Tarmac (asphalt) is the most cost-effective driveway surface once you get past a certain size. It is fast to lay, durable when properly installed, and the right answer for longer driveways, shared accesses, communal parking and farm tracks. Most cheap tarmac driveways fail at the edges within 18 months because the sub-base was wrong, the edges had no restraint, or both. We do not lay tarmac that way.
Get a free on-site tarmac driveway quote or call Gary on 0121 250 4438.
How we build a tarmac driveway
- Survey and quote. Gary measures and inspects the existing surface and drainage. Where the existing tarmac is sound and well-drained, an overlay may be cheaper than a full rebuild; usually it is not.
- Excavation to depth.
- MOT Type 1 sub-base laid in compacted layers and rolled.
- Edge restraint - concrete-haunched kerb or block edging. Tarmac without an edge restraint spreads sideways within a year.
- Binder course (typically 50-60 mm) laid hot and rolled.
- Wearing course (typically 25-30 mm) laid hot, rolled and finished by hand at the edges.
- Hand-finished edges to the porch, garage threshold and any kerb-line. This is where the difference in workmanship shows up.
- Site clean-up, photos, and written 10-year guarantee.
When tarmac is the right choice
- Larger driveways and shared accesses where blocks would be expensive overall.
- Farm tracks, business yards and communal parking.
- Driveways that need to be ready for vehicles quickly - tarmac is usable as soon as it has cooled.
- Owners who want a simple, dark, low-feature finish.
When tarmac is not the right choice
- Small front driveways where blocks or resin give a better visual finish for the same money once you factor in edges.
- Driveways with very tight turning circles, where power steering on a hot day can scuff the surface.
- Owners wanting a feature, patterned or coloured finish - tarmac is essentially one colour.
Permeable tarmac
Standard tarmac is not permeable. If your driveway is on the front of the property and over the planning threshold, the surface needs to be permeable, or rainwater must drain to a permeable area on your own land. We can:
- Install standard tarmac with a permeable border or rain garden to handle runoff.
- Install porous tarmac, which is permeable through the surface but more expensive and not as durable for very heavy use.
We will recommend the right choice for your site as part of the quote.
What it costs
Tarmac driveways are typically the most cost-effective surface once you get past a single-car driveway. Two-car tarmac driveways in this area from £3,500. Larger driveways and shared accesses receive a fixed project price after the site survey.
We give a fixed written price after the on-site visit. We do not quote from measurements alone over the phone because edge work, kerbs, removal of the existing surface, and drainage all materially change the number.
What kills a cheap tarmac driveway
- Thin or absent sub-base. Tarmac flexes onto whatever is beneath it; a thin sub-base means the surface bends and cracks at the edges.
- No edge restraint. Without a kerb or block edge, tarmac crumbles outwards.
- Single-pass cold-laid tarmac. Driveway-quality tarmac is laid hot and rolled. Single-pass cold tarmac (the surface used by some door-knockers) does not last.
- Joining onto the highway without a proper rebate. The joint cracks within a season.
If you have been quoted a tarmac driveway that does not mention any of these, ask the question before signing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a tarmac driveway take to install? Most residential tarmac driveways are 2 to 4 working days once excavation is done. We need a dry weather window for the wearing course pour.
When can I drive on a new tarmac driveway? You can drive on it as soon as the surface has cooled, typically a few hours after the final pour. Avoid sharp steering on the spot for the first two weeks while the surface fully cures.
Will it crack at the edges? Not when there is proper edge restraint. The edge is the weak point on every tarmac driveway, so it is where we spend the most installation time.
Can you re-lay over my old tarmac? Sometimes, if the existing surface is sound, well-drained, and at the right level. Usually a thin overlay just hides the problems for a year. We give you the honest answer after the on-site visit.
Do you offer a guarantee? Yes - a written 10-year guarantee covering workmanship and the sub-base.
Get a free tarmac driveway quote
Call Gary on 0121 250 4438 or request a free on-site quote.
“The team were very courteous and professional and flexible in ensuring our wishes for the design were met.”
“The lads worked exceptionally hard to complete the work very quickly and to a high standard. We can't believe the brilliant transformation.”
What customers say about our work
We also cover
We also work in Erdington, Four Oaks, Mere Green, Wylde Green, Boldmere, Streetly, Little Aston, Minworth, Walmley, New Oscott, Kingstanding, Great Barr, Aldridge, Castle Bromwich, Coleshill, Solihull, Knowle, Tamworth, Lichfield, Burntwood, Shenstone and the surrounding West Midlands villages.
