---
title: "Tarmac Driveways in Somerset & Bristol | Solid Ground Paving"
description: "Machine and hand-laid tarmac driveways with a properly compacted Type 1 sub-base, AC20 binder course and AC6 surface course."
canonical: https://solidgroundpaving.co.uk/services/tarmac-driveways
url: https://solidgroundpaving.co.uk/services/tarmac-driveways.md
section: "Services"
date_published: 2026-08-06
date_modified: 2026-08-06
author: Solid Ground Paving
robots: noindex
---

# Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac is the most cost-effective durable driveway surface per square metre, and the most sensitive to what is underneath it. Laid hot on a compacted base with restrained edges it lasts decades. Laid thin on a weak base it ravels at the edges within two winters.

## Key facts

- **Service:** Tarmac Driveways
- **Area covered:** Somerset, North Somerset & Bristol
- **Typical cost:** £40–£70 per m² — Indicative only. A written price follows a site survey.
- **Typical duration:** 3–5 days
- **Expected lifespan:** 20 years plus
- **Guarantee:** {{GUARANTEE_TERMS}}

## How much does a tarmac driveway cost?

Tarmac driveways typically run £40–£70 per square metre installed, including excavation, 150mm Type 1 sub-base, binder and surface courses. Smaller areas cost more per square metre because plant and delivery are fixed costs. Indicative only. A written price follows a site survey.

## What thickness should a tarmac driveway be?

For domestic use we lay 50mm of AC20 binder course over the sub-base, topped with 20mm of AC6 surface course — 70mm of bound material in total. Commercial and vehicular-access areas take a thicker binder. Anything under 50mm total is a resurface, not a driveway.

| Item | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Binder course | 50mm AC20 dense bitumen macadam |
| Surface course | 20mm AC6 close-graded |
| Sub-base | 150mm Type 1 MOT |
| Compaction | Vibrating roller, hot |

## How long before I can drive on new tarmac?

You can walk on it once it has cooled, usually within a few hours, and drive on it after 24 hours. Avoid turning the steering wheel on a stationary car, parking trailers on stands, or leaving heavy loads on one spot for the first month while it fully cures.

## Why does tarmac crumble at the edges?

Almost always missing edge restraint. Tarmac has no lateral strength — without a haunched kerb, block edge or concrete upstand holding it, wheels push the outer 100mm sideways and it ravels. Every driveway we lay is restrained on all open edges.

## Questions and answers

Q: Can tarmac be laid in the rain?
A: Light drizzle is workable; steady rain is not. Water cools the material below compaction temperature and traps moisture in the mat, which causes early failure. We reschedule rather than lay in poor conditions.

Q: Is red or coloured tarmac available?
A: Yes. Coloured surface courses and resin-bound edging details are available at additional cost. Colour sits in the surface course only, so the build-up beneath is identical.

Q: Should tarmac be sealed?
A: No. We do not seal or paint tarmac and would advise against anyone offering it. Sealants trap moisture, wear unevenly and are the classic mark of a resurfacing scam rather than a repair.

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Human-readable version of this page: https://solidgroundpaving.co.uk/services/tarmac-driveways