Tarmac driveway - advice?

[madeoftoast]

Not sure if in the right topic.

We need our driveway doing and thinking tarmac. If you've had it done in the last few years, have you regretted it?

Just looking for honest reviews. Tia

No regrets. Be aware of timing of year/weather. It needs to cure properly to last and stand up over time. Ours was a 2 day process (removing old, regrading, and then applying the tarmac). Also, we were advised not to drive on it, park on it, etc. for 7-10 days minimum. Was a bit of a pain because it was over 300 meters to street...hauling groceries, etc. uphill for 10 days (wanted to give it all the best chance to cure) was not fun.

Tarmac's great. Just dont go with a cowboy, it needs to be a certain thickness and groundworks done right. You see a lot that end up pitted over the years although thats the same with block paving too.

Concrete drive all the way.

Tarmac will eventually erode and sag under the weight of a car. Concrete is the best. Far lower maintenance too.

Next doors had theirs redone. Parked a heavy SUV on it before it set and now its got wheel ruts in it.

You have to make sure you get someone decent in to do it who will put in a good base, because there are a lot of cowboys around.

Had mine done twenty years ago with someone who showed their previous work off, agree that the base needs to be deep and compacted down well. The only places where it's crumbled is where the stupid Ex put carjacks on it without boarding. Regret the H, don't regret the tarmac drive.

If the existing isn’t concrete or tarmac you need planning permission.
For England.
Not sure elsewhere but I’d ask the local planning department.
Reason = drainage / flooding

Thanks for the replies.

Interesting about planning permission - will need to look into that. The firm we looked at has decent instagram account and 25k followers so I'm taking that it's a reputable company.

We have block for the main drive arm and knocked part of the wall down and added stones where the grass was. Blocks have sunk and sick of the weeds growing.

If you have block as existing then that allows for drainage through the gaps
Tarmac doesn’t , irrespective of whether you incorporate other forms of drainage.
As tarmac is impermeable hard standing you will need to get planning as it’s a change from block. This can depend on size and other issues specific to your local authority.