Tar and Chip Ranch Driveways: Four Common Questions.
Does your ranch driveway need to be paved?
Maybe those cracks and potholes are becoming too much to handle. Perhaps you’re tired of navigating uneven or sunken areas. It might be that you’re just interested in giving your ranch driveway a new look!
If you’ve done any amount of research to date, you’ve probably come across tar and chip seal as one of the more popular paving methods.
You’ve seen a few pictures. You’ve read a few good reviews. But like any other customer, you’ve probably still got a few questions, too. After all, you’re planning to invest a significant amount of money in your driveway and you want to make sure you get the best possible results!
Well, we’re here to help.
Here are four of the most common questions people ask with regards to tar and chip seal paving for ranch driveways.
1. How much does it cost?
It comes as no surprise that this is perhaps the most common question contractors get asked.
While cost is largely dependent on both the contractor you choose and the amount of tar and chip that is needed, you can expect to pay roughly $2 – $5 per square foot.
Compare this to asphalt, which often costs $4 – $6 per square foot; or concrete, which often lands around $5 – $9 per square foot. You can see how tar and chip seal works out to be a very affordable option!
2. How long does it last?
It’s worth noting that tar and chip seal, although very durable, doesn’t typically last as long as an asphalt or concrete surface might.
Again, the lifespan of tar and chip seal will depend on the contractor you choose, the techniques the use, as well as the application. In most cases, you can expect your tar and chip seal surface to last for approximately seven years.
If you’re fortunate, your ranch driveway could last for up to 10 years. This is dependent on the weather in your area and the amount of use your driveway gets.
3. How is it maintained?
Although tar and chip seal has a shorter lifespan than asphalt or concrete, there is a silver lining — it requires very little maintenance.
Asphalt, on the other hand, requires frequent seal coating, as it is more vulnerable to cracks and potholes. This adds to the cost of regular asphalt services over time.
So, as your neighbors’ asphalt and concrete driveways are crumbling around you, enjoy the low maintenance costs over the life of your tar and chip driveway!
4. What’s the process?
The process of paving a tar and chip seal driveway is typically faster than that of paving an asphalt driveway, in part because it has a shorter cure time.
First, your contractor will clear any brush, vegetation, and debris, preparing the surface for paving. Then, a layer of hot liquid asphalt will be poured over a gravel base. Shortly after, loose stones (or “chips”) are poured over the asphalt tar and then rolled to compaction for an even surface overall.
Voilà!
Enjoy your beautiful tar and chip ranch driveway!
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The Most Trusted Pavement Contractor in Dallas, Fort Worth & North Texas!
Elite Asphalt is formed of a team of pavement experts. With over 30 years’ experience, we have worked on all types of asphalt pavement and concrete projects. With an up-to-date, cutting-edge fleet of equipment, we offer services for all types of paving jobs, from complete installations to ongoing maintenance.
We carry out projects for property managers, developers, contractors and homeowners. If you need an Estimate for your next commercial, industrial or residential project, please call 817-587-8158 today to speak with one of our trusted advisers.
