Tar & chip vs tarmac, block paving & gravel

Resin isn't the only alternative. Here's how tar and chip compares to the rest.

vs tarmac

Close cousins, both bitumen-based. Tarmac is smooth and black; tar and chip has a decorative stone finish with more character and better grip. Plain tarmac can be cheaper on very large areas, but looks plainer on a home drive.

vs block paving

Block paving looks smart and lets you swap single blocks, but it's slow to lay, usually dearer, and prone to weeds in the joints and sinking. Tar and chip is quicker, cheaper, and has no joints for weeds.

vs loose gravel

Loose gravel is cheap but it migrates, scatters onto the road and needs topping up. Tar and chip gives the gravel look with the stone locked in place, so it stays put, for a little more than loose shingle.

The summary

Tar and chip sits in a sweet spot: the look of gravel, grip better than tarmac or resin, less hassle than block paving, and a price well below resin.

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