Tarmac Driveways Coventry

Tarmac, full name Tarmacadam is the older of the two and as the name suggests uses tar as its basis. Crushed stones are mixed in with the tar which results in the stones being fully coated with the tar which provides the bonding between stones. In its warm form it is poured out over the area and then finally compacted down and smoothed by a roller to provide a smooth uniformed finish.

This is the more recent innovation for this type of road or driveway. One of the main by products of petroleum production is bitumen. This has similar properties to tar in that it is the coating agent for the individual crushed aggregate pieces and is the bonding agent. Whilst there may be difference between the two upon closer inspection if comparing them side by side you would be able to notice the asphalt being a little smoother than the tarmac. As well as this small visual improvement the asphalt finish is more robust not only in terms of its resistance to knocks and drops but it is also less susceptible to damage from petrol or diesel which can quite often seep from parked cars on a drive. Overall Asphalt is the superior of the two.

Tarmac driveways continue to be popular as they are relatively quick to install depending on what the existing surface is. When compared to concrete for example if has a shorter drying time and will therefore be accessible quicker than a concrete driveway. If you have an existing tarmac driveway there is also the possibility of resurfacing but this will only follow an inspection to access the current state of your driveway and if any cleaning or treatment is required before resurfacing can be done. Again an inspection will indicate whether or not resurfacing your existing tarmac driveway in a different colour will get a result you will be happy with.

As with any driveway whilst a rough cost per meter square can be used there are other factors which may effect costs. Clearly a resurfacing will be cheaper than a full new installation. Also some colours options will be more expensive than black and asphalt will be dearer than tarmac.

Aside from the costs of materials the other factors will be the total surface area, the existing base and what shaping and drainage will be required  which could be effected by the slope of your driveway.

We always prefer to come out and look to give you a final fixed quote and ensure any questions you may have about tarmac driveways are fully addressed.

Keeping your tarmac driveway well maintained shouldn't be a big deal. Brushing will the stiff broom should help keep dirt from settling in and providing an area for moss or algae to take hold. If you have left things a little too long on the maintenance front then tarmac is suitable for power cleaning but care should be taken. Where possible always start on a gentle setting and it is possible to dislodge tarmac with a power wash and once one part comes loose it can start to have a snowball effect as water can then settle in those areas and when winter comes the formation of expanding ice can lead to more of the area becoming dislodged. These areas should be fixed sooner rather than later and to minimise this occurring again it is good practise to regularly seal your tarmac driveway ever 3 years or so. If you follow these few tips you should expect your tarmac driveway to continue to look good for almost 20 years.