A tar driveway is one of the best-value surfaces you can put down at a home in the Western Cape. Done properly, it handles daily traffic, sheds winter rain quickly and looks neat for years. Done badly, it cracks, sinks and holds water within a season or two. The difference is almost never the asphalt itself. It is what happens underneath.
Why the base matters more than the tar
The black layer you see is only the wearing course, usually 25 to 40 mm thick on a residential driveway. Everything that carries the weight of a car sits below it: the layer works and the compacted subgrade. Across the Cape you find very different ground conditions, from the loose sands of the Cape Flats and West Coast to the clays of the northern suburbs and the decomposed granite of the Winelands. Each needs a different approach.
On every job we:
- Excavate to firm ground, removing topsoil, roots and soft material that would settle later.
- Import and compact a base layer of suitable G5 or G6 material, placed in layers and compacted with a roller or plate compactor at the right moisture content.
- Prime the base so the asphalt bonds and the base is sealed against water.
- Lay hot asphalt by hand or with a paver, then roll it while it is still at working temperature.
Skipping any of these steps saves money on the day and costs far more later.
Getting the falls right
In winter, Cape Town gets heavy rain driven by north-westerly fronts. A driveway that is even slightly flat in the wrong place will pond, and standing water is the fastest way to break down asphalt. We set levels so that water runs away from your garage and house towards the street, a channel or a stormwater grid. Where a driveway slopes towards the house, we can install a channel drain across the mouth of the garage.
Edging and finishing
Asphalt needs a firm edge. Without one, the sides crumble under car tyres. Depending on the look you want and your budget, we use:
- Precast concrete kerbs or edge beams
- A brick or paving-block border, which also softens the look of a large black surface
- A haunched or tapered tar edge where the driveway meets lawn or a garden bed
We also finish neatly around manholes, gate tracks and the crossing to the street.
Tar or paving?
Clients often ask us to compare tar with brick paving. Tar is usually cheaper per square metre on larger areas, faster to lay and has no joints for weeds to grow through. Paving costs more but is easier to lift and relay in small sections and suits some architectural styles. We do both, so we will give you an honest view after seeing the site. You can read more on our brick paving page or in our pricing guide.
Coloured and textured finishes
Standard asphalt is black and greys slightly over time in the Western Cape sun. If you want a different look, we can discuss surface dressings, chip seals and borders that break up a large area. We will tell you what is realistic for your budget and how each option ages.
Looking after your new driveway
A new tar driveway needs very little care:
- Keep cars off it for the first few days and avoid turning the steering wheel while stationary for the first few weeks.
- Do not let diesel, oil or petrol sit on the surface, because they soften asphalt.
- Fill small cracks early with a sealant so water cannot reach the base. Our crack sealing service covers this.
- After several years, a slurry seal or rejuvenating coat can freshen the surface for a fraction of the cost of resurfacing.
Already have a tired driveway?
If your existing driveway still has a sound base but the surface is worn, cracked or patched, you may not need a full rebuild. Driveway resurfacing lays a new asphalt layer over the old one after any failed patches have been repaired.
How a job runs with us
- Free site survey. We measure, check the ground, levels and drainage, and talk through finishes.
- Written quote within 24 hours, with the scope broken down so you can compare like for like.
- Scheduling. We agree a date and tell you how long you will be without the driveway.
- Construction. Excavation, base, prime, asphalt and rolling, with the site cleaned as we go.
- Handover. We walk the finished driveway with you and explain aftercare.
Book your free site survey and we will tell you exactly what your driveway needs.