Tar and chip driveways in Ayrshire
We survey and price tar and chip driveways across Ayrshire, from Kilmarnock to Ayr and Irvine, with every layer written into the quote.

How much does a tar and chip driveway cost in Ayrshire?
Rates in Ayrshire follow Scotland, about 2% below our UK midpoint.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base | £44–£74 per m² |
| Example: 50 m² drive | £2,200–£3,700 |
| Example: 100 m² drive | £4,400–£7,350 |
| Example: 200 m² drive | £8,400–£13,950 |
Towns we cover in Ayrshire
Postcode areas: KA, PA.
What is included?
Tar and chip, also called surface dressing, is a layer of bitumen sprayed onto a prepared base and immediately covered with stone chippings, which are rolled in so the surface looks like gravel but behaves like a bound drive.
- Base prepared: new MOT Type 1 sub-base, or an existing sound tarmac or stone base
- Edges set with kerbs, setts or cobbles
- Chippings spread straight onto the binder
- Rolled to bed the stones in
- Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
- Second coat where a double dressing is specified
Rules in Ayrshire
In Scotland, a hard surface between the house and a road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a porous area within the property, whatever its size. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the council as roads authority approves it before any work on the footway.
How it is built
Tar and chip driveways in Ayrshire: questions
How much does a tar and chip driveway cost in Ayrshire?
As a 2026 guide, about £44–£74 per m² inc VAT in Ayrshire. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in Ayrshire do you cover?
Kilmarnock, Ayr, Irvine, Kilwinning, Troon, Prestwick, Saltcoats, Largs and more.
How long does a tar and chip driveway take?
Often 1–3 days depending on base work.
How long does tar and chip last?
Often 8–15 years before it needs a fresh dressing, depending on traffic and how well the base drains.
Other services in Ayrshire
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