Asphalting and Tarmac in Western Switzerland

A driveway that cracks, a yard that hollows out with every rain, a car park whose surface is crumbling: these are the situations in which people think of tarring. The term is common, but the work is more than spreading a black layer. SOS Travaux is a neutral matching service: you describe your project online, your request is passed on to tradespeople and companies in the region, and they contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.

Asphalting and tarmac: what this trade covers

The French word “goudronnage” dates from a time when tar was used. Today, the surfacing laid on roads, yards and car parks is bituminous asphalt: a mix of aggregates and bitume that is heated, spread and then compacted. Once cooled, it forms a continuous surface that withstands vehicles and is easy to maintain.

The most frequent jobs for a private individual or a small organisation:

• laying a new surface on a yard, a path or a garage driveway;
• replacing an old surface that is cracked or deformed;
• laying a new wearing course on a base that is still sound;
• local repairs: potholes, crumbling edges, trenches filled in after a pipe has been laid;
• building a car park for an apartment block, a co-ownership or a small business;
• joining the surface to the kerb, the gutter or the threshold of a building.

A serious job generally involves several stages: stripping or milling the old surface if necessary, preparing and compacting the foundation, managing slopes so that water drains away, laying the hot asphalt, then compacting with a roller. Depending on the case, a bonding layer is applied between two layers so that they adhere well to one another.

When to call an asphalt specialist

Spreading a cold-repair product yourself can do for a small hole. As soon as the surface is somewhat larger, bringing in a company is worthwhile, for several practical reasons. Asphalt is laid hot and must be compacted before it cools: this requires machines and a working rhythm that DIY tools cannot reproduce. Slopes must direct water to a drain, otherwise it stagnates and damages the surface. Finally, the foundation determines the lifespan of the whole.

A few signs show that professional advice is justified:

• network cracking, which often points to a tired base rather than a simple surface flaw;
• sagging or puddles that keep returning to the same spot;
• an edge that is breaking up along a kerb or a slab;
• a root lifting the surface;
• a plan for a new surface on ground that has never been landscaped.

A professional can also tell you whether tarring is the right choice. Depending on the use, other solutions exist: stabilised gravel, paving stones, slabs. A good contact does not offer asphalt by reflex.

Asphalt in Switzerland: training and rules to know

In Switzerland, building roads and surfaced areas is a trade with recognised vocational training: that of road builder, leading to a federal certificate of proficiency (CFC). This does not guarantee the quality of every job, but it is a useful reference point for questions to put to the company: who leads the team, and what experience do they have with surfaces comparable to yours?

For a private individual, the rules that matter depend mostly on the municipality and the canton. A few points come up often:

• a new impermeable surface changes how rainwater drains, and local requirements on its management may exist;
• a driveway that opens onto a municipal or cantonal road may be subject to particular conditions;
• within a protected area, the choice of surfacing may be regulated.

None of these rules is identical everywhere. Always check with your municipality or the competent cantonal office before signing.

Asphalting by canton: Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura and Bern

Authorisation procedures vary from one canton to another. Here is what to keep in mind for surfacing works that may be affected, bearing in mind that only the competent authority can say whether your project requires an application.

Geneva. Building permits are issued by the canton, through the Office des autorisations de construire (building permits office). Many rental buildings are managed by agencies (régies): if you are a tenant, a car park or yard project must be discussed with them. Old districts and protected areas may impose constraints on materials.

Vaud. The building permit is issued by the municipal council of the commune, with the file going through the cantonal permits centre (CAMAC) when cantonal services must give an opinion. In old towns and in the Lavaux region, a World Heritage site, requirements on the appearance of outdoor works may be stricter.

Valais. The building permit is issued by the commune within the building zone and by a cantonal commission outside it. For access to a chalet or a second home, the location of the plot therefore matters a great deal, as does the federal law on second homes in the communes concerned.

Fribourg. Building permit applications go through the cantonal platform FRIAC; the permit is issued by the prefecture or by the commune depending on the type of works. The canton is bilingual and its old towns are protected.

Neuchâtel. Applications are submitted to the cantonal counter SATAC, with the decision taken at communal level. In La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, the watchmaking heritage listed by UNESCO may affect works in certain areas.

Jura. The permit is issued by the commune or by the canton depending on the scale of the project. Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne have old towns whose built environment is sensitive.

Bern (Biel/Bienne). The building permit is issued by the commune or by the prefecture depending on the project. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual: documents may be in French or German.

On energy, asphalt does not in principle qualify for cantonal subsidy programmes, which target mainly the building envelope and heating. If your asphalting job is part of a wider renovation, ask the cantonal energy office: other categories of work may be eligible.

Describing your asphalt project to get comparable quotes

The more precise your description, the more comparable the quotes you receive. Before filling in the form, gather these details:

• the use of the surface: pedestrians, cars, vans, heavy vehicles, deliveries;
• its approximate size and shape, with a few photos of its current state;
• the nature of the ground and of the old surface, if you know them;
• machine access: width of the passage, gate, slope, neighbours;
• particular constraints: trees, manholes, kerbs, thresholds to be respected;
• your preferred timetable and your status (owner, tenant with the landlord’s agreement, co-ownership, business).

You can request a quote online in a few minutes. Your request is passed on to tradespeople and companies in the region, who will contact you.

What a serious asphalt quote should detail

A useful quote does not fit on one line. It generally distinguishes:

• preparation: stripping, milling, removal of materials, earthworks;
• the foundation: the planned nature and thickness of the layers, compaction;
• the surfacing: type of asphalt, thickness, number of layers;
• slopes, water drainage and connections with existing elements;
• any procedures that are taken care of;
• the conditions of execution: access, weather, curing time before use;
• what is not included.

If an offer does not mention the foundation, ask why. That is often where the difference between two prices lies.

What makes the cost of asphalting vary

No serious figure can be given without knowing the site. Here are the factors that weigh most:

• the area: the larger it is, the more the organisation of the site pays off;
• the condition of the base: ground that must be redone entirely costs more than a simple wearing course;
• the thickness and composition, which depend on the expected loads;
• access: a plot where machines struggle to pass requires more manual work;
• removal of the old surface and the spoil;
• connections and finishing: kerbs, gutters, manholes to be brought back to level;
• the season and the weather, which affect planning;
• the distance between the site and the company.

Comparing several quotes makes sense provided they cover the same scope of work.

Asphalt defects: Code of Obligations time limits

The Code of Obligations (CO) sets out the client’s rights in the event of a defect. For immovable work, the period is 5 years under art. 371 CO; for movable work, it is 2 years. A yard or driveway laid on the ground is in principle treated as immovable work.

If your contract refers to the SIA 118 standard (the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects’ standard for construction contracts), its provisions apply in addition: read the contract again before signing. In all cases, report a defect in writing as soon as you notice it, with photos and the date, and keep the quote, the invoice and your exchanges with the company.

Asphalting near you in Western Switzerland

There is not yet a dedicated city page for asphalting. The canton pages gather the local reference points useful for preparing your project:

• canton of Geneva
• canton of Vaud
• canton of Valais
• canton of Fribourg
• canton of Neuchâtel
• canton of Jura
• canton of Bern

Wherever you live, you can request a quote: it is free and without obligation.