Tar & chip resurfaces your existing drive into a smart, hard-wearing finish that lifts your home's kerb appeal, for a fraction of the price of resin.
Get a free quotePound for pound, nothing else gives you a smart, hard-wearing, non-slip driveway this quickly, or this cheaply.
| How they compare | ★ Best valueTar & chip | Resin | Loose gravel | Block paving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per m² | £15–30 | £40–70 | £8–15 | £70–110 |
| Typical driveway | £1k–£6k | up to £15k | £0.5k–£2k | £5k–£15k |
| Lifespan | 10+ years | 15–20 years | ongoing top-ups | 20+ years |
| Time to lay | About a day | 1–2 days | About a day | Several days |
| Grip / non-slip | Excellent | Moderate | Loose underfoot | Moderate |
| Upkeep | Low | Low | High (rake & top up) | Medium (weeds, sinking) |
| Weeds & joints | None | None | Some | Prone to both |
| Resurfaces existing drive | Yes | Sometimes | No | No (full dig-out) |
Guide figures for a typical UK domestic driveway, 2026. Resin and block paving can last longer, but tar & chip wins clearly on value, grip, speed, and as a resurfacing option.
Same driveway, often several thousand pounds less.
The chip texture grips on slopes and in frost.
No long curing. Drive on it almost straight away.
Suits period and country homes beautifully.
Your driveway is the first thing anyone sees. Resurfacing a tired, patched drive is one of the cheapest ways to transform the front of your home, sharpen its kerb appeal and make a strong first impression, not least when you come to sell.
No lengthy curing, no mess for weeks. Most drives are resurfaced in a single day.
Hot bitumen binder is sprayed evenly across the prepared base.
Decorative stone is spread over the top while the binder is still hot.
The chippings are rolled so they bed firmly into the binder and lock in place.
The colour comes from the chippings rolled into the surface, from warm golden gravel to cool granite.
It's one of the cheapest smart finishes you can lay, well below resin and block paving.
Real driveways, including before-and-after transformations across Hampshire.