Country driveways
A tar & chip surface can turn a muddy or dusty track into a firm, tidy driveway that still looks in keeping with the countryside. Different stone colours can be used to suit the property.
Tar & chip (also called surface dressing) is a practical way to surface longer drives, private lanes and courtyards. A hot bitumen binder is applied and covered with stone chippings, creating a surface that looks like a neat country lane but stands up well to vehicles when installed properly.
Regularly working around East Grinstead, Crawley, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Crowborough, Edenbridge and rural Sussex, Surrey & Kent.
Tar & chip is often used where you need a sensible, hard-wearing surface over a larger area without the cost of full-depth tarmac or block paving. It’s especially popular on rural properties and homes with shared access tracks.
A tar & chip surface can turn a muddy or dusty track into a firm, tidy driveway that still looks in keeping with the countryside. Different stone colours can be used to suit the property.
Surface dressing is often used on shared private roads and longer access lanes where a solid surface is needed but a full tarmac construction would be overkill.
Farmyards, parking areas and courtyard spaces can all benefit from tar & chip, giving a more finished feel without going to a decorative driveway surface.
Here are a couple of recent tar & chip projects showing the change from worn or rough surfaces to a neat, stone-finished drive.
Before
After
Before
After
As with any surface, the performance of tar & chip depends on the base underneath. We prepare the surface properly before applying bitumen and stone chippings.
We start by assessing the existing track, concrete or tarmac. Soft spots, potholes and broken areas are repaired or strengthened. Where needed, we adjust levels to encourage water to shed off the surface rather than sitting in dips.
In some cases, a new base layer may be required in heavily damaged areas before surface dressing is applied.
A hot bitumen binder is sprayed or applied evenly to the prepared base, followed by a layer of clean stone chippings. The chippings are then rolled in so they bond to the binder and create the finished surface.
Excess loose stone is removed once everything has settled, leaving a more stable, tidy surface under vehicle tyres.
A few common questions from homeowners and landowners in Sussex, Surrey and Kent considering tar & chip for their drive or track.
Tar & chip works best where there is a reasonably sound base underneath – for example an older tarmac or concrete drive, or a well-constructed hardcore track. We’ll take a look on site and advise if it’s suitable.
Smaller driveways are often completed in a couple of days, while longer tracks and private roads can take several days depending on preparation, access and weather conditions.
Some loose chippings are normal in the early days after surface dressing. These are usually swept off once the main layer has bonded. We’ll explain what to expect and how to drive on the surface during the first weeks.
With a suitable base and sensible use, tar & chip can give many years of service. As with public roads, it can be refreshed with another surface dressing in future when the stone starts to wear.
On longer runs and larger areas, tar & chip can often be more economical than laying full-depth tarmac, while still providing a firm, usable surface. We can quote for both where appropriate so you can compare.
We install tar & chip driveways and private roads across East Grinstead, Crawley, Tunbridge Wells, Crowborough, Sevenoaks, Edenbridge, Oxted and surrounding Sussex, Surrey and Kent villages.
Based near East Grinstead, we lay tar & chip driveways, yards and private lanes for homes, farms and small businesses across a wide area.
If you are just outside these areas, please still get in touch – for the right project we are happy to travel further.
Send us a few details about your existing track or driveway and how you use it. We’ll arrange a convenient visit to assess the base, measure up and provide a clear, written quotation for tar & chip and any alternative options.
Call free on
0800 861 1678