When a driveway starts to look tired, there are three main options: a surface treatment such as a slurry seal, an asphalt overlay (resurfacing), or a full rebuild. The right choice depends almost entirely on what is happening under the surface.
Option 1: Slurry seal
Good for: driveways that are level and solid but grey, dry and finely cracked.
A slurry seal seals and refreshes the surface. It is the cheapest option but adds no strength.
Option 2: Resurfacing
Good for: driveways with a sound base but a worn, cracked or patched surface.
Resurfacing repairs any failed areas, seals cracks, then lays a new layer of asphalt over the whole driveway. You get a new surface for less than a full rebuild.
Watch out for: levels. An overlay adds 25 to 40 mm. Garage doors, gates and drains need to be checked, and sometimes the old surface is milled off at the edges first.
Option 3: Full replacement
Good for: driveways where the base has failed.
A new tar driveway means breaking out the old surface, excavating to firm ground, building a new compacted base and laying fresh asphalt. It costs more but resets the clock completely.
How to tell the difference
Signs the base is still sound:
- The driveway is mostly level with no big dips or ruts.
- Cracks are fine, scattered or in straight lines.
- It feels solid underfoot and under car tyres.
Signs the base has failed:
- Crocodile-pattern cracking over large areas.
- Sunken areas, ruts and potholes.
- Water ponding in several places.
- Previous patches that keep breaking up.
Why overlaying a failed base is a waste
New asphalt over a weak base will crack and sink in the same places as the old surface, usually within a year or two. It is like painting over damp: the problem is underneath.
Get it checked
During a free site survey we check the base in suspect areas and tell you which option makes sense, with each priced separately if more than one is viable.