Tarmac or Asphalt can provide a very hard-wearing surface for driveways, roads, carparks and paths.
Although predominantly laid for areas expecting higher volumes of traffic, tarmac or asphalt is another great option to finish your driveway and with the option of spreading decorative chippings into the surface to add some colour.
Maintenance of a tarmac or asphalt driveway is low, just a sweep from time to time and you can also pressure wash too.
Tarmac, short for Tarmacadam, properly referred to as Dense Bitumen Macadam (DBM) is a strong and durable surfacing material which is exceptionally resilient to vehicles that are heavy. Tarmac is long lasting and strong as well as weather resistant.
Asphalt properly referred to as Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) is a similar mixture to tarmac but it consists of less external materials therefor making it slightly harder wearing.
The process of a new tarmac driveways involves of the following:
- The first part of the process begins by excavating the area (this can be between 150-300mm approx.)
- All the waste material will then be removed from the site (muck-away)
- All new edgings of your choice will be installed
- New surface water drainage system will be installed
- A weed membrane will be installed
- A new Type 1 MOT base course will be laid – The base course is immediately beneath the surface or binder course and provides extra load distribution and sub-surface drainage.
- A new Binder Course (14-20mm DBM) will be laid (to an approx. depth of 40mm) – The binder course sits between the surface and the base course where its key function is to distribute load to the base course.
- Finally, the Surface course (10mm SMA) will be laid (to an approx. depth of 40mm) – The surface course is the layer that is in direct contact with the traffic load and its smooth surface improves traction and reduces skidding. The surface layer should be tough enough to prevent distortion from traffic as well as prevent excessive water getting into the layers beneath.
Once the tarmac has been rolled out, you will be able to walk and drive on it almost immediately.
How long will a tarmac driveway last?
Tarmac/Asphalt driveways typically last 12 to 20 years, depending on the climate, the usage they get, and how well they have been maintained. Like most everything else, the better care you take of your driveway, the longer it will remain in service.
When roads, car parks or driveways are built using tarmac/asphalt construction, hot tarmac/asphalt is poured onto a bed of heavier aggregate and then compacted. Once the tarmac/asphalt cools to the surrounding air temperature, it is strong enough to withstand heavy traffic. While it is extremely hard and durable, it offers enough flexibility to accommodate imperfections in underlying surfaces.
A tarmac drive must have a proper edging to protect it. Without it, the edges of the driveway will crumble away. Water will get in under the fabric of the top dressing and eat away at the foundation layers
Driveway Edging
We provide a range of driveway edging options that includes standard flat concrete edging, bull nosed edging, brick on edge, granite edging and using either a small block paving kerb or a high block paving kerb
- Concrete edging
- Block paving edging
- Granite edging
- Standard edging
It’s possible to extend your existing driveway to fit more cars on whilst still resurfacing the existing section, this entails the full excavation of the area to be extended and making it up to the existing tarmac level.
An overlay is a tarmac layer applied over a pre-existing driveway, generally a worn-out tarmac driveway which may be structurally solid but is probably in need of an upgrade.
This approach is only feasible if the following applies:
- The additional covering will not impact the damp course or houses wall vents
- The additional covering will not impact the damp course or house’s wall vents
- The foundation under below the current driveway has not sunk
- There are no cracks in the base – these will get bigger and eventually transmit to the new surface