Service
Tar / Asphalt
Asphalt surfacing for driveways and hardstanding areas — a durable, monolithic finish laid over an engineered base course, suited to larger vehicular surfaces.
What
What this service covers
"Tar" is the common South African term for asphalt surfacing — a mix of aggregate (stone) and bitumen binder, laid hot and compacted into a continuous, seamless surface.
It's typically used for driveways, larger hardstanding areas, and access roads, where a smooth, uniform, continuous surface is preferred over a jointed, unit-paved finish. On larger properties, a new tar driveway is sometimes planned as one part of a broader property improvement project, alongside other surfacing work.
Asphalt performance depends heavily on the base course beneath it and the compaction of the asphalt layer itself — a thin asphalt layer over an inadequate base will crack and rut under vehicle loads regardless of the surface mix quality.
Why
Why it's specified this way
Continuous, seamless surface
No individual units or joints — a clean, monolithic finish that reads as a single uniform surface.
Suited to larger vehicular areas
Asphalt is commonly specified for driveways and hardstanding areas that need to carry regular vehicle loads over a large footprint.
Fast to lay, fast to open
Once compacted and cooled, an asphalt surface can typically be opened to traffic sooner than some alternative surfacing methods.
How
How the installation works
- 01
Excavation and formation level
The area is excavated to formation level, accounting for base course thickness and the asphalt layer, with falls set for drainage.
- 02
Base course construction
A compacted crushed stone base course is built up in layers to carry the design load — the single biggest factor in how long an asphalt surface lasts.
- 03
Edge restraints and kerbing
Edge restraints or kerbing are installed where needed to contain the asphalt layer and define the finished edge of the surface.
- 04
Tack coat
A thin bitumen tack coat may be applied to the base to improve bonding between the base course and the asphalt layer above it.
- 05
Asphalt laying and compaction
Hot asphalt mix is laid to the specified thickness and compacted with rollers while still hot, which is what achieves the final density and strength.
- 06
Cooling and curing
The surface is left to cool and cure before being opened to regular vehicle traffic.
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Get a QuoteConsiderations
Points worth discussing before you commit
Repairability
Unlike unit paving, an asphalt surface generally can't be lifted and reset — repairs typically involve cutting out and patching a section, which can be visible. For a fuller comparison against paving, see our guide — Paving vs Tar.
Heat and surface temperature
Dark asphalt surfaces absorb and hold heat in direct sun, which is worth factoring in for areas used barefoot or by pets.
Falls and ponding
As with any hard surface, correct falls during construction are essential — insufficient fall leads to ponding and, over time, surface degradation.
Evidence
Project photography for this service
Tar and asphalt project photography hasn't been added to this site yet. The panels below are a placeholder standing in for real, documented installations, which will replace them once available.
Tar / Asphalt — before
Tar / Asphalt — during installation
Tar / Asphalt — completed
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