Hear from Our Customers
You get a driveway that handles Tennessee’s unpredictable weather while looking like it belongs on your property. No more slipping during rain or worrying about expensive maintenance every few years.
The textured surface grips your tires when it matters most. Your guests notice the natural, welcoming appearance that complements your home instead of competing with it.
Best part? You’re spending 30-50% less than traditional asphalt while getting a surface that lasts 10-15 years with minimal upkeep.
We’ve been serving Wilson County and the Nashville area since before most paving companies existed. We’re veteran-owned, which means we understand the value of doing things right the first time.
While Fairview continues growing with new neighborhoods and rural developments, we’ve been here helping property owners make smart paving decisions. We know the local soil conditions, drainage challenges, and how Tennessee’s freeze-thaw cycles affect different surfaces.
You’re not getting a sales pitch from us. You’re getting straight answers from people who’ve been installing tar and chip driveways since it was the standard for rural roads.
First, we prepare a solid base because that’s what determines how long your driveway lasts. We grade the area properly and ensure drainage flows away from your home.
Next comes the hot liquid asphalt application. We spray it evenly across the prepared surface while it’s at the right temperature for maximum adhesion.
Then we spread the stone chips immediately while the asphalt is still hot. These aren’t just any stones – we select the right size and type for Tennessee conditions.
Finally, we compact everything with heavy rollers. This embeds the stones into the asphalt, creating that durable, textured surface that gives you excellent traction and the natural appearance you want.
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Fairview sits in that sweet spot where rural meets suburban, and your driveway needs to handle both worlds. You might have delivery trucks one day and farm equipment the next.
The soil here has its own personality. We’ve worked with Fairview’s clay-heavy areas and know how to build a base that won’t shift or settle over time. Tennessee’s weather throws everything at your driveway – from summer heat that softens asphalt to winter freeze-thaw cycles that crack concrete.
Tar and chip handles it all. The stone surface doesn’t absorb heat like black asphalt, so it stays cooler in summer. The flexible asphalt base moves with temperature changes without cracking. And when it does rain (and it will), you get the traction you need to get up your driveway safely.
A properly installed tar and chip driveway typically lasts 10-15 years in Tennessee, sometimes longer with good maintenance. The key is proper installation with the right base preparation and quality materials.
Tennessee’s climate is actually ideal for tar and chip. The flexible asphalt base handles our freeze-thaw cycles better than rigid concrete, and the stone surface provides natural drainage. Unlike traditional asphalt that needs sealcoating every 2-3 years, tar and chip is essentially maintenance-free once installed.
Your driveway’s lifespan depends on traffic volume, base preparation quality, and occasional basic maintenance like sweeping away debris. Most of our Fairview customers see their driveways performing well past the 10-year mark.
Tar and chip typically costs 30-50% less than traditional hot-mix asphalt, making it an excellent value for larger driveways or budget-conscious property owners. The exact savings depend on your project size and site conditions.
For a typical Fairview driveway, you might pay $2-5 per square foot for tar and chip versus $4-8 per square foot for traditional asphalt. The bigger your driveway, the more you save. Plus, you eliminate the ongoing sealcoating costs that asphalt requires.
When you factor in the reduced maintenance over 10-15 years, tar and chip often costs half what you’d spend on asphalt over the same period. That’s real money back in your pocket for other property improvements.
Tar and chip actually works better on slopes than smooth asphalt because the textured stone surface provides superior traction. Many of our Fairview customers specifically choose it for hilly driveways where regular asphalt becomes slippery when wet.
The key is proper installation technique. We adjust our stone application and compaction methods for sloped surfaces to ensure the chips stay embedded. The rough texture gives your tires something to grip, which is especially important during Tennessee’s rainy seasons or occasional ice.
However, extremely steep grades may require special considerations or alternative solutions. We’ll evaluate your specific slope and drainage situation to recommend the best approach for your property.
In many cases, yes, if your existing driveway has a solid base and isn’t severely damaged. This can save you money on excavation and disposal costs while giving you a completely new surface.
We’ll evaluate your current driveway’s condition first. If the base is stable and there aren’t major structural issues, tar and chip can be applied directly over old asphalt or concrete. This approach works particularly well for driveways that are worn but not failing.
However, if there are significant cracks, settling, or drainage problems, we’ll recommend addressing those issues first. Putting new surfacing over a failing base just creates problems later. We’ll give you an honest assessment of what your driveway needs.
Tar and chip is remarkably low-maintenance compared to other paving options. You won’t need regular sealcoating like asphalt, and small imperfections are barely noticeable on the textured surface.
Basic maintenance involves occasional sweeping to remove debris and leaves, especially in fall. If loose stones appear over time, you can simply sweep them back into place or add a few replacement stones. Any small cracks that develop can be filled with cold-patch asphalt.
The biggest maintenance advantage is what you don’t have to do. No sealcoating every 2-3 years, no worrying about oil stains showing up, and no need for professional cleaning. Most of our customers find that basic upkeep is enough to keep their driveway looking good for years.
You can typically drive on your new tar and chip driveway within 24-48 hours, depending on weather conditions and traffic requirements. We’ll give you specific timing based on your installation conditions.
The surface needs time for the asphalt to cure and the stones to fully embed. Hot weather speeds up the process, while cool temperatures may require a bit more patience. We’ll let you know exactly when it’s safe to use your driveway normally.
During the first few weeks, you might notice a few loose stones, which is completely normal. These will either embed further or can be swept away. After this initial settling period, your driveway will be ready for years of reliable service.
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