Driveways

Getting a tar and chip driveway is a good decision as it is attractive, low-maintenance and affordable. But to get the best bang for your buck and ensure the project meets your standards of quality, you need to hire the right people to do the job. 

Finding good tar and chip contractors can look harder than the actual work. You can actually accomplish this task quickly when you know what to do. 

So, where do you start and what should you keep in mind? Read on to learn how to get the best people to build or fix your drive.

Guide to Finding Tar and Chips Contractors in Dublin

Come Up with a List of Tar and Chip Contractors in Dublin

The first thing that you should do when you are looking for a contractor is to look for contractors. The best way to start this off is by Googling “tar and chip contractors Dublin” as this is the quickest way to generate a list of companies. Failing that, you can ask friends and family for recommendations as they may know someone personally who has had the work done before. 

If you have time, it might also be worth asking around in local communities as people generally pass on good experiences with companies to their neighbours.

Check and Find Out About the Quality of their Work

Once you have a list of potential contractors, it is important to establish the quality of their past work and customer service. You can usually find out about the former by checking out reviews of the company online. 

On their website, contractors may have images of past projects or testimonials that can give you an idea of what to expect from them. In addition, the feedback will tell you what the reputation of the contractor is, including the quality of their work.

Another way to know how good their customer service is by ringing them up and having a conversation with them over the phone or in person. If they seem unhelpful or rude, then they probably aren’t worth hiring!

Meanwhile, to get additional information about their quality of work, ask the contractors for references to previous clients or request to see a job they have completed in the past. 

Call and Ask for a Quote

It’s important to get a range of quotes from contractors before you make your final choice. You want to choose the one that offers the best price with the least compromise on quality.

When you get the quote, scrutinise it! Don’t just look at the total cost of the tar and chip driveway. Ask questions to know what you are getting for the said price.

For one, know what materials they will use. Most reputable contractors will build the driveway using high quality materials and ensure that everything meets safety standards and industry guidelines.

It’s also important to ask what type of surfacing you are getting. Is it bitumen chip or coloured chip? This can vary quite significantly in price depending on which one you select. 

It is likewise worth asking what sort of warranty they offer on their workmanship. You want to make sure that the contractor is fully insured and that the work is guaranteed. 

Make sure you understand exactly what you are getting as there were cases where some people thought they were getting one thing when in fact it was something else entirely.

Tar and Chip Contractors in Dublin: Choose the Right One for You

There are many different contractors in Dublin that specialise in tar and chip driveways. So, you should be able to find one with a good price and quality work. 

Keep in mind that one of best ways to do research on contractors is through word of mouth from neighbours, friends or loved ones who have used them. Not only does this allow you to get a sense of their professionalism and quality of work, but you may also be able to get a discount for being someone else’s referral.

It is also worth mentioning that leveraging the power of the Internet is a smart idea. An online search grants you the convenience of gathering a lot of information in just a matter of minutes. If you know what to look for and where to look, you’d be able to easily the right contractor for you.

In conclusion, remember that the tar and chip contractor you should hire should be one that best fits your needs and budget. Finding them shouldn’t be too difficult, especially if you have a good idea of what you want and how to search for them.

Are you looking for a tar and chip driveway contractor in Dublin? Let our experienced driveway pavers help you! Call us now on 0852139591 or click here to request a quote!

Worn out driveway? Want a new look for your home? Don’t know what type of driveway paving solution to use? Block paving is a perfect choice for a functional yet stylish driveway. This paving material is also highly recommended for paths or walkways, pavements and patios.

Block paving is made from different materials but typically concrete and clay. It has grown in popularity over the past few years. This is not surprising given the many advantages of using this surfacing material.

Benefits of a Block Paving Driveway

Versatility is one of the leading reasons why property owners choose this paving solution. It is available in an impressive range of colours, patterns and finishes. It can even be customised according to your specifications. Hence, with this material, it is easier to achieve the driveway or patio look you want – whether it’s one with a simple or intricate design.

Block paving is also a very durable material. It is proven to hold up well to heavy loads which is why it is used in docks and airports. It is also able to withstand harsh weather as well as oils and chemicals.

With regular maintenance, a block paving driveway can last over 20 years. What’s even great is that this type of drive is low maintenance. To clean it, you only need soap and water. This is enough to keep it looking new – no polishing or repainting needed.

What’s the Price of a Block Paving Driveway in Ireland?

Clearly, block paving offers homeowners a great looking, long-lasting and low maintenance driveway. But isn’t this type of driveway a little expensive? Some people may think so when compared to other kinds of drives.

In Ireland, a block paving driveway costs around €4000 to €6000. This already includes VAT, material costs and labour fees.

Various factors affect the overall cost, so it is best to request a quote from a trusted driveway paving company to know how much you’ll need to budget for this project.

Depending on the paving contractor, you may be given the block paving price per square metre or for the whole job. The former is more cost-effective if you have a small driveway.

Is It Cheaper to Tarmac or Block Pave a Driveway?

Clearly, tarmacking a driveway is significantly cheaper than block paving. Why does it cost less to install a tarmac driveway? Well, tarmac is one of the cheapest paving solutions. Plus, installing it is not as labour intensive as block pavers. Hence, labour fees are also more affordable for tarmac driveways.In Dublin, installing a tarmac driveway costs around €60 to €100 per square metre. This is already inclusive of material costs and labour fees. For a 50-square-metre driveway, the average price is around €4000.

However, it should be noted that the price of block pavers significantly varies depending on the material used. For example, concrete block pavers cost an average of €40 per square metre. Meanwhile, the average price of clay block pavers is €75 per square metre.

How to Calculate the Cost of Tarmac Driveways in Ireland?

Factors that Affect Block Paving Driveway Cost

The top factor that affects block paving prices, whether the project involves a driveway or patio, is size. The bigger the area to be covered, the higher the price.

However, some contractors give discounts for projects which involve large areas. They can do this because their material expense is lower. This is primarily due to the fact that, with bigger projects, they can purchase materials in bulk.

To give you an idea:

For driveways measuring 40 square metres and below, contractors charge around €120 per square metre. For driveways which are 100 square metres and above, they only charge about €90 per square metre.

Aside from the size, the amount of work the project entails also affects the price of block paving driveways. This factor has a direct impact on the labour fees of professional driveway pavers. Keep in mind, driveway cost has two major components – material prices and labour fees.

You can expect professional pavers to charge more for driveways with an irregular shape and/or intricate design as these projects require more work. Similarly, they will also charge higher fees if more preparation work or additional landscaping is needed.

For example, you have to pay around €210 per day if an old block paved driveway needs to be removed first.

The project’s location also affects the cost of installing a block paving driveway. Basically, prices are slightly higher for projects located in urbanised places like Dublin than those in the countryside.

In conclusion, the cost of a block paving driveway varies per property. Various factors come into play that affects material costs and labour fees – driveway size and shape, type of block pavers, the complexity of the project, etc.

Block paving driveway is more expensive than other types of driveways like tarmac and gravel. But it is worth the expense since you get a beautiful, hard-wearing, environment-friendly and low maintenance driveway.

Want to know how much it would cost to build a block paving driveway on your property? Please call us now on 0852139591 or click here to request a free quote.

Many homeowners see driveways merely as areas for parking vehicles or walkways leading to their homes. But did you know that your drive can be a focal point of your property’s exterior? It can even be one of the features that increases your home’s value when you decide to sell.

So, what are we trying to say here? If you are thinking of renovating your driveway or installing a new one, make sure it is beautiful and durable. This entails careful planning and working with professional driveway pavers or installers.

Of course, like most homeowners, one of the first things you would want to know is how much money this project requires. Well, the cost varies depending on various factors.

For example, block paving driveway prices range from €5,500 to €8,000 for a 50 square metre driveway. Meanwhile, tarmac drives of the same size cost around €3,000 to €5,000.

In this article, we look at the cost of paving a driveway in Dublin and other essential information that can help you with this home improvement project.

Driveway Paving Prices in Dublin by Material Type

The average cost of paving a driveway in Dublin is around €45 to €120. As mentioned earlier, various things can affect the price, and one of them is the primary material used to build the driveway. Material cost makes up half of the overall driveway price.

Here are the most common types of driveways in Dublin and the cost of installing or building them:

Gravel Driveway

Gravel is the cheapest material for driveway installation, making it an excellent choice if you have a tight budget. Aside from the material, the ease of installation is another reason it is affordable. The cost of installing a gravel driveway is around €45 to €65 per square metre.

Tar and Chip Driveway

This type of driveway looks like a gravel drive, but it is more stable. It is also more expensive to install with tar and chip driveway prices averaging €50 per square metre.

Tarmac Driveway

Tarmac is a low-cost but very durable paving material. Moreover, installing it is not labour intensive, so professional driveway pavers do not charge steep fees. The average cost of tarmac driveways is €60 to €100 per square metre. This already includes material costs and labour fees.

Concrete Driveway

This is one of the most expensive types of driveways. It costs 20% more than a tarmac drive, with an average price of €80 to €120 per square metre. The type of concrete and decorative features and finishes affect the drive’s overall cost.

Other Factors Affecting Driveway Paving Prices in Dublin

Aside from material costs, labour fees also significantly impact driveway prices. In fact, labour fees account for almost half of the total driveway price.

The fees of professional pavers vary depending on their experience, driveway material and amount of work needed. If you choose a driveway that involves a labour-intensive installation process, then you can expect your paver to charge higher fees.

To lessen your expenses, you might think of hiring amateurs or taking the DIY route. While this can cut down the price of your driveway, it can also affect its quality, especially its durability. You may end up with a poorly made drive that would require frequent repairs. In the long run, what you’ve saved on labour fees will be spent paying for these repairs.

The size and shape of your drive also affect the overall price of the driveway. Naturally, bigger or longer drives require more materials. So, your material costs will be higher.

Similarly, the drive’s shape can influence the price. Driveways with circular edges or irregular shapes cost more to build than the standard rectangular ones. This is mainly because these unconventional shapes require extra materials and labour.

Another thing that can affect the price is the condition of the area where the driveway will be built. If you already have an existing driveway and are re-doing it, you may spend less, especially if excavating or building a drainage system is no longer necessary.

However, if the area needs to be cleared of plants, stones and other objects, you will be spending more on your driveway. Similarly, if the task involves working on a slope, extra work is required, resulting in higher labour fees and material costs.

In conclusion, every driveway paving project is different, explaining the variation in prices. Each has its own set of challenges and requirements that affect the overall cost. So, if you want to know how much it exactly costs to pave your driveway, it is best to get in touch with a trusted driveway paving company.

Are you planning to resurface your existing driveway or install a new one? To learn more about driveway paving prices in Dublin, call us today on (01) 4851582 or 0852139591 to get a free quotation.