Tarmac driveway resurfacing in St Albans

How much should I budget in St Albans?

Guide prices below are for St Albans, adjusted for the East of England, where surfacing rates run about 5% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tarmac resurfacing over a sound existing base	£26–£47 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£870–£1,550
Example: 50 m² drive	£1,300–£2,350
Example: 80 m² drive	£2,100–£3,800

As a 2026 guide in St Albans, tarmac resurfacing work runs at about £26–£47 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £870–£1,550. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

How it is built

Do I need permission in St Albans?

In England, householder permitted development (Class F of the 2015 General Permitted Development Order) lets you lay a hard surface in front of a house without planning permission if it is porous, or if the rainwater is directed to a permeable area within the property. If the area is more than 5 m² and neither applies, you need permission. Standard dense tarmac is not porous, so a dense tarmac drive needs a lawn, border, channel to a soakaway or other permeable route for its water. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the highway authority (the county or unitary council) approves it before any work on the footway.

Covering St Albans

Survey cover and pricing for St Albans. As one of the larger towns in Hertfordshire, St Albans sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: AL1, AL2, AL4
Area: Hertfordshire
Nearest towns: Harpenden (5 miles), Hatfield (5 miles), Hemel Hempstead (5 miles), Welwyn Garden City (6 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City, Borehamwood.

What the price covers

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.

Survey of the existing base: sinking, rutting, loose edges and drainage
Cut out and patch failed areas before overlaying
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

Your questions answered

Do you work in my part of St Albans?

We cover St Albans including AL1, AL2, AL4, and nearby Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead.

Can I get a free survey in St Albans?

Yes for new surfacing such as drives, paths, private roads and car parks. Small repairs are often priced from photos; if a visit is needed for a repair-only job, we tell you any charge first.

Tarmac resurfacing cost in St Albans: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in St Albans, tarmac resurfacing work runs at about £26–£47 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £870–£1,550. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

How quickly can work start in St Albans?

Often 1–2 days for a typical drive. We book St Albans surveys alongside other jobs in Hertfordshire, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.

Other work in St Albans

Questions about tarmac resurfacing jobs in St Albans? Call, WhatsApp or use the form, and we'll talk it through.