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About Asphalt Surfacing
Asphalt surfacing is a hot-mix layer of bitumen and crushed stone, laid and compacted over a prepared base to form a hard, flexible driving or walking surface. It's what most driveways, private roads, parking areas and industrial yards in Germiston and the East Rand are built on, because it carries daily vehicle loads without the joints and edge restraint a paved surface needs. Tarworks Construction lays asphalt with our own paver and our own roller, compacting it while it's still at temperature instead of waiting for a hired machine to arrive on site. Whether you need a full new surface, an overlay on a driveway that's still structurally sound, or a rebuild on one that has failed at the base, we measure it and quote it on site, in writing, before any work starts. If your existing surface is cracking, rutting or holding water, the base underneath is usually the real problem, and that's where we look first.
What's Included
- Sub-base excavated and compacted in layers
- Hot-mix asphalt laid with our own paver, set thickness
- Compacted with our own roller while still hot
- Falls set before laying so water reaches kerbs and drains
- Edges tied cleanly into kerbing, manholes, surfaces
- Overlay option when the base is sound, surface worn
- Full mill-and-resurface when the base has failed
- Thickness specified and agreed in writing upfront
Our Process
- 1
Prepare the Base
We excavate to a proper depth, bring in and shape the sub-base material, and compact it in layers with a roller until it will not move under load. This is the step a cheap quote leaves out, and it's the reason most asphalt in this area fails within a season rather than the surface material itself.
- 2
Lay and Compact
Hot-mix asphalt is spread with our own paver to a consistent, specified thickness across the full width of the job, then compacted immediately with our own roller while it's still at temperature. That narrow window is what closes the surface and locks the aggregate together — asphalt that isn't rolled hot shows up as rutting or a soft, spongy feel within months.
- 3
Set Falls and Finish Edges
Falls are set before the surface goes down so water runs to kerbs, drains or an outlet instead of pooling, since ponding water shortens an asphalt surface's life more than anything else. Edges are tied in cleanly to existing kerbing, manholes and adjoining surfaces so the finished job sits flush.
- 4
Overlay or Resurface
If the base is still sound and the existing asphalt is just worn, an overlay laid straight on top is usually the cheaper, faster answer. If the base has failed, or an overlay would raise the surface above kerbs and drains, we mill out the old surface first and resurface to the original level instead.
Project Gallery
Asphalt Surfacing FAQ
What is asphalt surfacing?
Asphalt surfacing is a hot mix of bitumen (a sticky, petroleum-based binder) and crushed stone or gravel, laid and compacted over a prepared base to form a hard, flexible surface. It's used for driveways, private roads, parking areas, industrial yards and pathways because it handles vehicle and foot traffic well and doesn't need the joints a paved surface has. The finish and how long it lasts depend on the base underneath it and how well the asphalt was compacted while it was still hot.
How long does asphalt surfacing last?
Asphalt laid over a properly prepared and compacted base typically lasts 15 to 20 years or more before it needs a full resurface, though this depends on the traffic it carries, drainage, and how it's maintained in between. Surfaces laid without proper base preparation or compaction can start showing cracking and rutting within a season or two, regardless of how good the asphalt mix itself was. Sealing minor cracks early and keeping water off the surface both extend its working life.
What is the difference between asphalt and tar?
Asphalt and tar are related but not identical: asphalt is a mix of aggregate and bitumen, a binder refined from crude oil, while tar traditionally comes from distilling coal or wood. In South African trade use the terms often overlap, and "tarring" is commonly used to describe asphalt surfacing work generally. In practice, asphalt is the more common and more durable choice for driveways, roads and parking areas, and it's what we lay for surfacing jobs across Germiston, the East Rand and Johannesburg.
How much does asphalt surfacing cost?
We don't publish fixed rates, because the cost depends on the size of the area, site access, the condition of the existing base, and whether the job is a new surface, an overlay or a full mill-and-resurface. We give a free, written quote after measuring the site in person, and that's the price you pay, whether the job is a residential driveway or a business parking area. There's no payment required up front to buy materials.
How thick should an asphalt surface be?
Thickness depends on what the surface needs to carry. A residential driveway needs less depth than a parking area handling delivery vehicles, and a road or industrial yard taking heavy traffic daily needs more again. We specify the thickness for your job based on its use and put it in writing before we start, so you know exactly what's being laid rather than relying on visual judgement of the finished surface.
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