Tarmacadam vs block paving

First, so you know where this comes from: Milestone Driveways lays tarmacadam, tar and chip and gravel. We don't lay block paving. That's not because block paving is a bad driveway. Done right, it's a good one, and plenty of people are happy with it. This guide sets out how the two compare so you can decide for yourself, and if block paving is what suits you, a block paving contractor is the person to call.

What tarmacadam is

Tarmacadam is crushed stone bound with bitumen, mixed hot at a plant, laid by machine and rolled. On a driveway it usually goes down in two layers over a compacted stone base: a base layer for strength and a finer top layer for the finish. The result is one continuous dark surface with no joints.

What block paving is

Block paving is made up of individual concrete or clay blocks laid on a bed of sand over a compacted stone base. The blocks go down in a pattern, the joints are filled with fine dry sand, and the whole area is vibrated so the blocks lock together. Patterns and colours vary a lot, and that is much of the appeal.

Cost

Tarmacadam generally costs less per square metre than block paving. The material goes down by machine and a fair area can be laid in a day. Block paving is laid one block at a time, with cutting at every edge and corner, so there's more labour in every square metre.

The gap matters most on size. On a small front driveway, the difference may be one you're happy to pay for the look. On a long drive or a lane it adds up fast, which is why you rarely see block paving running the length of a country lane.

Look

This is down to taste. Block paving gives pattern, colour and a defined edge, and it suits a lot of town houses and newer builds. Tarmacadam gives a plain, smooth, dark finish. It's understated, it suits a rural house, and it doesn't compete with the house or the garden. Neither is the better look. It depends on the house and on what you like.

Upkeep

The two need different kinds of care.

• Tarmacadam has no joints, so weeds have nowhere to root in the surface. A sweep and the odd wash keep it right. It fades from black towards grey over the years, and fuel or oil left sitting on it can soften the surface.
• Block paving needs the joints looked after. Weeds and moss can take hold in the sand, and power washing takes sand out, so the joints need topping up with fresh sand from time to time.
• Repairs differ too. A damaged or stained block can be lifted and replaced, and blocks that have sunk can be lifted and relaid. A patch in tarmacadam does the job but usually shows.

Drainage

Standard tarmacadam and standard block paving both shed water off the surface, so both need the right falls and somewhere for the water to go, such as a channel at the gate or in front of the garage. Permeable block paving is different. It is built to let water down through the joints into a base designed to hold it and let it soak away. If water is a problem on your site, raise it with whoever quotes, whichever surface you choose.

How long each lasts

Both last many years when they're laid on a properly built and compacted base, and both fail early when they're not. The base matters more than the surface on top. Tarmacadam laid on a weak base can crack and sink. Block paving on a weak base dips and ruts where the wheels run. Either way, ask anyone quoting what goes under the surface and how deep.

How the driveway is used matters too. Heavy vehicles turning on the same spot are hard on any surface. Regular care helps both: sweeping, keeping channels clear and dealing with spills early.

Which suits a South East driveway

There's no single right answer, but there are patterns.

• A long drive, a lane or a farm entrance: tarmacadam, or tar and chip, on cost alone. Block paving across that much ground is a big spend.
• A rural house where you want a plain finish that needs little looking after: tarmacadam.
• A smaller town driveway where pattern and colour matter most to you: block paving is worth pricing.
• A tight budget on a large area: tar and chip, or gravel.

Across Kilkenny and Waterford, a lot of houses sit at the end of a long drive or a lane, and that's where tarmacadam and tar and chip make the most sense.

Getting a quote

If tarmacadam is the way you're leaning, Eddie lays tarmacadam driveways from Mullinavat across Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Carlow and south Tipperary, with his own materials and machinery. The quote is free and there's no obligation. If you've settled on block paving, get a block paving contractor to price it. Whoever you ask, find out what goes into the base.

Call Eddie on 087 120 4286, or WhatsApp the same number.