- 20+ Years in Germiston
- Own Crew & Plant
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- One Contractor, Full Accountability
About Tar Driveways
A tar driveway is one of the most cost-effective ways to surface a home, complex or business entrance in Germiston and across the East Rand, provided the base underneath is built to carry it. "Tar" or "tarmac" means a hot mix or cold mix asphalt wearing course, laid and compacted over a properly prepared base course and sub-base. Done properly, it copes with Gauteng's summer downpours, daily vehicle loads and the expansive clay soils common across the Highveld. Done badly, with the base skipped or the fall never worked out, it cracks, ponds water and starts breaking up within a year — the most common defect we get called out to fix. We tar driveways for homeowners, body corporates, estates and businesses across Germiston, Sunnyridge, the East Rand and Johannesburg, using our own crew, roller and paver, and a free written quote before anything starts.
What's Included
- Topsoil and failed surfacing excavated to depth
- Sub-grade checked for soft spots in clay soils
- Base and sub-base layers compacted and checked in stages
- Fall and drainage built into the base from the start
- Prime and tack coats applied before the wearing course
- Hot mix asphalt laid 30-50mm thick and rolled
- Edges finished with kerb, paving or compacted shoulder
- Levels tied flush at kerbs, garages and drains
Our Process
- 1
Excavate and Prepare
We excavate to the design depth, removing topsoil, failed surfacing and organic material that won't carry a load, typically 150-200mm on a residential driveway. The sub-grade is checked for soft spots, particularly on sites with expansive clay soils, and any weak material is stabilised or replaced before we build up.
- 2
Build the Base
The base course carries the load; the tar on top is just the wearing surface. We build up compacted layers of selected fill, each one compacted and checked before the next goes on, and set the fall into the base at this stage rather than as an afterthought once the tar is down.
- 3
Prime and Surface
A prime coat binds the base to the asphalt above it, and a tack coat joins old and new surfacing. The hot mix asphalt wearing course is laid at roughly 30-50mm and compacted with a roller while still workable, worked carefully around kerbs, garage entrances and drainage points so the finish is flush.
- 4
Edge and Finish
Every edge is finished against a kerb, a paved or concrete restraint, or a compacted shoulder wide enough to hold the tar under a turning wheel, since an unrestrained edge is where driveway tar most often breaks up first. Levels are tied in wherever the driveway meets an existing surface, and the finished area is checked for fall before we call the job complete.
Project Gallery
Tar Driveways FAQ
What is the difference between a tar driveway and an asphalt driveway?
In South Africa the terms are used almost interchangeably for a hot mix or cold mix asphalt surface laid over a prepared base, which is what most people mean by a "tarred" driveway. Tar and chip (also called chip and spray) is a different, cheaper build: a layer of bitumen sprayed onto the base with loose stone chip rolled into it, giving a textured, gravel-like finish rather than the smooth black surface most Germiston driveways use. Both need the same properly compacted base underneath to last; the difference is mainly in the finish, the cost and how the surface is applied.
How long does a tarred driveway last?
A tarred driveway built on a properly compacted base typically lasts well over a decade before it needs resurfacing, with the surface itself sometimes needing attention, sealing, patching or a rejuvenation treatment, sooner than the base does. The single biggest factor is what is underneath the surface, not the tar itself: a driveway laid on a rushed or skipped base can start cracking and potholing within a year, while one built properly can go fifteen years or more with basic maintenance. If your current driveway failed early, the base is almost always why.
How much does it cost to tar a driveway?
There is no fixed rate, because the cost depends on the driveway's size, the condition of the existing surface or ground, how much excavation and base preparation is needed, drainage and fall, and site access for our plant. We do not publish a rate card for that reason, but we do give a free, written, on-site quote before any work starts, with no payment upfront for materials. A residential driveway is quoted on the same basis as a commercial or municipal job.
Can a tar driveway be laid on a steep or sloped site?
Yes, and tar is generally a good choice for a sloped driveway because it sheds rainwater well when the fall is set out correctly. The key is getting the cross-fall and drainage right before any tar goes down: on a steep site, water needs somewhere controlled to go rather than running straight down the slope and undercutting the edges. We assess the site's slope, thickness requirements and foundation type on the initial visit, because a steep driveway usually needs a stronger base and sometimes a different edge restraint.
What causes a tar driveway to crack or develop potholes?
Cracking and potholes almost always start below the surface, not in the tar itself. A base that was not compacted properly, a sub-grade with soft spots, or water getting in through an unrestrained edge will all show up eventually as alligator cracking, edge break-up or a pothole at the gate where turning wheels concentrate the load. Ponding water from poor drainage speeds all of this up. If your driveway is cracking within the first year or two, the base is the first place we look, because resurfacing over a failed base only buys a few more months before the same problem comes back.
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