Driveways and paths

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.

AYRSHIRE GUIDE£44–£74 per m² inc VAT
Tar and chip driveway with golden chippings leading to a country cottage, typical of tar and chip driveway work

How much does a tar and chip driveway cost in Ayrshire?

Rates in Ayrshire follow Scotland, about 2% below our UK midpoint.

ItemGuide 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

Dressingchippings rolled into bitumenBindersprayed bitumen or emulsionBaseMOT Type 1 or existing sound surfaceEdgeskerbs, setts or cobblesINDICATIVE CROSS-SECTION · NOT TO SCALE

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

Free survey for new surfacing

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
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