Tarmac driveways in Beckenham
Clean black lines, neat edges.
A tarmac driveway laid in rolled, compacted layers over a solid sub-base, finished with neat edging and kerbs.
Why tarmac
Hard-wearing and practical.
Tarmac is flexible, copes well with heavy use and suits long or wide driveways. The base makes it last; the edging makes it look finished.
Layers rolled tight
A compacted sub-base, then a base course and a wearing course, each rolled while hot so the surface is dense and even.
Edged to stay put
Tarmac has no edge of its own. Kerbs or block edging set in concrete stop it crumbling at the sides and give a sharp line.
Drained properly
Standard tarmac doesn’t let water through, so it is laid to falls into a channel drain, soakaway or border, or a porous asphalt is used instead.
Materials
Choose your surface.
Most tarmac drives are black, but colour and drainage are both choices worth making early.
Standard black
The classic finish: dense, smooth and hard-wearing, and straightforward to patch.
- Upkeep
- Low
- Best for
- Long and wide driveways
Coloured tarmac
Red or other pigments mixed in, or decorative chippings rolled into the surface for texture and colour.
- Upkeep
- Low
- Best for
- Softening a large area
Porous asphalt
An open-graded mix that lets water drain through to a free-draining sub-base.
- Upkeep
- Low; keep it swept
- Best for
- Larger front gardens
Tarmac driveways projects
View full portfolio Tarmac driveways we’ve built.
Featured project
Tarmac driveway with block borders
A black tarmac driveway edged in silver-grey block, beside a grey block path and a lawn with charcoal kerbs.
View project →What’s included
Everything, start to finish. One fixed price.
The same way of working on every job, from the first conversation to the handover.
- A design visit at homeWe look at the space with you, talk about how you’ll use it and sketch out the options.
- Samples in your own lightSee the materials against your house before you choose.
- A plan drawn to scaleLayout, levels and materials shown in place, with any lighting and planting your project needs.
- One fixed quoteClear and itemised, with no surprises halfway through.
- One number to callA single point of contact from the first visit to the handover.
- Handover and care guideA walk-through when we’re done, and simple tips to keep it looking new.
- Our written guaranteeUp to 10 years on our workmanship, in writing.
Questions
Tarmac driveways questions
Anything else? Ask us at your design visit, or call 07599 004177.
Do I need planning permission?
Standard tarmac doesn’t let water through. More than 5 square metres of new impermeable surface in a front garden needs planning permission unless it drains to a lawn, border, soakaway or permeable area on your property. Porous asphalt is the other way round it.
Can tarmac go over my old drive?
Sometimes, if the existing surface is sound and the levels work, including at the door and the damp-proof course. If the old drive is breaking up or sinking, it needs to come out first.
Will it mark in hot weather?
New tarmac stays slightly soft for a while, so in hot weather it can scuff under tyres turned on the spot, or dent under a motorbike or ladder stand. It hardens with time.
What about a dropped kerb?
To drive across the pavement you need your council’s approval as highway authority before the kerb is lowered. On a classified road, planning permission may be needed as well.
Often paired with tarmac driveways
All services →Start your driveway
Laid flat, edged sharp.
Book a visit. We’ll look at the ground, the levels and where the water goes, and talk through the options.
- Written guarantee of up to 10 years on our workmanship
- Fully insured
- A family team. We never subcontract
Thank you, there.
Your enquiry is with our design team. We’ll be in touch within one working day to book your free visit.