Tarmac driveway repairs in Norwich
Tarmac Driveways Norwich repairs potholes, cracks and sunken areas in tarmac driveways and yards in Norwich and across Norfolk.
When a repair is the right answer
Not every tired drive needs replacing. A pothole by the gate, a trench where a cable or pipe was laid, a corner that has broken away or a patch that has sunk where a car always parks can usually be repaired on its own, leaving the rest of the drive as it is. A good repair is cut square, dug out to a firm base and filled with hot tarmac that is compacted and sealed at the joints, so water cannot get back in.
What we avoid is the quick fill of cold patching material dropped into a hole, which tends to work loose within a season. Water is what turns a small crack into a pothole: it gets under the surface, freezes, expands and lifts it. So a repair also means finding out why the damage happened, whether that is a missing edge, a blocked drain or a soft spot in the ground, and dealing with that too.
If there are many failed areas across the drive, repairs can end up costing more than they save, and we will tell you if resurfacing or a new drive would be the better use of your money.
What a repair includes
Depending on the damage, a repair covers:
- Assessing the causeWorking out whether the damage comes from water, a soft base, a broken edge or traffic.
- Cutting outSaw-cutting the damaged area into a neat square or rectangle back to sound tarmac.
- Rebuilding the baseDigging out soft material and compacting new sub-base where the ground has failed.
- Hot tarmac fillLaying hot tarmac in the cut-out and compacting it level with the surrounding drive.
- Sealing the jointsSealing round the edges of the patch so water cannot get under it.
- Edge repairsRebuilding crumbled edges and fitting edging where there was none.
What to plan before you book
To get the right repair quoted:
-
Photos of each problem
Send photos of every area that needs attention so we can see the whole picture before visiting.
-
When it started
Tell us if the damage followed building work, a new pipe or cable, or a hard winter.
-
Where water goes
Notice where rain runs and sits on the drive. Standing water is often the root cause.
Good to know
-
Patches show
A repaired area will look darker and newer than the drive around it at first. It weathers towards the same colour over time.
-
Small cracks are worth catching early
Sealing a crack before winter is far cheaper than repairing the pothole it turns into.
-
Weeds mean water
Weeds growing through tarmac show where water and soil are getting in, and those areas tend to break up next.
-
Some repairs need dry weather
Hot tarmac and crack sealants need a dry surface, so very wet days can delay a repair.
How a repair job runs
-
Step 1: Send photos
Use the form and attach photos or describe the damage and where it is.
-
Step 2: Look at the cause
We visit, check the damage and what caused it, and suggest repair, resurfacing or replacement.
-
Step 3: Quote
You get a written price for each area to be repaired.
-
Step 4: Repair
Each area is cut out, rebuilt and filled with hot tarmac, then sealed at the joints.
-
Step 5: Check the rest
We point out any other weak spots worth watching.
Questions about tarmac repairs
Can you repair just one pothole?
Yes. A single pothole or patch can be cut out and filled on its own.
Will the repair match the rest of the drive?
It will be level and sound, but new tarmac is darker than old. The difference fades as it weathers.
Why do potholes keep coming back?
Usually because water is still getting under the surface, or the base beneath the hole is soft. A lasting repair deals with both.
Is cold-lay patching any good?
It has its uses for temporary fixes, but on a driveway a hot tarmac repair cut back to sound material lasts much longer.
Can you repair a drive damaged by a skip or lorry?
Yes. Heavy loads often crush the surface and the base under it, so both are rebuilt in the damaged area.
When should I resurface instead?
When the damage is widespread, or the whole surface is worn and stony, a resurface usually gives a better result than many separate patches.
Other tarmac work we do
-
Tarmac driveways
New tarmac driveways laid on a properly built base, with edging and drainage planned in.
-
Tarmac resurfacing
A fresh tarmac surface over a driveway whose base is still sound.
-
Tar and chip driveways
Hot bitumen and stone chippings for a textured, gravel-look finish.
-
Car parks and access roads
Tarmac for car parks, yards and private roads, with drainage and line marking.
Got a pothole or a crack to sort?
Tell us what has happened and send a photo if you can. We'll reply to talk it through and give you a price.