Tar and Chip Lanes in Terre Haute, IN

Tar and chip lanes, also called chip seal, are surfaces made by spraying hot liquid asphalt over a compacted stone base and immediately spreading a layer of stone chips into it, then rolling the chips in. The result is a sealed, textured surface that keeps dust and mud down and sheds water. For a lane that runs hundreds of feet back from a county road, it can cost a fraction of hot-mix asphalt.

How it compares

HomeGuide puts tar and chip at $2 to $5 per square foot installed: $2 to $3 for a single layer and $3 to $5 for a double. That is roughly 30 to 40 percent less than asphalt and about twice the cost of plain gravel. A single layer lasts about 7 to 10 years and a double layer 12 to 15, compared with 15 to 30 years for asphalt. HomeGuide prices a 12-by-500-foot private road at $10,000 to $30,000.

Where it works best

Chip seal suits long rural lanes, farm drives and secondary areas such as equipment yards. Its rough texture gives better traction when wet or snowy and reduces glare. It is less suited to spots where tires twist hard, such as tight turnarounds, and it is too rough for basketball or bikes. Many owners pave the area near the house with asphalt and the long run of the lane with tar and chip.

The base still matters

A chip seal is thin. It relies entirely on the stone underneath. Before chipping, we regrade the existing lane to restore a crown so water runs off both sides, add and compact stone where it is thin or muddy, and check culverts where the lane crosses ditches. On Wabash Valley soils that stay wet into spring, that preparation decides whether the surface lasts.

Snow and plowing

HomeGuide notes that snowplow blades should be raised about an inch above a chip-seal surface to avoid tearing up the stone. If a neighbor or township plows your lane, let them know.

Resurfacing old lanes

An existing gravel or worn asphalt lane can be refreshed with a new chip layer. HomeGuide puts that at $1 to $3 per square foot.

Traffic after chipping

Fresh chip seal needs a little time. Drive slowly for the first few days and avoid sharp turns in place while the stone settles into the asphalt.

Color choices

The stone used for chipping sets the final color. HomeGuide notes that chip seal comes in many colors and stone types; lighter stone gives a lighter finish and darker stone a darker one. We tell you what is available.