Tar and chip driveways
Hot tar sprayed onto a prepared base and dressed with stone chippings. A good value surface for driveways, long private roads and lanes, with a choice of chip to suit the house.
- Over 20 years laying driveways
- Family business in Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny
- Free quotes
- Our own materials and machinery
What a tar and chip driveway involves
Tar and chip, or tar and chippings, is hot tar sprayed onto a prepared surface and covered with a layer of stone chippings that are rolled in. It gives a textured, natural-looking finish and suits long runs where a full tarmacadam surface would cost a lot more.
Eddie prepares the base, sets the edging and the falls, sprays the tar and spreads the chip with the lorry, then rolls it in. There is a range of chippings to choose from, so the colour can be matched to the house or the stone around it.
- A good value surface for long driveways and lanes
- A choice of chippings
- Kerbing and edging to suit
- Driveways, private roads, yards and farm lanes
How a tar and chip driveway is laid
A sprayed surface, so the base and the edges matter most.
Prepare the surface
The lane or driveway is graded, soft spots built up and the base compacted.
Edging
Kerbing or edging to hold the chip in and give a clean line.
Spray the tar
Hot tar is sprayed evenly over the prepared surface.
Spread the chippings
The chip is spread from the lorry straight onto the hot tar.
Roll it in
The roller presses the chip into the tar. Loose stone is swept in the first weeks.
Tar and chip driveways, finished
Get a free quote
What moves the price
No two driveways cost the same. These five things make most of the difference, and Eddie prices yours for free after a look.
Get a free quote- Length and areaA long lane takes more stone, more tar and more time than a short drive. A bigger area usually works out better per metre, because the machinery comes out either way.
- The baseIf the ground is sound and well compacted, the job is mostly surface work. If it has to be dug out and a new stone base built, that is the bigger part of the price.
- AccessA lorry and roller that can drive straight in make a quicker job than a tight entrance or a run round the back.
- The chip or stoneLocal stone is the plain option. A particular colour brought in from further away costs more.
- DrainageWater has to go somewhere. If the falls are wrong or water sits at the gate, a channel or a soakaway may be needed.
Other jobs we do
Get a free quoteTarmacadam driveways
A smooth, hard-wearing finish for driveways and entrances.
Gravel driveways
Gravel driveways and yards, laid on a proper base with edging.
Private roads and lanes
Long lanes and private roads in tarmacadam, tar and chip or gravel.
Farm yards and car parks
Yards and car parks for homes, farms and businesses.
Questions
Is tar and chip cheaper than tarmacadam?
Usually, yes, which is why it suits long driveways and lanes. Eddie will price both if you want to compare.
Will loose chippings come off?
Some loose chip is normal in the first weeks and is swept back or picked up. After that the surface settles.
How long does tar and chip last?
A well laid tar and chip surface on a proper base lasts years, and it can be re-dressed later rather than replaced.
Can you do a farm lane?
Yes. Lanes and farm yards are a big part of the tar and chip work.
Which areas do you cover?
Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, south Tipperary and Laois, from our base in Mullinavat.
Talk to Eddie about your driveway
Free quotes across the South East.
