Country Tarmac Driveway and Patio
A large machine-laid tarmac forecourt between brick pillars, with a sett border.
See the projectCommercial serviceNew car park construction
New car park construction
in Kildare and Dublin.
Car parks in Kildare, Dublin and the neighbouring counties, built from bare ground for businesses, clubs, schools and developments: excavation, sub-base, drainage, kerbs and a machine-laid tarmac finish. Paul Delaney has 45 years in the trade.
Delaney's Own Photos
OUR TARMAC WORK.
Lane Between Fences
Lane Between Fields
Sett Kerb Along a Wall
Curving Lane
Sett Border on a Slope
Open Tarmac Forecourt
Straight Rural Lane
Sett Edge on a Curve
Car park constructionWhat sits
What sits
under the surface.
The tarmac is the thin, visible part of a new car park. What decides how long it lasts is underneath: firm formation, a sub-base deep enough for the traffic, and a route for every drop of rain to leave the surface. Paul looks at the ground first, then designs the build-up from it.
Ground checked first
Layered sub-base
Binder and SMA courses
Drainage to the permission
Kerbs set in concrete
Porous build where designed
The build-upWhat goes
What goes
into a car park.
Excavation
Topsoil and soft material stripped to firm ground and shaped to level.
Sub-base
Compacted stone laid and rolled in layers, with a membrane where needed.
Drainage
Falls to gullies and channels, or a porous build, to suit the permission.
Surfacing
A binder course, then an SMA wearing course, both machine-laid.
Planning
Drainage and planning conditions
A new car park adds a large hard surface, and planning permissions often set conditions on where its rainwater goes. This is known as SuDS, sustainable drainage.
- Run-off held back on site, or sent to a soakaway or attenuation tank.
- Porous tarmac on an open stone base where the ground suits it.
- Falls to gullies and channels where a piped system is allowed.
- Delaney builds to the drainage design on the permission.
Edges
Kerbs and edging
Kerbs hold the tarmac edge, guide water to the gullies and mark out islands and walkways.
- Kerbs set on and backed with concrete before surfacing.
- Dropped kerbs at crossings and accessible bays.
- The electrical contractor places ducts for lighting or chargers before the surface goes down.
Sub-baseSub-base depth
Sub-base depth
by use.
| Use | Typical starting depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway, for comparison | 150 to 200mm of compacted stone | Cars only, on firm ground |
| Car park for cars and vans | 250 to 300mm of compacted stone | Deeper again on soft or wet ground |
| Porous car park | Open graded stone base | Depth set by the drainage design |
These are trade-standard starting points. The depth for your site is set once the ground has been opened and checked.
PricingWhat decides
What decides
the price.
Area and shape of the car park
Depth of dig and ground conditions
Sub-base depth for the traffic
Drainage required by the permission
Kerbs, islands and dropped kerbs
ProcessHow a new
How a new
car park is built.
01
Site visit
Paul looks at the ground, levels, access and the planning conditions.
02
Written quote
Dig depth, sub-base, drainage, kerbs and surfacing set out item by item.
03
Groundworks
Strip, shape, lay drainage and set kerbs before any stone goes down.
04
Sub-base
Stone laid and rolled in layers to the agreed depth and falls.
05
Surfacing
Binder and SMA wearing courses machine-laid and rolled to the falls.
ProjectsRecent tarmac
Recent tarmac
projects.
Residential jobs, laid by the same crew with the same machine-laid method, sub-base and kerbing.
Tarmac Driveway with a Pale Paved Apron
Loose stone taken up and replaced with machine-laid tarmac.
See the project
Tarmac Driveway with a Granite Border
Machine-laid tarmac held by a granite border and kerb.
See the project"The base is everything. If the sub-base is wrong, the whole thing fails inside three years."
P
Paul Delaney
Owner, Delaney Tarmac
Related commercial services
Common Questions
Common questions.
Do I need planning permission for a new car park?+
Often, particularly for a new business or community car park or a new entrance onto a public road. Check with your council or architect before booking; Delaney builds to the conditions on the permission.
Can a new car park be porous?+
Yes. Porous tarmac on an open graded stone base lets rain soak through instead of running off. Whether it suits depends on the ground and the engineer's design.
Who does the lighting and barriers?+
Electrical contractors. Where ducts and bases go is agreed with them before surfacing, so the new tarmac is not cut open later.
GET A COMMERCIAL
QUOTE.
No Obligation
Free Site Visit
Written Quote