You might not have heard about this type of driveway but you must have seen them. There are roads and driveways made of chip and tar but they might not be the most common ones.
The tar and chip driveways are quite similar to the asphalt driveways but they have a different installation process. There are successive layers of gravel and hot bitumen asphalt. There are also loose stones laid over the surface and then they are compressed. You might have driven long ways on such driveways without knowing. They have been successfully used for several years and are especially found in rural areas. It is an affordable choice too.
Benefits Of The Seal Chip Driveways
The tar and chip driveways are also known as seal chip driveways and they come with the following benefits:
- They are low in cost.
- They come with good traction.
- They are very easy to maintain.
- They are much more durable compared to gravel driveways.
The Cost
Cost is an important factor while constructing driveways and seal chip ones are the winner in that. Being primarily made of asphalt and gravel, it has a comparable cost to that of the other two options. Generally, the seal chip driveways cost twice as much as the gravel driveways but somewhat less than the asphalt ones. This is because the oil used in the asphalt driveways is a big factor and adds up to the installation cost. Its price also increased with the increase in the market price of the oil.
Even Though the cost of gravel driveways is half, the seal chip ones offer a harder and more durable surface. This means that the latter would save money in the long run. To increase the longevity of the seal chip driveways, contractors often consider having a concrete layer underneath them.
Maintenance And Repair
A little maintenance goes a long way with the tar and chip driveway. They do not need repeated sealing, and if there are small cracks, they would self-heal. The surface needs to be renewed after every 10 years or so, by spreading a layer of hot bitumen and loose stones. However, it is to be noted that the rough surface of these driveways can be scraped off by a snowplough. So while using a plough, ensure to keep it above the surface of the driveway or use different equipment like a shovel or a snow blower.
The seal chip driveways come with a beautiful rustic design and they add up to the aesthetics of an informal landscape. Being inexpensive, they are an ideal choice for long driveways. They offer a wide range of benefits and installing them is quite easy too. They offer both comfort and convenience to the drivers.
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