Tarmac guides
Straight answers on tarmac prices, depths, planning rules, dropped kerbs, aftercare, scams and commercial surfacing.
All guides
How much does a tarmac driveway cost in 2026?
2026 tarmac driveway prices per m²: new builds, resurfacing, red, porous and tar and chip, plus what pushes a quote up or down.
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How thick should a tarmac driveway be?
Layer by layer: sub-base, binder course and surface course depths for drives, paths and car parks, and the standards behind them.
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Do you need planning permission for a tarmac driveway?
The front-garden rules in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, what counts as porous, and when the dropped kerb needs permission too.
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Dropped kerbs for driveways: approval, cost and timescales
Who approves a dropped kerb, what councils check, typical fees and building costs, and how it fits around a new tarmac drive.
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Leftover tarmac and doorstep driveway scams: how to spot them
Trading Standards warnings on cold-calling tarmac gangs, the warning signs, your 14-day cancellation right and how to report a rogue trader.
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Tarmac vs block paving: which drive is better?
Cost, looks, lifespan, repairs, drainage and maintenance compared for tarmac and block paving drives.
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Tarmac vs resin driveways: cost, looks and lifespan
How tarmac compares with resin-bound surfaces on price, appearance, drainage, durability and repairs.
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Resurface or replace? Deciding what your tarmac drive needs
How to tell whether an overlay will do or the drive needs digging out, with the signs of a failed base and the cost difference.
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New tarmac aftercare: when to drive on it and how to look after it
Walking, parking and turning on new tarmac, hot weather, stains, weeds and sealing: aftercare for the first year and beyond.
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Porous asphalt explained: does permeable tarmac work?
How porous asphalt drains, what base it needs, clay soils, cleaning, cost and planning benefits.
Read the guide →Tar and chip vs tarmac: which suits your drive?
Look, cost, durability and best uses compared for tar and chip surface dressing and dense tarmac.
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Car park resurfacing: overlay, inlay or rebuild?
A guide for managing agents and owners: survey, options, prices per m², phasing, lining and planning.
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Car park line marking: bay sizes, paint or thermoplastic, and costs
Standard and accessible bay sizes, materials, how long lining lasts and typical costs per bay and per metre.
Read the guide →Can tarmac be laid in winter?
Temperature limits from BS 594987:2024, why frost and rain matter, and how winter affects booking a tarmac job.
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Tarmac driveway maintenance: weeds, oil, cracks and sealing
Simple maintenance that adds years to a tarmac drive: sweeping, weed control, oil stains, crack sealing and when to re-seal.
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Private road resurfacing: who pays and what it costs
Unadopted and shared roads: maintenance responsibility, splitting costs between owners, repair options and guide prices.
Read the guide →Get a written tarmac quote
Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.
- Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
- Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
- Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
- Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED