Tar and Chip Driveway

[masonmonster1]

how does the tar and chip driveway hold put with a good rain? The gravel that I have on my driveway keeps getting washed out would this be a better solution?

[AsktheBuilder]

@masonmonster1 I want you to think this out yourself. Have you *ever* gotten tar on your hands? How sticky was it and how hard was it to get off your hands? Now think....... What happens when the stone chips get into the hot tar and it cools?

[asphalt734]

these are the "side" roads in ohio

[deptistill]

How can I remove old gravel and tar from a driveway in an area that I would prefer grass to grow?

[AsktheBuilder]

@deptistill I can think of any number of things. A shovel, a pick, dynamite, an excavator, a backhoe, a skid-steer loader, unemployed people in your area. Just get creative.

[deptistill]

@AsktheBuilderThanks, because while I wasn't looking, someone dumped a gravel-like cemented substance on both sides of my lawn as if they were trying to make me two driveways. I don't know who did it, but I just needed to know how to get it up. It is embedded in the ground like cement. I preferred grass in those areas.

[testa375L]

will this work in the snow becouse i plow my road to the farm with a dozer will the stone come up

[Mostlyfun]

Allmost any flat roofing contractor will do this kind of work

[AsktheBuilder]

@Mostlyfun Oh, I don't think so. The tar kettle they have is not the same and doesn't have the correct asphalt cement. There are absolute similarities in that many hot tar roofs have a stone ballast, but don't underestimate the complexity of doing tar and chip pavement. Using your logic, you might say, "Almost any tar and chip paving contractor can put on a flat roof." I can't wait to have the roofers weigh in on that!

[Mostlyfun]

@AsktheBuilder I'm not a paver or roofer I’m a commercial / institutional

stone mason who just so happened to put stone on a house for a roofing contractor and he did my driveway as a trade. (Screw the tax man). At the time he told me that it was different tar than roofing tar. But it was in his kettle and sprayed with his sprayer.

You don't actually think paving driveways is as difficult as roofing do you?

Driveways looking great after 7 years.

[AsktheBuilder]

@Mostlyfun Thanks for the clarification. We'll let the pavement contractors battle it out with the roofers on this one. I'll wager that the great driveway contractors will talk all about crowning the drive, secrets to getting the base right, the variety of stones used in the base, geotextile matting, etc. I'm not saying a roofer doesn't know about this, I'm saying that a roofer doesn't necessarily have the full depth of knowledge. A driveway contractor knows what flashing is, but can he install?

[613RL]

mah!! i'd rather asphalt!

[housesoccer]

"hold your plow up one inch"? it's obvious he has never plowed before. With changes in the surface and as the snow builds it is almost impossable to maintain this hight. What if you had to back drag? You will be brushing a pile of rocks off your grass in the spring.

[AsktheBuilder]

@housesoccer My plow has pads behind the blade that allow you to adjust the height. Many commercial plows are equipped with the same feature. Perhaps you should acquaint yourself with all the options there are with snow plows before you make such a broad-brushed comment. Just a friendly suggestion.

[darensmiles4]

@AsktheBuilder not everyone uses a plow... theres such equipment as backhoes and loaders that are utilized in removing snow...

[AsktheBuilder]

@stormrider317 Correct. What's odd is that you contradict your first comment. Are you now saying there are no hills in Australia? Bottom line is that tar and chip works. It performs well on highways and even better on residential drives that get little traffic. Go to my AsktheBuilder website and read all my past columns on this technology. This is the way all roads were paved prior to the invention of asphaltic concrete.

[AsktheBuilder]

@stormrider317 As for hills, you don't leave any loose stones. This method is still used on thousands of miles of state and US highways all across the USA. Plenty of hills get the tar and chip. This method is time tested. Just go read plenty of white papers put out by the various state DOT's. The same stones used in asphalt are used in tar and chip. Nearly the same asphalt cement is used. The only missing component is sand.

[bladilu]

how expensive is this?

[AsktheBuilder]

@bladilu It depends. Usually cheaper than blacktop. Get a quote.

[bladilu]

@AsktheBuilder .. ok I will. Thanks :)

[TheAmerican217]

How expensive would this be to install? It looks great and I am interested in putting one in down at my cottage.

[TheLimbReaper]

Believe it or not the guys in this video are doing the hand chipping as you would do a flat roof by pushing the stone. Effective? I guess. We carry our stone in a skid steer bucket not wheelbarrows and then carefully flake on the stone with shovels. Must be a regional thing. The use of the handwand is an acceptable practice where the distributer truck can't spray.

[CLEANCITYpl]

HOw to clean this type of surface? pressure washer?

[AsktheBuilder]

Sure. If you have no loose stones, it's exactly like blacktop.

If you want the loose stones, you have to broom them up. But I've NEVER cleaned my drive in 15 years and it looks as good as the day it was installed. Rain washes off any dirt / dust from the loose stones.

[pou006]

300 degres bs 180 or a bit higher is the safest working level

[rhblakeman]

They still do county roads like this here in rural KY, they call it chip and seal.

[AsktheBuilder]

The system is used on many state roads all across the USA. It's very popular out West where many roads are a hundred miles or more from a ready-mixed blacktop plant.

[wilatemodel]

i think in the upper midwest,conctete is ur best option.

[AsktheBuilder]

Maybe, but this option looks so much better. You can do tar and chip without the loose stones if you're concerned about plowing snow. I'll do just that on my new driveway in New Hampshire.

[theendarkenment]

Does this have to go on top of an existing driveway surface? If you were going to do this as a first driveway, what would you put down underneath? Crushed stone? Asphalt?

[AsktheBuilder]

It can be put on top of blacktop / asphalt. When it was done originally on my drive, it was applied on top of crushed rock. But the last coat of rock has lots of fines in it so the surface appeared like new concrete. Needs to be that way so the tar doesn't disappear in gaps between larger stones.

[mortson978]

Does anybody remember that scene from 'Cool Hand Luke'?

By the way, how much does this cost in relation to asphalt, or concrete?

[AsktheBuilder]

The cost is dependent on many factors. Size of job, distance from source of materials, etc. Generally speaking it is the least expensive paving solution.

[pjmullen1]

i tar and chip in IRELAND and have been doing so for the past 23 years .. i have used several different colours and finishes from 14mm to quarried dust.. they have all proved very durable and long lasting aprox 15-20 years.. reguards..PAUL MULLEN TARRING

[AsktheBuilder]

Paul,

Thanks for that comment! Great to hear success stories like that from all over the world. Can you tape a quick simple video showing your process and add it as a video comment to this video? That would be amazing if you could!

[joefo53]

i do tar and chip here in ontario.. there is not much problems with the snow if you know its chips.. and for the guy that likes to sit on the roller all day you can with tar and chip too... the way its described in this video is a little bogus but close.... you have a tar truck, a chipper truck no wheel barrels

[AsktheBuilder]

Now, I wouldn't say bogus..... maybe a little inefficient. The company that did mine does use a spreader box that hangs from the back of the trucks that have the gravel chips. It was not really practical to use it for my small drive.

[joefo53]

i was just stating that in the video they are using wheel barrels.... and alot of extra chips!!! i own a tar and chip business and know it would never be done like that... unless is was a small space.. was the driveway in the video yours? do u know how many layers they did?

[AsktheBuilder]

The extra chips were at my request and my wife. We love the loose gravel look and sound. That was the third layer. When the drive was installed the fall of 1987, it had two layers done. The drive was in great shape and only needed a new layer because I widened it and put it the granite edging. How is business for you? Thanks for commenting. It is great to hear from a pro who does this all the time!

[joefo53]

business is great... always lots of work... lets just say i paid for a new house the first year i started!!

[tjsage79]

Yes I install most types of driveways, but never seen this before. Sorry for taking it personal.

I just enjoy asphalt because then get I get to sit on a roller all day.

[senserdog]

Tjsage79, there is no reason to hide in the cave, the war is over. ;)

[tjsage79]

These chips and small stones get stuck in shoes and are then found throughout the house.  It scatters in the grass as well.

Woman in high heels have trouble walking in it.

Asphalt is cheaper and easier to maintain, I feel. Any time I need my driveway to look good for a house party or big event, seal coat make the driveway and house look great!!!

[AsktheBuilder]

You know, I am starting to get the distinct feeling that you have a dog in this fight. :-> Why don't you tell us? Do you own a blacktop company or one that seals blacktop? You are entitled to your opinion, you just have to qualify it. And since you have nothing about yourself at your channel, we can't tell.

[tjsage79]

Got to go with Asphalt with driveways. Its cheaper, easier to maintain, can seal coat it often.

These stone driveways and pavers are a pain with snow removal and are a constant annoyance

[AsktheBuilder]

I have to respectfully disagree. What about people who live where it doesn't snow? What about people who brush off the loose chips? No issues then with plowing. And this surface does *not* ever need to be sealed as does blacktop.

[Sealiconspirit]

Clever

[AsktheBuilder]

The best part is it really works..... You don't have to have the loose gravel if you don't want it.

[shwantz1]

I really like Tim Carter. BUT.....this driveway looks like a mess. Its not attractive & looks like a pain to maintain. I like simple, clean lines with easy maintenance. You simply cannot beat stamped concrete for curb appeal & ease of maintenance. Sorry Tim.

[AsktheBuilder]

And this is the exact reasons you can buy clothes in different colors, patterns and fabrics. When I wrote a column about this pavement a few years back, I got over 2,000 letters from Michigan residents who wanted it. It is a dead craft there. A person could start a T&C business in Michigan and make $150K+ a year.

[drewby7777]

Very informative. I live in southeast Mass. and my wife and I purchased our first home a few years ago and the asphalt driveway is coming up in some spots. I was considering digging up the asphalt and laying gravel down figuring this would be the lowest cost. I have now heard that you can leave the existing asphalt and add edging to hold in the gravel. Have you heard of this technique and could you do the same with tar and chip? Thanks, drewby7777

[AsktheBuilder]

Anything like that is possible. Depends on what you use for the edging. My cobblestones are doing a superb job and they have been in for four years now.

[liloazngurlspice3]

oh! my boy friend works for CMC paving Inc. in CA, I believe they call this a "chip seal" , however a slurry seal is a mixture of gravel sand & something they called a "asphalt emulsion" and spread into the street I believe

[AsktheBuilder]

Yes, there are different industry names for the process. And to further complicate things, there are different tar/asphalts used!

[Lodestone1968]

Love your videos! My driveway is concrete and is cracked and in some areas has some heaving from the frost. Is it OK to cover the cracked concrete with tar & chip. I would like an even, nice drive like in your video. Thanks

[AsktheBuilder]

You can, but you may get reflective cracking.

[caryb1999]

Live in NY, was in the Paving business. To me tar and Chip is GARBAGE. It's Messy on HOT Days, not easy to PLOW, even with the blade up an inch. People can spin the tires spraying rocks everywhere. I prefer Blacktop and you can have it coated with special color paint. Blacktop driveways done right will last 15 years on average some longer. Seal every two years with Asphalt Based Sealer. caryb1999@gmail

[AsktheBuilder]

Perhaps the applicators up there do not know how to do it right. Tar and chip is used by MANY state DOTs. It is used widely out West on main state routes. It only gets messy if too much tar and too little stone is applied. The loose stones are swept up a week or two after the tar cures. Come to my house to look at my drive. You may change your mind.

[byhammerandhand]

How does tar & chip cost compare to asphalt and how long would you expect one to last?

[AsktheBuilder]

There are several variables. Economy of scale being the biggest. But in most cases, on jobs over 1,500 sq ft, it should be 65% the cost of blacktop. If the base is put in properly, tar and chip can easily last ten years with *no* maintenance.