Tarmac drive cracks

[striker]

I have a few narrow cracks appearing in my driveway..it's about 15yrs old. I'm thinking of repairing them then using a tarmac sealer over the whole drive (around 140sqm) once repaired. It will tidy it up and give me a few more years out if it.
I've researched cold pour and hot pour bitumen and I think hot pour will give the best repair. Any idea where I can buy small quantity block of bitumen to melt down and pour?
Thanks.

 

[Pete.]

@God mode restorations will give you some good advice on this.

 

[God mode restorations]

I have a few narrow cracks appearing in my driveway..it's about 15yrs old. I'm thinking of repairing them then using a tarmac sealer over the whole drive (around 140sqm) once repaired. It will tidy it up and give me a few more years out if it.
I've researched cold pour and hot pour bitumen and I think hot pour will give the best repair. Any idea where I can buy small quantity block of bitumen to melt down and pour?
Thanks.

Yes hot pour bitumen is best...its called band sealing... if you Google tarmacadam products you should be able to find a local supplier. Where abouts are you located

 

[God mode restorations]

If your thinking of doing the whole drive that's different kind of bitumen.

 

[Agrismith]

If you want hot pour then I believe roofing suppliers do small blocks.
We use over and tape. Lie it down along the path you want then wave a blow torch over it.
Requires less skill, is quicker and easier.

And if you want to make it last longer you can get cold poor bitumen emulsion for surface dressing. Cover the whole area on it and then sprinkle stone over the area

 

[eddie49]

A small amount of hot melt bitumen is available in a paper cone:

Flat Roof Repair Waterproof Restorer, Brittle Bitumen Heat'n'Seal Sealant Stick 5030719000003 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Flat Roof Repair Waterproof Restorer, Brittle Bitumen Heat'n'Seal Sealant Stick at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[striker]

Yes hot pour bitumen is best...its called band sealing... if you Google tarmacadam products you should be able to find a local supplier. Where abouts are you located

Thanks for the advice...I'm near Middlesbrough.

 

[striker]

If you want hot pour then I believe roofing suppliers do small blocks.
We use over and tape. Lie it down along the path you want then wave a blow torch over it.
Requires less skill, is quicker and easier.

And if you want to make it last longer you can get cold poor bitumen emulsion for surface dressing. Cover the whole area on it and then sprinkle stone over the area

Yeah that's what I'm looking at once I've done the repairs...a cold pour top coat like "drive revive" or similar

 

[Erie Fred]

FWIW a local contractor was using the hot tar for cracks, and was in the store buying "Black Beauty" blasting slag (bottom ash from coal).
He said it works good to put on top of the hot tar, and it color matches.

 

[Agrismith]

Yeah that's what I'm looking at once I've done the repairs...a cold pour top coat like "drive revive" or similar

I'm meaning a more permanent surface dressing like they use on the highway.
Rather than just a paint they do a thicker stuff that stones are rolled into to give a proper new surface. This can be done repeatedly to alleviate the need to resurface the drive. If you have no heights to work to it is a cheap long term option that can allow different surface finishes.

 

[8ob]

FWIW a local contractor was using the hot tar for cracks, and was in the store buying "Black Beauty" blasting slag (bottom ash from coal).
He said it works good to put on top of the hot tar, and it color matches.

You mericuns have got some nice road repair kit. I was watching these guys (because I am a sad fecker), they had a square gas fired hot plate that lowerd down off the truck and over potholes/cracked tarmac, this thing heated the whole of that area in no time at all so all they had to do was add a bit of new tarmac and roll it. No breakout,mess or seams/joints and onto the next.

Bob

 

[striker]

I'm meaning a more permanent surface dressing like they use on the highway.
Rather than just a paint they do a thicker stuff that stones are rolled into to give a proper new surface. This can be done repeatedly to alleviate the need to resurface the drive. If you have no heights to work to it is a cheap long term option that can allow different surface finishes.

Unfortunately I can't raise the height...

 

[Morrisman]

You mericuns have got some nice road repair kit. I was watching these guys (because I am a sad fecker), they had a square gas fired hot plate that lowerd down off the truck and over potholes/cracked tarmac, this thing heated the whole of that area in no time at all so all they had to do was add a bit of new tarmac and roll it. No breakout,mess or seams/joints and onto the next.

Bob

From what I've seen on our town, they hack a hole, throw a bucket of tarmac in, crudely stamp it down with their feet, then off to the pub, secure in the knowledge they'll be paid to come in back in six months to do the same thing again, but a bit bigger.

 

[wyn]

From what I've seen on our town, they hack a hole, throw a bucket of tarmac in, crudely stamp it down with their feet, then off to the pub, secure in the knowledge they'll be paid to come in back in six months to do the same thing again, but a bit bigger.

six months is pretty good.
I've seen some around here last 1-2 weeks.

 

[God mode restorations]

I do surface dressing and have done for the last 30 plus years as well as run asphalt machine gangs. I have three hot bitumen tankers...I do anything from 100sqm upto 2000 sqm plus...but don't do so much now because like everything it's costing to much now

 

[Agrismith]

I do surface dressing and have done for the last 30 plus years as well as run asphalt machine gangs. I have three hot bitumen tankers...I do anything from 100sqm upto 2000 sqm plus...but don't do so much now because like everything it's costing to much now

It's a bit ridiculous that they are stopping the maintenance aspect in preference for higher long term repair costs.

 

[God mode restorations]

It's a bit ridiculous that they are stopping the maintenance aspect in preference for higher long term repair costs.

It's a crazy world we live in now

 

[Erie Fred]

You mericuns have got some nice road repair kit. I was watching these guys (because I am a sad fecker), they had a square gas fired hot plate that lowerd down off the truck and over potholes/cracked tarmac, this thing heated the whole of that area in no time at all so all they had to do was add a bit of new tarmac and roll it. No breakout,mess or seams/joints and onto the next.

Bob

Yes, we had a guy that ran a radio show (home improvement call in talk show) Glenn Hagey, who wrote a weekly column as well. He was upset how the State of Michigan did "dump and roll" repairs. He testified in their legislature one time
explaining how there are much better methods out there, like the one you describe, that make permanent repairs in any weather.
Apparently they have not changed their ways, as the pothole problem is worse than ever.

FWIW I have never seen that system being used around here either.
Got to keep the state employees busy eh ?

 

[striker]

So, if I use hot pour bitumen or band sealing, do I need to prime the edges of the crack? Or is that used only for cold repairs?

 

[God mode restorations]

Potholes have always been a problem. More so today because the methods in laying/machine asphalt have changed...the tarmac today is a load of crap...definitely not like it use to be and that's fact...they done a roundabout a few years ago up the road from me..the whole lot has plucked out...I actually stopped on the side to examine it...in places there no more than 20mm depth...the gear had been layed cold....unnecessary joints everywhere....no hot pour on any of the joints...a lack of compaction...an absolute complete lack of knowledge. An absolute mess....I don't know the contractor for the job but the lot of are *** useless and need sacking...