Re-tarmac driveway

[jamiednm]

We bought our house last year and renovated the building. Outside is a long Tarmac drive. It's not in great condition - there are crumbled edges, patchwork finish in places and the whole thing generally looks tired. A good wash has made it look reasonable but really, it could do with being redone.

What are your opinions on having repairs and a new top coat done rather than a complete removal of the current drive and relaying new foundations and surface? Would repairs and a new surface look as good as new? It just seems a shame to have to redo the whole lot when the actual foundations appear to be quite good and cost wise, it's a long drive,

 

[andyroo1]

I would just resurface it- give it a really good clean and use degreasant first- then it would probably need spraying with tar just before laying the new tarmac to help the top coat adhere to the existing- as long as its done properly it should be fine.

 

[JayHS]

Hey there

if you are going to re do the tarmac, you might need to look at local planning first as in if it is a simple replace like for like then maybe no problems.. but still look into it.
but if you end up re doing more than the area and end up making your entire driveway "tarmac" you will need planning permission as you would need a soak away! and you can not tamac the entire area!! all to do with dainage
take photos before any work is done, so you can prove no area has been altered.
my brother had the same problem as you and wished he had looked into it in more detail first.
seek local planning www sites and phone up the local planners, they are usually helpful