Tarmac driveways in Colchester and Essex
Hot-mix tarmac laid as a binder course then a wearing course over a compacted sub-base, with drainage falls and a block paving border if you want one.
What are you looking to have done?
Two quick questions and you'll see a guide price.
Which surface for your driveway?
Not sure? Pick the closest; Tom talks through the options on the survey.
Block paving: roughly what size?
A typical two-car drive is 40 to 50 m². A guess is fine; the free survey measures it properly.
Guide price
Pick a surface
Guide range. Larger areas come in lower per m²; the free survey fixes the price in writing.
Our typical rates per square metre
- Block paving: around £130
- Tumbled paving: around £150
- Resin bound: around £200
- Tarmac: around £130
- Imprinted concrete: around £130
- Gravel: priced on the phone
- Indian sandstone: around £180
- Porcelain: around £200
We lay tarmac driveways across Colchester and Essex: hot-mix asphalt in two courses, a binder course and then a wearing course, over a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base. Most tarmac drives are done in one to two days.
Tarmac comes in black or coloured, and it looks smartest with a border. A block paving border, from light grey to brindle or red, holds the edge and frames the drive, and drainage falls are built in so the rain runs off the drive, not towards the house.
We're a family-run firm based in Colchester, working across the Essex towns around it, including Chelmsford, Braintree and Harlow. Tom comes out to measure up and tell you whether your drive needs an overlay or a full dig-out, the price goes in writing, and every tarmac drive carries a written 5-year workmanship guarantee.
The tarmac drives we lay
Borders, margins and finishes, from our own jobs.
Grey block borders
A light grey soldier course frames black tarmac and lifts the whole front of the house.
Red brick borders
A red block border picks up the brick of the house and marks the edge of the drive.
Block paving aprons
A band of block paving at the pavement edge, so the drive starts with a proper finish.
Brindle borders
A brindle block border sweeping round the drive in front of a mock-Tudor semi.
Gravel margins
A strip of gravel between the tarmac and the boundary, held by a grey block edge.
Light block edging
A pale block edge and corner detail on a long drive up to a detached house.
Two courses on a proper base
A tarmac drive is only as good as what it sits on. Where the old drive has sunk or broken up, it comes out and a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base goes in, with falls set so the water runs where it should.
The tarmac goes down hot in two layers. The binder course is the strong, coarse layer that takes the weight; the wearing course is the finer layer on top that you see and drive on. Edging holds the edges in, whether that's a kerb or a block paving border.
With a sealcoat every three to five years, a tarmac drive should last 20 to 25 years. When it starts to look grey and tired, we can recolour and reseal it rather than relay it.
How a tarmac drive goes in
Six steps, usually over one to two days. It's why the guarantee goes in writing.
Step 01 / 06
Free survey
Tom measures up, checks levels and drainage, and tells you whether it needs an overlay or a dig-out.
Step 02 / 06
Written quote
Spec, edging and guarantee stated, price in writing. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Step 03 / 06
Prepare
The old surface comes out where it has failed, and the ground is made ready for the new drive.
Step 04 / 06
Sub-base and edging
Compacted MOT Type 1 with drainage falls, then kerbs or a block paving border set.
Step 05 / 06
Binder and wearing course
Hot tarmac laid as a binder course, then the finer wearing course on top.
Step 06 / 06
Roll and hand over
Rolled to a smooth finish, the site swept and the written guarantee handed over.
Overlay the old drive, or dig it out?
Not every tired tarmac drive needs digging out. Tom will tell you which on the survey.
Overlay
- The old drive is still level and solid
- It's faded, worn or patched on the surface
- The levels and drainage already work
- You want a new finish with less disruption
A new wearing course goes over the sound base.
Full dig-out
- The drive has sunk, cracked right through or holds water
- Roots or a failed base are breaking it up
- You want a new layout or a border added
- The old surface is block paving, concrete or gravel
A new MOT Type 1 sub-base, then both courses, with the 5-year guarantee.
Book a free surveyWhat customers say about their new drives
Verbatim from Google. Names as they appear on the review.
4.9 from 30 Google reviews5.0 from 90 on Yell5.0 from 16 on Facebook
Richard Parker
December 2023 · Driveway
This was a big task on a long wide driveway. The team were careful in the extensive preparatory work, not rushing any part of the process, and working steadily each day. The team leader was responsive to questions and clarified what they were doing at each stage and why. They obviously were concerned to do the work to a high standard. We are delighted with the result.
Glyn Evans
July 2019 · Driveway
Tom and his team did a brilliant job. Competitively priced, turned up when they said they would, tailored the drive to our requirements, gave great advice and we are really happy with the end result. Always polite and friendly and I would recommend Tom to anybody.
Wayne Parker
December 2025 · Driveway and patio
Great job on my new driveway A great bunch of guys wouldn't hesitate to recommend Installed a new driveway and patio will have them around next time to do my pathway couldn't recommend them enough
Why people pick First4Driveways for tarmac
What customers mention in their reviews, and what we put in writing.
5 years, in writing
A written workmanship guarantee on every tarmac drive, handed over with the job.
Done in a day or two
Most tarmac drives are finished in one to two days, so you're back on the drive quickly.
Tom quotes in person
He measures up and tells you straight whether it needs an overlay or a dig-out. Nine Google reviewers mention him by name.
Insured, tidy, on time
Public liability cover on every job. Reviewers mention sites cleared away and work done when promised.
Tarmac driveways questions
Straight answers to what people ask us most.
What is the average cost to tarmac a driveway?
Our rate is around £130 per m², and larger areas come in lower per m². The price card gives you a guide in seconds; the free survey fixes the price in writing.
How long does a tarmac driveway last?
With a sealcoat every three to five years, 20 to 25 years. When it fades, we can recolour and reseal it rather than relay it.
How long does it take to tarmac a driveway?
Most tarmac drives are done in one to two days. You get the timing with the written quote.
What are the downsides of a tarmac driveway?
It needs a firm edge to stop it crumbling at the sides, it fades over the years without a reseal, and it doesn't let water through. That's why the edges are held with kerbs or a block border and falls are built in so the rain runs off properly.
Do I need planning permission for a tarmac drive?
In England, a new front drive over 5 m² needs permission if it's impermeable and the water runs onto the road. If the rain is directed to a lawn, border or soakaway, it doesn't. We set the falls and drainage to suit on the survey.
What time of year is best to tarmac a driveway?
Tarmac goes in all year. We plan around heavy rain, and you get the date with the quote.
Other jobs we do
One team for the drive, the patio and the garden. Every job starts with a free survey and a written quote.
Block paving
10-year written guarantee
Herringbone, basketweave or stretcher bond on a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, with concrete-haunched edges and a soldier-course border. Standard or tumbled blocks.
Block paving
Resin driveways
10-year written guarantee
Resin bound only, never bonded. UV-stable resin and natural aggregate hand-trowelled to 18mm over a solid base. Walk on it after 24 hours, park on it after 48.
Resin driveways
Imprinted concrete
Written guarantee
Pattern-imprinted concrete driveways and paths, poured in one piece and stamped in your pattern and colour, then sealed. No joints for weeds to take hold in.
Imprinted concrete
Cleaning and resealing
Priced on the survey
Block paving and patios pressure cleaned, re-sanded and resealed. Tarmac drives recoloured and resealed. The cheap way to make an old drive look new again.
Cleaning and resealing
Tarmac driveways across Colchester and Essex
Based in Colchester. We lay tarmac across Essex; the towns below have their own pages.
Colchester
Our base. Every service, across the town and the villages around it.
Our base
Chelmsford
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across Chelmsford. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Chelmsford
Braintree
About 16 miles from our Colchester base. Driveways, patios and landscaping with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Braintree
Harlow
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across Harlow and Old Harlow. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Harlow
Hertford
Driveways, patios and landscaping across Hertford, Ware and the Hertfordshire villages around them.
Driveways in Hertford
St Albans
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across St Albans, Harpenden and the villages. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in St Albans
Bishop's Stortford
About 36 miles from our Colchester base along the A120. Driveways, patios and landscaping with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Bishop's Stortford
Southend
Block paving, resin driveways and patios from Leigh-on-Sea to Shoeburyness. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Southend
Brentwood
About 37 miles down the A12. Driveways and patios across Brentwood, Shenfield, Hutton and Ingatestone.
Driveways in Brentwood
Stevenage
Block paving, resin driveways and patios from the Old Town to Great Ashby. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Stevenage
Cambridge
Driveways, patios and landscaping across Cambridge and its villages, with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Cambridge
Also covering: Witham, Clacton-on-Sea, Maldon, Halstead, Basildon, Billericay, Wickford, Rayleigh, Saffron Walden, Burnham-on-Crouch and the villages between. Not listed? Call and ask.
Get a free quote
Let's talk about your drive or patio
First4Driveways is a family-run business based in Colchester. Tom comes out to quote every job in person, talks through the options and materials, and puts the price in writing before anything is dug up. Block paving, resin and patios carry a written 10-year workmanship guarantee; tarmac and gravel carry five years.
- Free survey and a written quote
- Written guarantee on every job
- Fully insured, public liability cover
- Family-run, based in Colchester
Need to talk now?
Call Tom directly
Start your free quote
Tell us about the drive or garden and we'll arrange a free survey.