Common Questions Regarding Tarmac Driveways Answered!

29 Sep 2021

Are you looking to install a new driveway or replace your current one with a new one? Well, nowadays, there is no lack of options when it comes to driveway options. There is block paving, concrete, resin bound, and so on, which might make it difficult for you to choose.

Well, have you considered installing a tarmac driveway? As a matter of fact, tarmac driveways are becoming a popular choice among more and more property owners these days. This is simply due to the various benefits these driveways offer such as being cost-effective, durable, and efficient as compared to most of the other options available in the market.

You still might not be convinced, and have a number of questions running through your mind about tarmac driveways. Well, lucky for you because you happen to be just at the right place. In this blog, we will tackle some of the common questions that many property owners have before choosing tarmac as their driveway option.

·        Approximately how long does an average tarmac driveway last?
Usually, tarmac driveways tend to last from 12 to 20 years, mainly depending on the climate, the usage they get, the quality of the installation, and how much effort has been put into their maintenance. Like almost everything else, the better that you take care of and maintain your tarmac driveway, the more durable it is going to be.

·        Can tarmac be recycled?
Much asphalt, tarmac can also be recycled and it is even more beneficial now because of the existence of an active market for recycling tarmac in today’s developing market. This also tends to include tarmac scalping that is produced when old roads are scarified in order to lay a new surface.

·        Why choose tarmac over concrete for your driveway?
Earlier, concrete was the common choice for paving roads, parking lots, and other similar projects. Well, fast forward to today, tarmac paving is the preferred choice for most of these projects. In order to understand why tarmac is better than concrete for driveways, it is important to know how tarmac and concrete are made. 
Concrete is made from aggregates such as sand and crushed rock, combined with cement and water. The cement is what binds the concrete together and holds the aggregate together. Over time, the mixture dries and forms a stiff and unforgiving solid that is susceptible to breaking and cracking, particularly when the surface underneath isn’t sufficiently smooth.
As for tarmac, when building parking lots, roads, or driveways, hot tarmac is poured onto a bed of some heavy aggregate and then pressed down to it with a steamroller. After some time, when the tarmac cools down to the surrounding temperature, the surface becomes strong enough to withstand heavy automobile traffic. Apart from being durable and hard, tarmac driveways also offer enough flexibility to accommodate the imperfections in the surface underneath, something that concrete driveways don’t offer.

These were some of the most common questions that many property owners, including you, tend to have associated with tarmac driveways. Now that they are answered, you can decide if you want to go with tarmac for your property in Cheshunt or some other material.