Tar & Chip, An Asphalt Alternative
Tar and chip is a cost-effective way to both build a durable driveway and a decorative driveway or private road that’s practically maintenance free.
The perfect alternative to expensive high maintenance asphalt.
Great for long private roads or driveways. Tar and chip is a coating of hot applied liquid asphalt. The second step is to imbed crushed rock chips in the surface.
The top surface of stone is left free of asphalt so the black asphalt is covered and the rock is the only color that shows. This result in a wearing course of rock glued in place by the asphalt coating applied over the base pavement. The rock selected controls the final driveway color.
The end result is a thick layer of asphalt and a layer of fine crushed rock over the existing pavement. These two components work together for years to provide a protective layer that defends against water penetration into the base material, frost heaves and asphalt oxidation. This treatment creates long lasting durable driveway.
A tar and chip application provides the following benefits:
- Creates a warm rustic driving surface
- Skid resistance
- Chip Seals eliminate the need to crack seal
- Smoothed irregularities
- Prevents further asphalt deterioration asphalt
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Tar and chip is actually a driveway paving material that many people are unaware of. However, it is a great driveway paving material choice for integrating the driveway design with the landscape. I personally believe driveways should blend in with the landscape. After all, a driveway is a passageway for vehicles to get from the home to the street and vice versa. It is a functional landscape design element.

