we are low on cash and doing it properly would probably mean getting it filled underneath, we also don't know how long we will be living here so we don't want to invest much into it. It seems like there are 2 areas where it is sinking (on the left where the drains access is and on the right, probably the 2 areas where cars were parked) and the builder told us that he would be able to patch it up with tarmac, this would keep it going for a few years and he would pour some liquid or something over it to help make the whole driveway look the same colour.

Can I get your opinions on what would be the best, budget solution? I have included some photos here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sznrlzlz3y3o9r0/AACYrMZtikvTrOT6DMXd4rAua?dl=0

 

[BigBoy]

Don't bother with a cheap fix it will look terrible. Either rip it all up and get it replaced or remove it and put something.else down, both are going to cost you a couple of grand either way!

 

[blackandwhite]

Don't bother with a cheap fix it will look terrible. Either rip it all up and get it replaced or remove it and put something.else down, both are going to cost you a couple of grand either way!

Thanks for replying! I have seen some videos where I think they patch it and then paint the whole driveway with black/dark grey paint for driveways and this makes it all look the same colour so I was hoping it would have worked. However, I guess you are right as the bit which they patch might start tearing apart and cracking in a few years which will look bad.

 

[j.col]

the builder told us that he would be able to patch it up with tarmac, this would keep it going for a few years and he would pour some liquid or something over it to help make the whole driveway look the same colour.

Can I get your opinions on what would be the best, budget solution? I have included some photos here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sznrlzlz3y3o9r0/AACYrMZtikvTrOT6DMXd4rAua?dl=0

Imo just patching it with tarmac may not fix the problem. Also you will still see the new patch of tarmac from the old tarmac as he will have to cut out the old tarmac to do it right.

The base underneath is just not good enough, get the builder to put down some concrete (some ballast and cement mixed at 4:1, enough water to just dampen it and whacked before is good enough) as a base before resurfacing the patch

 

[blackandwhite]

Imo just patching it with tarmac may not fix the problem. Also you will still see the new patch of tarmac from the old tarmac as he will have to cut out the old tarmac to do it right.

The base underneath is just not good enough, get the builder to put down some concrete (some ballast and cement mixed at 4:1, enough water to just dampen it and whacked before is good enough) as a base before resurfacing the patch

Thanks for the advice! Would I be asking the builder to put that only on the area of the old tarmac which he cuts out before putting the new tarmac on?

 

[200sols]

It is sinking because the sub base hasn't been prepared properly. Anything you apply to the top surface is a bodge. Its a rip up and replace job if you want it done properly.

 

[blackandwhite]

It is sinking because the sub base hasn't been prepared properly. Anything you apply to the top surface is a bodge. Its a rip up and replace job if you want it done properly.

Yes that's right, it would have to be a rip up and replace job if I wanted it done properly however I am on a low budget since I have just purchased the property. Also, when I weigh up the costs, if a proper job costed £3000, would it not make sense to just do these temporary fixes (patch with tarmac then paint/seal the driveway so it all looks the same new black/dark grey colour) for £250 every few years till I sold and moved out of the house in 5 years or so?

 

[peterwalkley]

Is it causing a problem, or just a bit ugly ? A cheap job is likely money wasted. If you can't afford to do it properly, spend that money on something else where your budget makes more sense such as internal decoration or keeping the garden tidy. If you're selling in 5 years, just keep 2 cars on the drive when doing viewings

 

[blackandwhite]

Is is causing a problem, or just a bit ugly ? A cheap job is likely money wasted. If you can't afford to do it properly, spend that money on something else where your budget makes more sense such as internal decoration or keeping the garden tidy. If you're selling in 5 years, just keep 2 cars on the drive when doing viewings

Hi, yes it is because my new car will be quite low so I am worried that it may scrape, the pictures don't look as bad but in real life it is quite deep. Also, my wife and I have nearly fell a few times at night too as it is dark and we nearly trip when we fall into the dips. I was hoping that if I could solve both of these problems for £250 every few years then it seems worthwhile.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

It's a tarmac drive. Ignore the righteous. Pay £250 and get it filled.

 

[blackandwhite]

It's a tarmac drive. Ignore the righteous. Pay £250 and get it filled.

That's what I was thinking too. Would you have any advice i.e to fill it a certain way so that I get an extra few years out of it or so that it looks OK? I am going to paint it all with tarmac paint at the end so that the new patch doesn't stick out.

 

[j.col]

Thanks for the advice! Would I be asking the builder to put that only on the area of the old tarmac which he cuts out before putting the new tarmac on?

yeah, just identify any low areas, cut out the old tarmac, remove about 3 inches of the old sub base, replace with concrete, and put new tarmac in the patch.
Make sure the guy uses bitumen emulsion on top of the concrete, this is like a glue and will stop the new patch lifting or peeling off the concrete.

Get a piece of wood about 2m long, lay it across the hole and mark edges of the dip with chalk

this way you should be able to fix the dips properly

 

[blackandwhite]

yeah, just identify any low areas, cut out the old tarmac, remove about 3 inches of the old sub base, replace with concrete, and put new tarmac in the patch.
Make sure the guy uses bitumen emulsion on top of the concrete, this is like a glue and will stop the new patch lifting or peeling off the concrete.

Get a piece of wood about 2m long, lay it across the hole and mark edges of the dip with chalk

this way you should be able to fix the dips properly

Ah excellent, thank you for this advice.

 

[bainbridge]

If you're selling in 5 years, just keep 2 cars on the drive when doing viewings

Excellent idea, and a sensor security light to avoid falling over.

I'd either do the above or rip up the entire drive and have it done properly.

Or if there is an adjoining driveway belonging to a neighbour, maybe get them both done and share the cost?

 

[theone8181]

Just get a couple of tonnes of gravel and spread it over the top, that'll be cheap.