Strong. Simple. Cost effective.
Tar & Chipin VA & NC
A durable, cost-effective surface built for rural roads and long drives.
Also called tar and gravel, chipseal, chip seal, surface treatment.
Tar and chip is a pavement surface treatment that combines one or more layers of liquid asphalt with one or more layers of stone chip, compacted together. You have driven over miles of it without thinking about it — it has a long history of successful use, especially on rural roads and long driveways.
The appeal is simple. It costs less than a full asphalt job, it grips well in wet weather, and the exposed stone gives it a natural look that suits a country property far better than a slab of black.
Why people choose it here
Southwest Virginia has a lot of long driveways, farm lanes and private roads. Paving all of that in hot mix asphalt gets expensive fast. Tar and chip covers the same ground for less money while still giving you a bound, all-weather surface that will not wash out the way loose gravel does.
It is also flexible. Where asphalt can crack as temperatures swing between freeze and thaw, tar and chip moves with the conditions. And when it eventually needs freshening up, another layer goes straight over the top — no milling, no tear-out.
What to expect
The surface is textured rather than smooth, which is exactly what gives it its traction. Expect some loose stone for the first few weeks as everything settles; sweeping it to the edges is normal and it stops on its own.
If you are weighing tar and chip against asphalt, call us. The right answer depends on how long the drive is, how it is used and what the base looks like — and we will give you a straight comparison rather than steering you to the bigger invoice.
Common questions
Tar & Chipquestions.
- Is tar and chip the same as tar and gravel or chipseal?
- Yes — they are all names for the same surface treatment. You may also hear it called surface treating or chip seal. We use "tar and chip" because that is what most folks around here call it.
- How does the cost compare to asphalt?
- Tar and chip is typically a good bit cheaper to install than hot mix asphalt, which is why it is so popular for long rural driveways where paving the whole length in asphalt would be expensive.
- How long does it last?
- With normal use you can expect many years of service, and refreshing it is far cheaper than repaving. It is a surface that ages gracefully rather than failing all at once.
Other services
Asphalt Paving
Driveways, parking lots, private roads and new installations.
Sealcoating
Protect, beautify and extend the life of asphalt you already own.
Line Striping
Clear, compliant parking layouts that keep traffic moving safely.
Where we take this work
We do tar & chip right across the service area, including Fries, VA, Independence, VA and Mount Airy, NC. Serving Galax, Hillsville and Wytheville, VA, plus Mount Airy and King, NC. See every town we cover.