Tarmac Driveway Repair and Resurfacing in North Devon: Cracks, Potholes and Faded Surfaces
Tarmac is one of the most practical driveway surfaces around. It is tough, it copes with a lot of vehicles and it can be repaired without starting again. Yet it is not maintenance free. In a wet, mild and hilly place like Ilfracombe, tarmac cracks, ravels and sinks if the layers underneath are weak or the water has nowhere to go.
This guide explains why tarmac driveways fail, which repairs work, when resurfacing is the better choice, and how to keep a repaired surface in good order. Crabb Contractors Ltd has been preparing and surfacing ground in Ilfracombe since 1962, so we have seen how local conditions treat tarmac over decades.
Tarmac Driveway Repair: Quick Answer
Short answer: Yes. Small cracks and potholes can be cleaned, filled and sealed. Larger worn areas can be patched or resurfaced with a new wearing layer. If the base underneath has failed, with sunken areas, widespread cracking or standing water, the damaged section needs digging out and rebuilding, because surface repairs will not last.
Which repair for which problem
Problem | Likely cause | Usual fix |
Hairline cracks | Age, sun, small movement | Clean and seal |
Wider cracks | Movement, frost, water getting in | Rout, fill and seal |
Alligator (crazed) cracking | Failing base, overloading | Dig out and rebuild the area |
Potholes | Water entering and traffic breaking edges | Cut out, repair base and patch |
Ravelling (loose stones) | Old, dry surface, poor mix | Resurface or seal coat |
Faded, grey surface | UV and weather ageing | Clean and reseal, or resurface |
Sunken areas | Base or drainage failure | Lift and rebuild base |
Edge crumbling | No edge support, vehicles on edges | Reinstate edge restraint and patch |
Oil stains | Leaks from vehicles | Degrease and seal |
Standing water | Wrong falls, blocked drain | Regrade or add drainage |
How a Tarmac Driveway Is Built
Understanding the layers explains most failures.
Sub base. Compacted crushed stone, laid in layers on firm ground. It spreads the load, and drains water.
Base course (binder). A coarse, strong layer of bitumen coated stone, which gives the driveway its structure.
Wearing course (surface). A finer layer of asphalt on top, which is what you see. It gives a smooth, durable finish.
Edge restraint. A kerb or edging that supports the sides, so the layers do not spread or crumble.
Domestic driveways are sometimes built with a single layer on a thin base. That is faster and looks fine at first, but it fails sooner, particularly where heavy vehicles or poor ground are involved.
Why Tarmac Fails in North Devon
Water. The biggest enemy. Water getting into cracks softens the base, freezes in winter and expands, and pushes the surface apart. A driveway with no drainage, or with water running onto it from a slope, will fail early. Our guide to why proper drainage installation matters for driveways in North Devon explains how this happens.
Thin or poor sub base. If the stone layer is too thin, or was not compacted, the surface follows it down. This is the single most common reason for sunken wheel tracks.
Tree roots. Roots lift and crack tarmac, particularly close to old trees and hedges.
Overloading. Skips, delivery lorries, removal vans and builders' vehicles can exceed what a domestic driveway was built for.
Age and UV. Bitumen hardens and dries with time. The surface loses flexibility and cracks open.
Fuel and oil. Spilled petrol, diesel and oil dissolve bitumen and leave soft or pitted patches.
Poor edges. Without proper support, edges break away under vehicle wheels.
Slopes. Many Ilfracombe drives are steep. Water runs faster, braking and turning wheels scuff the surface, and loose material migrates downhill.
Quick Checks: What Is Your Driveway Telling You?
Walk the drive after heavy rain, and look at it in low evening light, when dips show up.
Where does water sit, and where does it run?
Are there dark, damp patches that do not dry?
Do cracks form a pattern, like a spider's web or crocodile skin, or are they single lines?
Are the wheel tracks lower than the middle?
Is the edge crumbling, or has soil washed over it?
Can you feel movement or softness underfoot?
Are weeds or moss growing through cracks?
Single cracks are surface problems. Webs of cracks, dips and soft spots mean the base has gone, and that is where patching alone will fail.
Repairing Cracks
Hairline cracks can be cleaned with a brush and sealed with a bitumen based crack sealer or a sealing coat, before water gets in.
Wider cracks are usually routed or cleaned to remove loose material, filled with a hot or cold applied sealant, and finished level. If the crack keeps reopening, there is movement underneath.
Method for a simple crack repair
Clear weeds, loose stones and debris.
Blow or brush the crack clean and dry.
Fill with a suitable flexible crack filler.
Strike off level and sprinkle fine stone or sand to stop it picking up on tyres.
Let it cure before driving on it.
Do the work in dry, mild weather. Damp cracks will not bond.
Repairing Potholes
A pothole starts when water gets under the surface, softens the base, and traffic breaks the top away. Filling it with a cold lay bag of material is a temporary fix. A proper repair goes like this.
Mark a neat square or rectangle beyond the damage.
Cut out the surface with a saw, so the edges are straight and vertical.
Remove the loose material and any soft base.
Fix the cause. If the base is wet or soft, dig out more, add stone and compact it.
Tack coat the vertical edges with bitumen emulsion, so the new material bonds.
Lay new asphalt in layers, compacting each one.
Finish level with the surrounding surface, and seal the joint.
Done like this, a pothole repair can last for years. Done as a quick fill, it comes back in a season.
When Patching Is Not Enough
A driveway with many patches becomes a patchwork, and each patch is a potential entry point for water. Think about resurfacing when:
Cracking covers most of the surface
The surface is ravelling or crumbling broadly
There are many patches and potholes
The colour has faded to dry grey and it feels rough
The overall appearance is poor, though the base is sound
Resurfacing: A New Wearing Course
If the base is firm and the driveway shape is right, resurfacing renews the top layer without starting from scratch.
Typical process
Survey and clean. Remove weeds, moss, dirt and loose material, and degrease oil spots.
Repair the defects. Cut out and rebuild any failed areas, fill cracks and fix edges.
Check levels and drainage. Make sure water has somewhere to go, and add channel drains or adjust falls where needed.
Apply a bond or tack coat. A bitumen emulsion helps the new surface stick to the old.
Lay the new wearing course. Hot asphalt is spread and rolled or compacted to a smooth, dense finish.
Finish edges and joints. Tidy meetings with doors, drains, kerbs and the road.
A new layer typically adds some thickness, so check it will not leave the driveway too high at the garage door, drain covers or the pavement.
Resurfacing or Starting Again?
Sometimes the honest answer is to dig out and rebuild.
Resurfacing suits:
A sound base with a worn surface
Even, consistent wear across the drive
Minor dips that can be corrected in the new layer
Full reconstruction suits:
Sunken wheel tracks and deep depressions
Widespread alligator cracking
Soft, spongy ground
Drainage that cannot be corrected without digging
A thin or missing sub base
A change of shape, level or width
If a full rebuild is in view, it is also a good time to rethink the surface. Our driveway surfacing comparison for North Devon shows how tarmac stacks up against block paving, resin and gravel. If you are widening the drive or changing the entrance, check our guide to driveway planning permission and dropped kerbs in Devon.
Sealing and Surface Treatments
Sealers and surface dressings can extend the life of a sound driveway.
Bitumen sealer. A coating that restores colour and protects against water, UV and light oil spills. Apply to a clean, dry surface in suitable weather.
Sand and bitumen dressing. A thin sprayed layer with a stone chip, used to revive an ageing but sound surface.
Colour treatments. Some sealers add a tint, from black to red or green, for a refreshed appearance.
Cautions:
Sealing over cracks does not mend them.
A sealed surface can be slippery when wet, especially on steep drives, so choose a textured finish.
Sealing damp tarmac traps moisture.
Sealing is maintenance, not repair, and needs repeating every few years.
Edges, Kerbs and Where Tarmac Meets Other Surfaces
Most tarmac breaks up at the edges first. A driveway edge has nothing holding it in, so vehicles that drive close to the side push the surface outwards and it crumbles. Water also gets in at the joint between tarmac and a wall, a gully or a paved area.
What helps
Edge restraints. Concrete haunching or kerbs along the sides keep the tarmac supported and stop it spreading.
Sealed joints. Where tarmac meets a drain, a door threshold or block paving, a neat bitumen seal keeps water out.
Cutting back crumbling edges. A clean, straight saw cut and fresh material last far longer than a patch laid over broken edge material.
Fall away from walls. Tarmac that slopes towards a house wall holds water against the masonry. The levels should shed water away from it.
Where a driveway meets the pavement, the crossing needs to be built properly. Our guide to driveway planning permission and dropped kerbs in Devon explains what that involves. If your tarmac borders a block paved area, our article on block paving repair, cleaning and sealing explains how to keep the join tidy.
Drainage: The Fix That Makes Repairs Last
If water caused the damage, repairing the surface without fixing the water is a waste of effort.
Common drainage improvements
A channel drain across the entrance to catch water before it reaches the road or the garage
Correcting falls so water runs off the drive, not along it
Gullies and pipes taking water to a soakaway
Clearing blocked drains and gullies
Regrading adjoining lawns and borders so they slope away from the surface
Our guides to soakaway and land drainage installation in North Devon and groundwork and drainage in North Devon show how collected water is dealt with safely.
Steep Driveways
Hilly driveways are a feature of Ilfracombe, and they bring their own demands.
Use a textured wearing course, for grip in the wet.
Make sure the surface is well compacted, because slopes stress the layers.
Add drainage at the top and bottom, so water does not run down the full length.
Consider retaining walls where the drive is cut into a bank. Our guide to retaining walls in North Devon explains how those are built.
Avoid sealers that leave a glossy finish.
For more on level changes, see our article on sloped and uneven gardens in North Devon.
DIY Repairs or Professional Work
You can usually manage:
Sweeping, weeding and cleaning
Sealing small, hairline cracks
Cold lay patching for a temporary fix
Applying a sealer on a small, sound area
Call a professional for:
Potholes that keep coming back
Sunken areas and wheel track dips
Widespread cracking
Any resurfacing, which needs hot material and rolling or compaction equipment
Drainage changes
Anything involving a dropped kerb or a work on the public highway
Hot asphalt, compaction plant and correct tack coating are things a household cannot easily match, and the results show in how long a repair lasts. Our groundwork contractors team handles excavation, base repairs and drainage, and can bring in a digger with driver when a larger area has to come out. Spoil and old surfacing are taken away as set out in our guide to muckaway services in North Devon.
Keeping Tarmac in Good Condition
A few habits protect a repaired or new driveway.
Keep gutters, gullies and drains clear.
Cut back trees and shrubs that shade the surface or push roots under it.
Wipe up fuel and oil spills quickly.
Do not park heavy vehicles, skips or trailers on the same spot for long periods in hot weather, because new tarmac can soften and mark.
Do not turn steering wheels while stationary on new tarmac.
Keep edges clear of soil and debris.
Seal small cracks as soon as they appear.
Avoid de icing salt where possible, and use grit.
Timing Repairs Through the Year
Tarmac repairs depend on dry, mild weather. Cold, wet conditions stop bonding and curing. Late spring to early autumn is the best window, but good contractors book early. Our guide to the best time of year to book a driveway or groundwork project in North Devon explains how to plan around it, and why a survey in winter can secure a summer slot.
Related Guides From Crabb Contractors
Keep reading: our guides to driveway planning permission and dropped kerbs in Devon, block paving repair, cleaning and sealing, building a concrete base for a garage, shed or extension, soakaway and land drainage installation, retaining walls for sloped North Devon gardens, patio and path groundwork, farm and equestrian groundwork. For help on site, see our groundwork contractors, brick paving and driveways and digger hire pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a tarmac driveway last?
A well built driveway on a sound base can last 20 years or more, though the surface may need attention before then. Poor drainage or a thin base shortens that.
Can I resurface over old tarmac?
Often yes, if the base is firm and the surface is prepared properly. Failed areas should be cut out and rebuilt first, and cracks and levels corrected, or the problems will reflect through.
Why does my tarmac driveway have cracks?
Common causes are age, water and frost, tree roots, heavy loads and a weak base. Single cracks are usually surface issues, while a web of cracks points to base failure.
Is it worth sealing a tarmac driveway?
Sealing a sound surface protects it and refreshes the colour. It does not fix cracks or base problems, and can make the surface slippery if the wrong product is used.
How soon can I drive on new tarmac?
Light traffic is usually fine after a day or so, but heavy vehicles should wait longer, and the surface stays soft in hot weather. Follow your contractor's advice.
Can Crabb Contractors repair tarmac driveways in Ilfracombe?
Yes. We repair, patch, rebuild and resurface tarmac driveways across Ilfracombe and North Devon, including base repairs and drainage.
Fix the Cause, Not Just the Crack
A tarmac driveway tells you what is wrong if you read it. Single cracks and faded colour are cosmetic. Dips, crazing and standing water point to the base and the drainage, and those are the problems that make repairs fail. Fix the layers and the water first, and the surface will follow.
If your driveway in Ilfracombe or North Devon is cracked, sunken or tired, call Crabb Contractors on 01271 500072 or contact the team online. We will visit, find the cause and tell you honestly whether it needs a patch, a new surface or a rebuild.
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