Why Driveways in Derby Fail Early, and How To Install One That Lasts!
There are a few reasons that
driveways in Derby tend to fail early, and we had to learn them the hard way, over decades of experience. With a much older housing stock than the average UK cities, coupled with a higher percentage of clay soil and freeze-thaw cycles, Derby and the surrounding areas can sometimes be challenging for driveway installations. This is why it's crucial to choose a local provider with lots of experience. First, because they're more likely to install a job that will last. Second, because they're more likely to fix the job if anything fails because of the reasons above.
The Main Reason Driveways Fail in Derby: Condition of the Ground
With the expansion and contraction of clay soil, a poor sub-base installation will sink in no time. This is why "cheap installation" don't last - they're not digging out to the required depth or building up the sub-base + base combo enough. It's absolutely essential to install AT LEAST 200mm of Certified MOT Type 1 (or Type 3 for resin). A lot of companies will install 100mm to save on cost and labour. This is the same for the base itself, if you're getting a
resin bound driveway and the contractor is using AC32 porous concrete, the thickness should be 100mm at the minimum, and 80mm for AC14 porous tarmac. Or, if using a
Vuba Mac system, the spec should be as follows:
Granolithic dust, SRM base layer, Urethane binder course at 30mm, and structural reinforcement mesh.
The Symptoms of a Poorly Installed Driveway in Derby
The symptoms are usually cracking in the tarmac or resin bound driveways, sinking in block paving driveways, puddling or standing water. Also, edges will usually collapse and allow weeds to come through if the surface is failing. This almost always comes from the issues mentioned above, relating to the groundworks stage.
Which Driveways Last Longer in Derby?
For the most long-lasting product that can withhold the challenges mentioned previously, a resin bound driveway will almost always be your best bet. Reason being - the base (unless it's concrete) has a lot of "flex", meaning it can move a little bit with the ground. This makes it a lot less likely to fail. However, this only applies if the sub-base, base, and final resin layer were applied at the correct depths.
Block paving can also be a suitable option because repairs are very simple if the ground does move. That said, if installed properly, the driveway should last for decades without requiring repairs - but at least you're covering yourself by knowing a repair is possible.
Tarmac and concrete are the least adequate products in Derby because they're much more likely to fail and require expensive repairs - there are also lots of unqualified and inexperienced workers who attempt tarmac and concrete around the local area.
How we make our driveways Derby-Proof!
The excavation depth is critical, and we focus on it a lot. Numerous contractors won't because it means more time digging, more waste removal, and more overheads. However, to create the right foundation, you'll need at least 320mm in most cases. We see countless driveway companies doing just 200-250mm total depth for a new driveway, which makes it unsurprising that they fail quickly.
Now that the proper depth has been excavated, it needs to be followed up by the correct amount of MOT Type 1 or Type 3. This is the foundation, the sub-base, and it needs to be done properly or the rest will fail.
We also promote lots of drainage and emphasise the correct falls, so that standing water becomes impossible. Standing water will inevitably cause issues pretty fast, so we avoid this at all costs. If your driveway has this issue, get it looked at as soon as possible.
How to know if you're choosing the right contractor
If a contractor has plenty of local examples (that tick all the boxes above visibly) and can give you information very similar to this article, you can be pretty confident that they know their stuff. Also, if a quote seems excessively cheap, that's an instant red flag and indicator that the depths and specs listed previously couldn't be delivered for that price.
If you want a driveway that will last, chose a local contractor you can trust because of his previous work, reviews, and detailed quote regarding driveway depths and scope of work.
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