Tarmac Driveways in Crawley | Free Quotes & Expert Installation
Transform your Crawley driveway with professional tarmac surfacing. Fast installation, durable asphalt driveways with a 10-year guarantee. Call 07525 922545 for your free quote today.
Fast, Affordable, Durable Driveways
A tarmac driveway offers a practical, cost-effective solution for your Crawley home. With its smooth, hard-wearing surface, quick installation, and proven durability, tarmac (also known as asphalt or bitmac) provides excellent value whilst creating a clean, professional appearance that suits any property style.
We specialise in tarmac installation throughout Crawley and surrounding areas, delivering quality surfacing using hot-rolled asphalt with proper edging and drainage. Whether you’re looking to replace a deteriorating driveway, upgrade loose gravel, or create a new surface, our experienced team ensures a smooth, long-lasting finish.
Ready to install your tarmac driveway? Call 07525 922545 or request your free site survey today.
Why Choose Tarmac for Your Crawley Driveway?
Quick Installation & Immediate Use
Tarmac driveways can be installed rapidly, typically completing most domestic driveways in just 1-2 days. Unlike concrete which requires days of curing, or block paving which involves time-consuming block laying, tarmac is laid efficiently using specialist machinery and can be driven on within 24 hours.
This speed minimises disruption to your Crawley household, reduces labour costs, and means you’re back to normal life quickly. For busy families or commercial properties where access cannot be blocked for extended periods, tarmac’s rapid installation is a significant advantage.
Cost-Effective Solution
Tarmac consistently delivers the best value for money among solid driveway surfaces. Installation costs are significantly lower than block paving, resin bound, or pattern imprinted concrete, making tarmac ideal for budget-conscious homeowners, rental properties, or larger driveways where premium surfaces become prohibitively expensive.
The straightforward installation process, minimal material waste, and efficient laying techniques keep costs down without compromising quality or longevity.
Smooth, Hard-Wearing Surface
Tarmac creates a smooth, seamless surface perfect for vehicle traffic. The hard-wearing asphalt resists wear from cars, delivery vehicles, and constant use, making it particularly suitable for multi-vehicle households or properties with commercial use.
The smooth finish is easy to sweep clean, prevents trip hazards, and provides excellent grip in wet conditions. Snow and ice can be cleared easily without damaging the surface, unlike block paving where snow shovels can dislodge blocks or damage edges.
Weather Resistant & Flexible
Tarmac’s slight flexibility allows it to accommodate minor ground movement without cracking, unlike rigid concrete. This characteristic makes tarmac particularly suitable for Crawley’s clay soils which can experience seasonal movement.
The bitumen binder is waterproof, preventing water penetration and frost damage. Properly installed tarmac with adequate falls ensures effective water runoff, eliminating puddles and standing water.
Not sure if tarmac suits your property? Book your free consultation on 07525 922545.
Understanding Tarmac Types
Hot Rolled Asphalt (HRA)
Hot rolled asphalt is the premium tarmac option, offering superior durability and smoother finish. The dense, fine aggregate mix creates an attractive surface with excellent longevity. HRA is laid hot and compacted using heavy rollers, creating a hard-wearing surface ideal for high-traffic driveways.
This is our recommended option for most Crawley driveways, providing the best balance of performance, appearance, and value.
Bitmac (Binder Course + Wearing Course)
Bitmac involves a two-layer system: a coarse binder course base for strength and drainage, topped with a finer wearing course for appearance and weather resistance. This traditional approach delivers excellent results, particularly for larger driveways or commercial applications.
The two-layer system provides superior load-bearing capacity and longevity compared to single-layer installations.
SMA (Stone Mastic Asphalt)
Stone mastic asphalt contains higher stone content with polymer-modified binder, creating an extremely durable surface. SMA offers exceptional resistance to rutting and deformation, making it ideal for heavy traffic or challenging conditions. This premium option costs more but delivers superior performance.
Red Tarmac
Red tarmac (sometimes called red asphalt) uses red aggregate and binder to create a distinctive coloured surface. Popular for decorative borders, forecourts, or properties wanting something more distinctive than traditional black tarmac.
Other colours are available, though black remains most popular for its classic appearance and lower cost.
Our Professional Installation Process
Every tarmac project begins with a free site survey at your Crawley property. Our team assesses your existing surface, discusses your requirements, measures accurately, evaluates drainage needs, and provides a detailed, fixed-price quotation with no hidden costs.
Ground preparation determines your driveway’s lifespan. We excavate to appropriate depth (typically 150-200mm for domestic driveways), remove unsuitable material, install MOT Type 1 sub-base compacted in layers for maximum stability, and create proper drainage falls to prevent water pooling.
Edging installation is essential for tarmac driveways. We install concrete haunching, kerb edging, or block paving borders to contain the tarmac and prevent edge deterioration. Quality edging dramatically extends your driveway’s lifespan.
Tarmac laying requires specialist equipment and expertise. Hot asphalt is delivered to site at approximately 150°C, spread evenly using mechanical pavers or skilled hand-laying for smaller areas, and compacted immediately using vibrating rollers. Multiple passes ensure proper compaction and eliminate air voids.
For two-layer systems, the binder course is laid and compacted first, then the wearing course is applied once the base has cooled sufficiently.
Finishing includes tidy edges, ensuring smooth transitions to existing surfaces, and applying light rolling for final compaction. The surface can typically be used within 24 hours, though we recommend avoiding turning wheels while stationary for the first few days to prevent marking.
Tarmac vs Other Driveway Surfaces
Compared to block paving, tarmac installs much faster and costs significantly less. Block paving offers more design flexibility and easier access to underground services, but tarmac provides smoother surface, faster installation, and lower maintenance requirements. For straightforward, practical driveways, tarmac represents excellent value.
Against resin bound surfaces, tarmac costs substantially less but lacks the decorative appeal and colour options. Resin is permeable and SuDS compliant while tarmac isn’t, potentially requiring planning permission for larger areas. Both offer similar longevity with proper installation.
Concrete driveways are extremely durable but expensive, slow to install, and prone to visible cracking. Tarmac’s slight flexibility reduces cracking risk, installation is much faster, and repairs are simpler. Tarmac also offers better grip in wet conditions.
Gravel driveways require constant maintenance – raking, topping up, weed control. Tarmac needs minimal maintenance and provides firm, clean surface ideal for all weather conditions, pushchairs, wheelchairs, and vehicles.
Tarmac Driveway Maintenance
Minimal Maintenance Required
Tarmac driveways need minimal ongoing maintenance to perform well. Regular sweeping removes debris and prevents organic material accumulating, occasional pressure washing (low pressure) keeps the surface clean, and prompt removal of oil spills prevents staining.
Small cracks can be filled using cold-lay asphalt or specialist crack filler, preventing water penetration and deterioration. These simple repairs take minutes and prevent larger problems developing.
Resealing for Longevity
After 3-5 years, consider applying a tarmac sealer or restoration coating. This protective layer refreshes the appearance, seals minor surface cracks, prevents water penetration, and extends the surface lifespan significantly.
Professional sealing costs are modest and can add 5-10 years to your driveway’s life, making it highly cost-effective maintenance.
Edge Maintenance
The edges of tarmac driveways are vulnerable to deterioration, especially without proper edging. Maintaining edge restraints, trimming grass away from tarmac edges, and repairing edge damage promptly prevents problems spreading.
Quality initial installation with concrete haunching or block paving edging minimises edge maintenance requirements.
Preventing Damage
Avoid turning steering wheels while stationary, especially when the surface is warm, as this can mark or indent tarmac. Don’t park motorcycles or vehicles with stands on soft tarmac on hot days. Power steering can tear the surface if vehicles are turned sharply while stationary.
Tarmac Appearance & Aesthetics
Traditional Black Finish
Standard black tarmac creates a clean, professional appearance that suits any property style. The dark surface contrasts beautifully with buildings, landscaping, and edging materials, whilst providing practical benefits like hiding tyre marks and oil stains.
Decorative Edging Options
Enhance plain tarmac by incorporating block paving borders, contrasting brick edging, natural stone kerbs, or decorative gravel margins. These features add visual interest whilst providing functional edge restraint.
Coloured Tarmac Options
Red tarmac offers distinctive appearance, particularly popular for forecourts, borders, or commercial properties. Other colours including green, buff, and brown are available, though black remains most economical and widely used.
Surface Texture
Standard tarmac provides smooth finish. For enhanced grip or decorative effect, exposed aggregate finishes or textured surfaces can be specified, though these increase costs.
Discuss appearance options with our experts – call 07525 922545 for advice.
Planning Permission & Drainage
Tarmac is not permeable, meaning water runs off the surface rather than draining through it. For driveways over 5 square metres in Crawley, you technically require planning permission unless water drains to a lawn, planted area, or soakaway rather than directly to the highway drainage system.
In practice, most tarmac driveways incorporate adequate falls that direct water onto lawns or into drainage channels, avoiding planning requirements. We can advise on the most appropriate drainage solution during your free survey.
If creating new vehicle access from the highway, a dropped kerb with West Sussex County Council approval is required regardless of surface type. Our team can guide you through this straightforward application process.
Transparent Tarmac Driveway Costs
Tarmac driveway costs in Crawley typically range from £40-£65 per square metre, depending on driveway size (larger areas reduce per-metre costs), sub-base depth and preparation required, single or two-layer installation, edging type and complexity, and site access for machinery.
Basic tarmac installations without extensive groundwork sit at the lower end, whilst comprehensive projects with significant excavation, drainage works, and decorative edging increase costs.
Tarmac consistently offers the best value among solid driveway surfaces, with lower installation costs than block paving, resin, or concrete, whilst delivering comparable 15-20 year lifespan with minimal maintenance.
Get your accurate, fixed-price quote today. Call 07525 922545 for a free site survey with absolutely no obligation.
Why Choose Us for Your Crawley Tarmac Driveway?
We’re established surfacing specialists serving Crawley, Horsham, Reigate, and surrounding West Sussex and Surrey areas. Our experienced teams use modern equipment and quality materials to deliver professional installations with lasting results.
Every project includes proper sub-base preparation to industry standards, quality hot-rolled asphalt from reputable suppliers, professional edging and drainage solutions, and expert workmanship backed by our 10-year guarantee.
You’ll receive honest advice about the most suitable solution for your property, fixed pricing with no hidden surprises, and professional service from initial survey through to completion. We maintain tidy work areas and complete projects on schedule.
Get Your Free Quote Today
Ready to install a durable, cost-effective tarmac driveway at your Crawley property?
Call 07525 922545 to speak directly with our team, or complete our online form to request your free, no-obligation site survey.
Free quotes. Fixed prices. 10-year guarantee on all installations. Contact us today to discuss your tarmac driveway project.