Tarmac driveway resurfacing
An overlay is the cheapest way to make a tired drive look new, but only if what lies underneath is still sound. If the drive has sunk, rutted or broken up across wide areas, a new surface will follow those faults within a season or two.
Tarmac resurfacing, or an overlay, means cleaning and repairing an existing drive, spraying a bond coat and laying a new surface course of about 25–40 mm on top, without digging out the base.
What is included in tarmac resurfacing?
- Survey of the existing base: sinking, rutting, loose edges and drainage
- Cut out and patch failed areas before overlaying
- Plane or cut back at thresholds, kerbs and covers so levels still work
- Weed treatment and a clean surface
- Bond (tack) coat sprayed to glue the new layer to the old
- New surface course, typically 25–40 mm, laid hot and rolled
- Edges sealed and joints to existing surfaces cut neatly
How is it built?
How much does tarmac resurfacing cost?
As a 2026 guide at our UK midpoint rate, £25–£45 per m² inc VAT. Edging, drainage and access are itemised separately where they apply.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tarmac resurfacing over a sound existing base | £25–£45 per m² |
| Example: 30 m² drive | £830–£1,500 |
| Example: 50 m² drive | £1,250–£2,250 |
| Example: 80 m² drive | £2,000–£3,600 |
Rates vary by region:
| Region | Guide (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| London | £30–£54 per m² |
| South East | £28–£50 per m² |
| East of England | £26–£47 per m² |
| South West | £26–£46 per m² |
| West Midlands | £25–£45 per m² |
| East Midlands | £24–£44 per m² |
| North West | £24–£44 per m² |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £24–£43 per m² |
| North East | £23–£42 per m² |
| Wales | £24–£43 per m² |
| Scotland | £24–£44 per m² |
| Northern Ireland | £22–£40 per m² |
Guides only. Your survey turns these into a fixed written price. Full price list · Guide price tool
When it suits
- Drives that are faded, grey or crazed but not sunken
- Tidying a drive before selling
- Budget work where the base was built properly
Watch out for
- An overlay raises the level by 25–40 mm: watch door thresholds, damp-proof courses and gully covers
- It will not fix a drive that is sinking or breaking up
- Concrete under an overlay can reflect joints and cracks through
How long does it take and how long does it last?
- On site
- Often 1–2 days for a typical drive
- Lifespan
- Often 8–15 years, depending on the base underneath
Do I need planning permission?
It depends where you live and where the water goes.
- England: A new hard surface over 5 m² in front of a house needs planning permission unless it is porous or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property.
- Wales: New front hardstanding should be porous or drain to a permeable area within the property, and work covering 100 m² or more with drainage effects usually needs SAB approval first.
- 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.
- Northern Ireland: More than 5 m² of hard surface in front of a house should be porous or drain to a porous area within the property; DfI Roads approves dropped kerbs.
Dropped kerbs always need the highway authority's approval: the council in England, Wales and Scotland, and DfI Roads in Northern Ireland. Read the full planning guide.
What happens next?
Tell us about the job
Use the guide price tool, the form, WhatsApp or the phone. A postcode, rough size and a couple of photos are enough to start.
Survey and measure
We check the ground, levels, edges, drainage and access, and the planning and kerb position where it applies.
Written specification and price
You get an itemised quote listing every layer, the edging, drainage, waste and VAT. The price is fixed once the spec is agreed.
Build day
Dig-out and base first, then hot binder and surface course rolled in, edges finished and the site cleared. You get aftercare notes before we leave.
Tarmac driveway resurfacing: questions
How much does tarmac resurfacing cost?
As a 2026 guide, about £25–£45 per m² including VAT for an overlay on a sound base, including the bond coat and new surface course. Patch repairs before overlaying are priced on top where needed.
Can you resurface over old tarmac?
Yes, if the base is sound. We repair failed patches, spray a bond coat and lay a new surface course. If the drive has sunk or broken up widely, a full rebuild is better value over its life.
Will resurfacing raise my drive?
Yes, by the thickness of the new layer, usually 25–40 mm. Near doors and airbricks we plane or cut back so the finished level stays at least 150 mm below the damp-proof course where possible.
Is an overlay worth it or should I replace the drive?
If the drive is level and firm but tired-looking, an overlay is usually good value. Sinking, wide cracking, standing water or crumbling edges point to a rebuild.
Do I need planning permission to resurface?
Resurfacing an existing hard surface is generally treated differently from creating a new one, but rules vary by nation and by drainage. If the work changes how water drains to the road, check first; our planning guide sets out the rules in each nation.
Where do we offer tarmac resurfacing work?
Across the UK. Choose your area for local prices and towns.
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- County Durham
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
- Clwyd
- Dyfed
- Gwent
- Gwynedd
- Mid Glamorgan
- Powys
- South Glamorgan
- West Glamorgan
- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
- Angus and Dundee
- Argyll and Bute
- Ayrshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Dunbartonshire
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Fife
- Forth Valley
- Glasgow
- Highland and Moray
- Lanarkshire
- Perth and Kinross
- Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
- Scottish Borders
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
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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