Tarmac Driveway Cost UK

These are rough figures for a complete new installation that will include proper excavation and a fresh sub-base. The costs come down a lot if you are resurfacing existing tarmac driveway that is still structurally sound, and not starting from scratch. London and the South East tend to be above and the North below these figures.

The actual prices do vary more than the table indicated. In some cases the price for tarmac is as low as £25 per square metre for large-scale jobs, while in other cases the quote for a job of premium specification with a thick wearing course and additional features is around £100 per square metre. When a quote is outside the £45 to £90 per square metre range it's worth investigating what is causing this rather than assuming that there's a problem.

Tarmac has one real advantage over most other driveway materials in that if your existing base is solid, you don't often have to tear it all out and start again.

An overlay is a process where they put a new 20 to 40mm thick layer of tarmac right over the top of your existing driveway surface. It is the cheaper option that will cost you between £30 to £65 per m² and will make a tired old driveway look new again for a fraction of the cost of a complete rebuild.

A full new installation means that the installer will excavate the old surface, install a new sub-base and then lay tarmac from scratch. This will cost around £45-90 per m² and is much more expensive than an overlay, but it is the only option if the ground beneath has failed.

The issue with an overlay is that the quality of the overlay is very dependent on the condition of the existing surface underneath it. If there is any sort of issue with the original base like cracking or sinking then putting down a new layer of tarmac will only hide the underlying issue for a couple of years before the same cracks appear again in the new surface. An experienced installer would be able to tell you the exact condition of your base and recommend further steps.

Excavation. If there is already a driveway in place it will be broken up first and remove from site. Then the ground is dug out to around 150 to 200mm depth depending on site conditions and requirements.

Sub-base. The next step is to build a sub-base made from MOT Type 1 stone. This is spread, levelled and compacted to create a foundation. If the sub-base isn't done properly the driveway is more likely to sink or crack later on.

Base course. A base layer of tarmac is laid first that gives the driveway its strength and creates a level surface ready for the top layer.

Wearing course. The final wearing course of 30 to 40mm thickness is then laid while the tarmac is still hot. The installers need to work quickly because the tarmac starts cooling as soon as it arrives on site.

Rolling and compacting. Once the workers lay down the tarmac, it is then rolled to remove air pockets and create a even finish. This also helps the tarmac to bond properly and improves its durability.

Curing. One of the benefits of tarmac is that it doesn't take long before you can use it. It is still worth taking it easy for the first few days though, especially with heavy vehicles, to give it time to fully harden.

Size. Smaller driveways cost more per meter than larger ones because the crew, plant hire and material delivery cost about the same whether it's for a 20m² driveway or a 80m² driveway. When you spread that fixed cost over the total area, the rate per square meter automatically goes down.

Overlay vs full install. This is already mentioned above but important to repeat again because it is the main factor that affects the price. You should ask the contractor clearly whether an overlay is possible for your driveway before thinking a complete replacement.

Thickness of the wearing course. A standard 40mm wearing course is the cheaper option as compared to a thicker, premium spec layer of about 65mm with a higher quality mix.

Colour. The cheapest option is standard black tarmac. Coloured or red tarmac costs about £8 to £15 more per m² but the coloured tarmac fades more than black tarmac as time goes on, which just goes slightly grey and is not as obvious.

Condition of the ground. The condition of the ground dictates the final price and if you need to remove existing surface and fix the base then you will have to pay more.

Edging and drainage. Tarmac driveways need a solid edge to keep the materials from edging. You also need to consider drainage if your driveway size is over and 5m² and doesn't already drain water to a garden or border.

Access. Easy access to the site keeps costs down and if machinery can't get to the driveway, there will be more digging and moving by hand, which would takes longer and cost more. As a rough guide, a skip for the old material is usually around £165 for a weekend, while hiring a mini digger is often about £250 a day where there is enough room to use one.

If you're comparing tarmac against other driveway materials, should should definitely check out our main driveway cost guide too. It covers the costs that affect every type of driveway.

Labour is usually charged per person and most installers will charge you somewhere between £150 and £200 a day. Most tarmac driveways are laid by a two-person team and the labour charges for one day will be roughly £400. Most jobs are finished within 1 to 2 days, although larger driveways or extra groundwork will require more time to finish the driveway.

As for DIY, a full tarmac driveway is a difficult job and it is best to let the professionals do it because the tarmac arrives hot and needs laying and rolling straight away after pouring. Once the tarmac starts cooling you've not got much time and without the proper machinery and a few pairs of hands, it quickly becomes very hard to get it done by yourself.

You can however do the small repairs yourself including things like like fixing potholes and cracks. You can buy a bag of cold-lay tarmac from nearest DIY shop and fix these small issues yourself. But if the driveway needs extensive repairs then you should let the professionals do it rather than trying to patch it yourself.

Pros

• The cheapest hard surface option for a driveway, noticeably less than resin or block paving for the same size job
• Fast to install, 1 to 2 days for a standard driveway
• Easy and relatively cheap to repair or resurface, which isn't true of every driveway material
• Smooth, durable surface that copes well with regular vehicle use
• Good value for larger driveways, where the cost difference against pricier materials really adds up

Cons

• Not permeable, so planning permission can apply if your driveway is over 5m² and doesn't drain to a garden or border
• Can soften slightly in extreme heat, though this is rarely a major issue in the UK
• Colour fades over time, more noticeably if you've chosen a coloured or red finish rather than standard black
• Less premium look than resin or block paving, which matters if kerb appeal and resale value are a priority
• Cracks over time, especially if the sub-base wasn't done properly in the first place

If the tarmac is laid properly then you should get about 15 to 20 years lifespan. This time can increase or decrease depending on how well the driveway was installed in the first place and how much traffic it sees.

One thing people like about tarmac is that it doesn't always need replacing when it starts looking tired. If the base underneath is still solid, it can easily be resurfaced instead, which is a lot cheaper than ripping the whole thing out.

There's not much maintenance involved. Give it a sweep now and then, keep weeds from taking hold around the edges and don't ignore little cracks. Water always finds its way in and once that happens the damage tends to get worse very quickly.

Most tarmac driveways that fail early have one thing in common. The sub-base wasn't done properly. You can buy the best tarmac available, but if the foundations aren't right, cracks and dips usually aren't far behind.

Tarmac is one of the few driveway materials that can be easily repaired, so you should not assume that a full replacement is the only option available.

Small repairs, like filling a single pothole or crack, cost £80 to £300, with a single pothole averaging around £100.

An overlay resurfacing job, where a fresh layer goes over the existing surface, runs £30 to £65 per m² depending on size.

A full relay, digging out the old surface and rebuilding the sub-base from scratch, costs roughly £2,500 to £4,800 for a smaller 20 to 40m² driveway, rising to £4,500 to £5,500 or more for a full 50m² two-car driveway, in line with the size table earlier in this guide.

The base is going to be the ultimate deciding factor when you have to choose between a repair or replacement. If you are unsure about deciding between repair or replacement, just ask you installer to inspect the site properly and give his recommendations.

Tarmac is the cheapest of all three main hard surfaces for driveways and also the fastest to install. The main drawback of getting a tarmac driveway installed is that it doesn't last as long as the other ones and it also doesn't look as good.

The main advantage of having a tarmac driveway is that it is way easier to repair and the costs of repair are much lower than both resin driveway and block paving driveway.

What's included in the sub-base?
Since the sub-base is what gives the driveway its strength, you should ask the contractor about the depth of the sub-base and also whether any additional groundwork is needed before the driveway itself is installed. A good sub-base can make the difference between a driveway that lasts for many years and one that begins to crack too early.

Is it a full installation or just an overlay?
Sometimes a quote seem cheaper on paper because the installer is just laying new tarmac over the existing surface and not replacing the base underneath. When you receive a quote, you should ask the contractor why they recommended that approach and if it will work for your driveway.

What thickness of tar will be?
Don't settle for "standard thickness". Ask how many millimetres of tarmac will be laid actually. The thicker your wearing course, the better it will withstand daily traffic and heavier vehicles.

Are you using hot mixed tarmac?
For a new driveway, hot-mix tarmac is what you would normally expect an installer to use. Cold-lay tarmac is fine for patching the odd pothole or crack, but it should not be used for laying a brand new driveway.

Do you offer a warranty on your workmanship?
Most good installers will give a guarantee on their work. Ask about what is covered, how long the guarantee lasts and get it in writing before the job starts.