Hear from Our Customers
You’re not just getting a driveway—you’re getting peace of mind. No more worrying about cracks every winter or scheduling sealcoating every few years. Tar and chip surfaces handle Rural Hill’s freeze-thaw cycles without breaking down.
The textured stone surface gives you better traction than smooth asphalt, especially when it’s wet or icy. You can drive on it immediately after installation, and it’ll keep looking good for 6-10 years without major maintenance.
Your neighbors will notice the natural, rustic appearance that actually complements Rural Hill’s character instead of looking like every other black driveway on the block.
We’ve been solving driveway problems in Wilson County and the Nashville area for over 50 years. We’re veteran-owned, which means we understand the value of doing things right the first time.
Rural Hill homeowners choose us because we know what works in Tennessee weather. We’ve seen every type of soil condition, drainage issue, and weather pattern this area throws at driveways.
We’re not the cheapest option—and that’s actually good news for you. You’re investing in fewer repairs, fewer headaches, and a surface that performs when you need it to.
First, we prepare your base properly. This means grading, compacting, and making sure water drains away from your driveway instead of pooling on it. Skip this step, and nothing else matters.
Next, we spray hot liquid asphalt over the prepared base. The temperature matters here—around 300 degrees—because that’s what makes the asphalt bond correctly with both the base and the stone chips.
Finally, we spread a layer of stone chips over the hot asphalt and compact everything with heavy rollers. The stones embed into the asphalt, creating that textured surface that gives you traction and the rustic look Rural Hill homeowners love.
The whole process typically takes one day for most residential driveways, and you can drive on it immediately.
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Every tar and chip installation includes proper base preparation, high-quality liquid asphalt application, and your choice of stone chip colors and sizes. We handle grading, drainage considerations, and compaction to ensure your driveway performs for years.
Rural Hill’s clay soils and rolling terrain require specific preparation techniques. We adjust our approach based on your property’s unique conditions, whether you’re dealing with steep grades, poor drainage, or existing surface issues.
You also get our experience with local weather patterns. We know how Tennessee’s wet springs and freeze-thaw cycles affect different installation methods, so we time your project and adjust our process accordingly.
We can install over existing asphalt if it’s in decent condition, potentially saving you the cost of complete removal and replacement.
Tar and chip surfaces typically last 6-10 years before needing another application, which is competitive with other paving options but without the maintenance headaches. The key difference is what happens during those years.
Unlike traditional asphalt that requires sealcoating every 2-3 years, tar and chip maintains its appearance and performance with minimal upkeep. You might need to sweep away loose stones occasionally and fill any cracks that develop, but that’s about it.
Rural Hill’s freeze-thaw cycles actually affect tar and chip less than smooth asphalt because the textured surface allows for slight movement without visible cracking. When it does eventually need renewal, you’re typically looking at a surface application rather than complete replacement.
Yes, if your existing asphalt is in relatively good condition. We’re talking about surfaces with minor cracking, some weathering, but no major structural problems like large potholes or significant settling.
We’ll evaluate your current driveway during the estimate process. If the base is solid and the surface issues are mainly cosmetic, tar and chip can be an excellent way to refresh your driveway without the expense of complete removal.
However, if your asphalt has major structural problems or drainage issues, those need to be addressed first. Putting tar and chip over a failing base just delays the inevitable and wastes your money. We’ll tell you honestly what your driveway needs.
Tar and chip typically costs 30-50% less than traditional hot-mix asphalt installation, making it an attractive option for longer driveways or budget-conscious homeowners. The exact savings depend on your driveway size and current condition.
But here’s where it gets interesting: when you factor in maintenance costs over time, the savings increase. No sealcoating every few years means you’re not spending $300-500 repeatedly to maintain your driveway’s appearance and performance.
For Rural Hill properties with longer driveways—which are common in this area—the cost difference can be substantial. A 200-foot driveway that might cost $4,000 in asphalt could be $2,500-3,000 in tar and chip, with lower maintenance costs going forward.
You can drive on tar and chip immediately after installation—no waiting period required. This is one of the practical advantages that makes it popular with busy homeowners who can’t afford to have their driveway out of commission.
The compaction process during installation creates a surface that’s ready for normal vehicle traffic right away. You don’t need to worry about tire marks, indentations, or damage from driving on it too soon.
However, we do recommend avoiding sharp turns or heavy vehicles for the first few days if possible. The surface continues to settle slightly during this time, and aggressive maneuvering can dislodge some of the surface stones. Normal driving in and out is perfectly fine.
Tar and chip requires significantly less maintenance than traditional asphalt, especially in Tennessee’s climate. You’ll never need sealcoating, which eliminates the biggest ongoing expense and hassle of asphalt driveways.
Basic maintenance involves sweeping away debris and loose stones occasionally, and filling any cracks that develop with cold-patch asphalt filler. Most homeowners find they need to do this once or twice a year at most.
Tennessee’s freeze-thaw cycles can cause some minor cracking over time, but the textured surface of tar and chip handles this better than smooth asphalt. When small cracks do appear, they’re easy to spot and fix before they become bigger problems. The key is addressing them promptly rather than letting water get underneath and cause more damage.
Absolutely. One of tar and chip’s advantages is the variety of stone options available. You can choose from different colors, sizes, and types of aggregate to match your home’s style and Rural Hill’s natural landscape.
Popular choices in this area include gray limestone, brown sandstone, and mixed river rock. Each creates a different appearance and texture. Smaller chips create a smoother surface, while larger chips provide more texture and a more rustic appearance.
We’ll show you samples during your consultation so you can see how different options will look. The stone choice affects both appearance and performance—some stones provide better traction, others are more durable, and some simply look better with certain architectural styles. We’ll help you choose based on your priorities and preferences.
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