Tar and Chipping

What is a Tar and Chip Driveway?

A tar and chip driveway has been a traditional method of surface covering for driveways and parking lots for many years. It’s particularly popular in places where the climate can be harsh on asphalt and concrete, such as snowy climes, but even if your local weather is more temperate, this type of driveway has many benefits that make it ideal as an all-purpose surface covering that you’ll enjoy using and looking at every day. Here’s what you need to know about tar and chip driveways so you can decide whether it’s right for your property.

What is a Tar and Chip surface? 

A tar-and-chip surface (or tarmac, which is what most people call it) is like an asphalt surface that has been ground down with stones added to it. This type of driveway will usually last for about seven years before you need to have it resealed. Tar-and-chip also needs a lot more regular maintenance than other types of driveways. You’ll need to sweep or hoover up leaves, twigs, and other debris from your driveway every day in order to keep it in good condition. If you don’t keep on top of these kinds of things, then your tar-and-chip surface will be damaged quite quickly.

How Much Does A Tarmac And Chipping Project Cost?

No two projects are exactly alike, but generally speaking, most tarmac and chipping jobs are an affordable price. This price range assumes that everything goes according to plan; if you run into any issues along the way (weather delays, for example), your costs will increase. You should also factor in some extra time for cleanup; when tar breaks free of its plastic sheets or wood chips get crushed by cars, they can present significant safety hazards on busy streets. As such, it’s important to schedule more than enough time to clean up properly at no additional charge once your project is complete.

How Long Does A Driveway Take to Install?

The time it takes to install or lay your driveway will largely depend on its size, but will also depend on whether you opt for an installer to do it for you or do it yourself. You can easily save hundreds of pounds by installing your own, with small jobs taking around a day and larger projects taking up to two weeks. You should also bear in mind that larger drives can be more difficult to maintain because there’s so much tarmac involved. Still, if you’re handy with tools, tar and chip driveways are relatively straightforward to install – all you need is perseverance!

Different Options For Your New Tarmac Driveway

Before you decide to have a tarmac driveway installed, there are lots of things to consider. You can create them using different materials, so there are different options for your new tarmac driveway. You’ll want to choose a material that meets your needs, as well as gives you something that looks great.  There are many benefits to having a tarmac driveway, but you need to know what those benefits are before deciding if it’s right for you. When it comes time to make a decision about your new driveway, there are some important questions that need answers before you move forward with any type of project. The first thing you should do is figure out how much money you want to spend on getting a new driveway put in place. That will help narrow down which type of materials will be best for your home or business property. Once you know how much money is available, then it’s time to start looking at other factors like durability and appearance.

How is a Tar and Chip Surface Made?

A tar-and-chip driveway can be made of both asphalt and concrete materials. Asphalt driveways consist of a layer of crushed rock, compacted with either gravel or sand. They can also be mixed with other asphalt products to give your driveway extra grip in rain, snow or heavy traffic. The surface is then covered with thick black tar (from crude oil) that seals it from air, water and chemicals. A liquid material called bitumen (tar) is applied as well for extra protection. Next comes an application of chips to give your driveway colour and texture and add to its aesthetics.

Do You Need Drainage with Tar and Chip?

Drainage isn’t always necessary with tar and chip driveways, but it’s strongly recommended. In fact, depending on your property’s location, you may be legally required to install drainage—but how exactly do you go about installing it correctly? First off, there are two types of tar and chip: hot-mixed or cold-mixed. Hot-mixed asphalt requires stabilisation because of its heat; concrete is mixed in at a set temperature. Cold-mixed asphalt requires no such extra step—it comes out of the truck ready to go. Either way, during construction you need to ensure that water can escape from beneath your driveway while also keeping dirt from moving in underneath it. To do so