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Tarmac Driveways Norwich
Chipped stone surface dressing on a residential street

Tar and chip driveways in Norwich

Tarmac Driveways Norwich lays tar and chip driveways in Norwich and across Norfolk, giving the look of gravel with a surface that does not move.

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What tar and chip is

Tar and chip, also called surface dressing or chip and seal, is a hot liquid bitumen sprayed over a prepared base, with stone chippings spread over it straight away and rolled in. As the bitumen cools, it locks the chippings in place. The result looks like a gravel drive, with the colour of the stone you choose, but the stones stay where they are instead of being kicked about, tracked indoors or scattered onto the lawn.

It suits country cottages, barn conversions, long rural drives and lanes, and homes where a black tarmac drive would feel too stark. The texture gives good grip on slopes and in wet weather. It can be laid over a new compacted stone base or over an existing sound tarmac surface, and it can be given a second coat for a harder-wearing finish.

It is not as smooth as tarmac, so it is less suited to areas where you want to sweep easily, play on or roll wheeled bins and buggies every day. We talk through where on your property it makes sense, and where tarmac or a mix of the two would work better.

Close-up of a stone chip surface

What is included

A tar and chip driveway normally includes:

  • Preparing the baseBuilding and compacting a stone sub-base, or cleaning and repairing an existing tarmac surface.
  • EdgingKerbs, blocks or timber edging to hold the surface in shape.
  • Bitumen sprayAn even coat of hot bitumen binder over the whole area.
  • Stone chippingsChippings in the colour you choose, spread over the binder while it is hot.
  • RollingRolling the chippings in so they bed into the bitumen.
  • Sweeping loose stoneSweeping off the surplus once it has set, with a return sweep if more comes loose.

What to plan before you book

Some choices make a difference to how it looks and lasts.

  • Choosing the stone

    Chippings come in golds, buffs, greys and reds. Look at how the colour sits with your brick, flint or render.

  • One coat or two

    A second coat of bitumen and smaller chippings gives a tighter, harder-wearing surface.

  • Drainage and planning

    Tar and chip is not a permeable surface. As with tarmac, a front drive over five square metres should drain onto your own land or into a soakaway.

  • Where it meets other surfaces

    Plan a neat edge where the drive meets paths, lawns and the road, often with a band of kerb or block.

Good to know

  • Loose chips at first

    Some surplus stone always comes away in the first weeks. It is swept up, and the surface settles.

  • Turning on the spot scuffs it

    Sharp turns with the wheels on full lock can lift chippings while the surface is new.

  • It looks rural

    The texture and natural stone colours suit country homes and older buildings particularly well.

  • It is a coating, not a structure

    Tar and chip relies on the base below it. A weak base will still show through, which is why preparation matters.

How a tar and chip job runs

  1. Step 1: Visit

    We look at the site and the existing surface, and show you stone colours.

  2. Step 2: Quote

    You get a written quote covering the base, edging, binder, stone and any second coat.

  3. Step 3: Prepare

    The base is built or the existing surface repaired and cleaned.

  4. Step 4: Spray and chip

    The bitumen is sprayed and the chippings spread and rolled straight away.

  5. Step 5: Sweep

    Once it has set, the loose stone is swept up and the drive handed back.

Questions about tar and chip

Is tar and chip the same as gravel?

It looks similar, but the stones are stuck down in bitumen, so they do not move, rut or spread like loose gravel.

Can tar and chip go over my old tarmac?

Yes, if the tarmac is sound. It is a common way to refresh an old drive and change its look.

Will stones come loose?

A little surplus comes away at first and is swept up. Once it has settled the surface holds together well.

Is it good on a slope?

Yes. The texture gives good grip for cars and feet on sloping drives.

Can I choose the colour?

Yes. The colour comes from the stone chippings, and there is a range of natural shades to choose from.

Does it need maintenance?

Very little. Keep it clear of leaves and moss, and have any worn patches re-dressed before they spread.

Other tarmac work we do

  1. Tarmac driveways

    New tarmac driveways laid on a properly built base, with edging and drainage planned in.

  2. Tarmac resurfacing

    A fresh tarmac surface over a driveway whose base is still sound.

  3. Tarmac repairs

    Potholes, cracks and sunken patches cut out and made good.

  4. Car parks and access roads

    Tarmac for car parks, yards and private roads, with drainage and line marking.

Like the look of tar and chip?

Tell us about your drive and the look you are after, and we'll reply to talk it through and give you a price.

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