Tar & chip vs resin: an honest comparison

Resin looks excellent. Then the quote lands, and a lot of homeowners start looking for a smarter way to get a smart driveway. That's usually when they find tar and chip.

The headline: cost

Resin-bound driveways run around £40 to £70 per square metre. That puts an average drive between £4,000 and £15,000, and a large one higher. Tar and chip is a fraction of that per square metre, so the same driveway is often in the low thousands. For many homeowners that's several thousand pounds saved for a driveway that does the same job. See the cost guide.

The rest of the picture

Looks. Resin is smooth, seamless and modern. Tar and chip is textured, natural and traditional. Neither is better: resin suits modern homes, tar and chip suits period and country ones.

Grip. Tar and chip is naturally non-slip. Resin is smoother.

Durability. A good resin drive lasts 20 years or more. Tar and chip is hard-wearing too and lasts many years. Both depend on the base and the installer.

Installation. Both are quick. Tar and chip has no curing period, so it's usable almost immediately. Resin needs dry conditions.

Maintenance. Low for both. More on durability and maintenance.

So which?

Want an ultra-modern finish with the budget for it? Resin is a fine choice. Want a smart, durable, non-slip drive for a fraction of the price? Tar and chip is very hard to beat.

Get a tar and chip quote to compare against your resin one. It costs nothing.