Tarmac v Block Paving Driveway. Which is best?

At Southway Construction we do both block paving driveways and tarmac driveways. People often ask us which type of driveway is the best for their property. There is no hard and fast rule as there are pros and cons to both block paving and tarmac driveways.

Before we get into the pros and cons of each option it is worth saying that both block paving driveways and tarmac driveways depend on having a good base. This will mean ensuring that proper thought has been given to drainage, that a proper sub-base has been out down and that there is a level surface onto which to lay the top layer. Without this work being done to the correct standards you will not get a long lasting or hard wearing driveway regardless of whether you choose block paving or tarmac for the top layer.

Block Paving Driveways Pros and Cons

Block paving has become increasingly popular for driveways in recent years. One of the major reasons for its popularity is that the range of blocks available, and range of patterns in which they can be laid, makes it easy to pick a look that will perfectly compliment your house. As you will see from our projects page the type of block chosen for the driveway can have a big impact on the finished look.

As well as looking good block paving is also a very hard wearing surface when it is properly installed and can often last a lot longer than a tarmac driveway. Block paving also has the advantage that it can be repaired. If a few block come loose or get damaged it is relatively easy to lift and relay or replace them. If this is done properly it should be virtually impossible to tell when a repair has been done.

The major disadvantage of block paving is that it is more expensive than tarmac or gravel driveways to install. The blocks themselves can be quite expensive and they obviously take time to install. With block paving it is really important to have a very level base to lay the block on which takes time to prepare. It will then take more time to lay the individual block and make sure each of them is level, especially if you want a more complicated pattern.

Tarmac Driveways Pros and Cons

‘Tarmac’ is a trademark and refers to a particular brand of the materials made by the Tarmac company. For this reason you will often see people referring to tarmacadam, macadam, bitmac or asphalt as these terms describe the material rather than the company that makes a particular type of it.

Tarmacadam driveways are usually substantially cheaper than block paving driveways. This is partly to do with the price of the materials but is mainly determined by the time it takes to install. Once the base has been properly prepared a tarmacadam driveway is often installed in the space of a day whereas block paving the same area may take several days. As well as the reduced cost there is also a degree of convenience here as your driveway is going to be out of action for less time. For really speedy installs it is also possible to do overlay tarmacadam driveways. This is simply where a new layer of tarmacadam is laid over the top of an older surface which might have become cracked or uneven. Overlay tarmacadam driveways are really quick, and pretty cheap, to install.

A properly installed tarmacadam driveway should last for a very long time. They do have a reputation is some quarters for becoming cracked or developing puddles but this is nearly always caused by poor installation and the base not being properly prepared.

An area where block paving can have an advantage over tarmacadam driveways is in very small or awkwardly shaped drives. To lay tarmacadam properly usually requires a few different machines and bits of kit. For very small driveways it is sometimes not worth the expense of bringing these machines to site and on awkwardly shaped ones they sometimes can’t be used properly. However these occasions are fairly rare.

 Which is best?

Ultimately there are three factors which usually determine whether a block paving or tarmacadam driveway is installed. The first is the look of the finished driveway and whether it will fit in with the house and the neighbours. The second is the time it will take to do the installation and the third is the cost. If speed and cost are the main issues for you then tarmacadam is nearly always the best way to go. If you are more interested in the overall look then block paving will give you more options in terms of colour and pattern.

Southway Construction do both block paving driveways and tarmacadam driveways in Portsmouth and across Hampshire. To find out more about our services, or to get a quote please give us a call on 02392 793477 / 07557 440129