Tarmac Driveways in Sheldon B26

Small cracks can be cleaned, dried and sealed with a tarmac crack filler. Potholes and larger failures need the damaged tarmac cut out square, the base checked and re-compacted, and new hot tarmac laid and rolled level with the surrounding surface. If cracks are spreading across the whole drive, the problem is usually the sub-base, and a professional survey will tell you whether a repair or a resurface is the better spend.

Scrub the moss off with a stiff brush and a mild detergent solution, or use a moss killer made for hard surfaces, leave it for the time stated, then brush and rinse. A pressure washer on a low setting helps, but a high setting can loosen the stones in the surface. Cutting back overhanging branches and improving drainage on shaded edges stops it coming back.

For a family driveway used by cars, we lay a binder course and a surface course, with the finished tarmac usually 30mm to 50mm thick on top of a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base. Heavier vehicles such as vans or motorhomes need a deeper sub-base and thicker layers. The sub-base matters as much as the tarmac, because that is what stops dips and cracks forming later.

Sweep off loose debris first, then scrub stubborn dirt with warm soapy water and a stiff brush. Use a specialist tarmac cleaner or degreaser for stains. A pressure washer on a low setting is fine for algae, but avoid high pressure, which can strip the fine stone from the surface. Regular sweeping and clearing leaves from the edges keeps the drive looking newer for longer.

In Sheldon, tarmac driveways generally cost £40 to £70 per square metre. On a typical 1930s semi frontage the main variables are how deep we have to dig, whether a skip and machinery can be parked close by, removing old concrete strips, the edging you want, drainage to satisfy the permeable surface rules and whether Birmingham City Council need to lower the kerb. Ring 0121 673 2688 for a fixed quote.

You can usually walk on a new tarmac driveway straight away, but wait at least 24 to 48 hours before driving or parking on it. In hot weather the surface stays softer for longer, so avoid turning the steering wheel while stationary and keep car jacks, motorbike stands and skips off it for the first few weeks.

Blot fresh oil straight away with a cloth or paper towel. For older stains, cover the area with an absorbent such as cat litter, sawdust or baking soda, leave it for a few hours and sweep it up. Then scrub with a degreaser made for tarmac, or washing-up liquid and warm water, and rinse well. Avoid solvents such as white spirit, which soften the bitumen.

A tarmac driveway is surfaced with tarmacadam, crushed stone bound together with bitumen and laid hot, then rolled smooth. It is the same family of material used on roads, which is why it copes so well with daily parking. It is quick to lay, low maintenance and usually more affordable than block paving or resin bound surfaces.

A well laid tarmac driveway lasts 15 to 20 years, and often longer with a little care. The biggest factors are a properly compacted sub-base, the right thickness for the vehicles using it, and good drainage. Filling small cracks early and keeping the edges clear of weeds and leaves helps it reach the top of that range.

As a guide, a tarmac driveway costs £40 to £70 per square metre. Larger, open drives with a sound base sit at the lower end. Small or awkward drives, deep dig-outs, old concrete removal, block or granite edging and extra drainage push the price up. A free survey gives you a fixed figure for your own drive.