2022 Chip Sealing Cost | Rates Per Square Foot

What Is Chip Sealing?

Chip and seal require spraying liquid asphalt between 1/4″ and 3/8″ thick, pressing it with a roller, and then layering stone aggregate on top. The driveway chip seal is made of small chips of crushed stone that cover the driveway surface.

Average Cost To Chip Seal

The price you will pay depends on the size of the project that you are doing. Chip sealing can cost anywhere from $2 to $5 per square foot. So, the larger the square footage, the more expensive it’s going to be. You can refer to the above table for a further breakdown in price starting at a 10′ by 20’driveway and up.

Driveways

You will pay anywhere between $350 and $4,300 when it comes to chip sealing your driveway. However, on the lower end, the cost is for one car driveways starting at 10′ by 20′, or 200 square feet. On the higher end, this is for three-car driveways or spaces that are around 864 square feet.

Find out how much an automatic driveway gate costs.

Parking Spaces

If you’re looking to install a parking lot for your commercial property, or even your private property, this will, of course, depend on size as well. For example, a parking space that’s 18′ by 10′ will cost around $300 to $900.

Now, if you’re looking for something bigger such as a 10 car parking lot that’s about 3,000 square feet, then this will cost significantly higher. The cost for this would be between $5,250 to $15,000.

Roads

If you’re looking to pave a private road that’s about 6,000 square feet or so, this can wrack up between $10,000 and $30,000. However, a road that’s public and about 1 mile long with two lanes will cost significantly more.

A road this size is about 158,400 square feet and will cost between $25,000 and $42,000. Of course, this all depends on if you’re getting it single or double-layered, and also how big your space is exactly.

Cost Of Chip Seal Per Square Foot

Installation of chip seal driveways costs about $2 to $5 per square foot, based on site conditions, stone type and color, labor costs, oil prices, and the number of seals required. It costs $1 to $3 per square foot to resurface a gravel or asphalt driveway with tar and chip.

Cost Per Mile Of Chip Seal Roads

A private one-lane tar and chip road cost will range from $20 to $60 per linear foot. The cost of chip seal roads for commercial use varies between $25,000 and $42,000 per mile. Urban and rural cities use tar and chip to extend the lifespan of rural streets and roads traveled by fewer than 2,500 vehicles each day.

Average Price Of A Macadam Parking Lot

A chip seal parking lot costs about $2 to $5 a square foot or $315 to $900 to pave an 18′ by 10′ parking space. It costs between $5,250 and $15,000 to pave a parking lot with 3,000 square feet and ten spaces plus a driveway.

Cost Of Chip Sealing A Driveway With A Single Or Double Coat

There are no standards for whether a Macadam driveway has a single chip seal or a double chip seal. It depends on the traffic handling requirements and whether it’s a new driveway installation or an addition to an existing driveway.

Single Chip Seal

Asphalt emulsion is applied over a layer of 3/8″ to 3/4″ aggregate and compacted before the single-chip seal driveway is installed. Chip seals improve traction, protect the pavement from moisture, and are best suited for driveways without cracks or major damage. This would cost about $2 to $3 per square foot.

Double Chip Seal

Asphalt emulsion driveways with a double chip seal cost $3 to $5 per square foot and feature a layer of asphalt emulsion topped by 3/8″ to 3/4″ of aggregate followed by a second layer of smaller aggregate. In the case of new driveway construction resurfacing and re-coating, double chip seal proves more durable and protective.

High Performance / Cape Seal

An asphalt emulsion is used in a high-performance chip seal, also referred to as an asphalt cape, along with cubical stones of uniform size for maximum traction and skid resistance. Chip seals and slurry seals are typically combined to improve the durability of roads that use high-performance chip seals.

Macadam Driveway Cost Factors

A macadam driveway in the country costs between $5 and $8 per square foot. However, the cost depends on several different factors, including:

Site Prep And Grading

In order for a driveway to be structurally stable, the foundation must be graded and prepared before installation. This process costs from $5 to $8 per square foot. A square foot of land costs $1 to $5 more to excavate by removing vegetation, soil, and small trees.

If a chip seal is being installed on top of an existing driveway, the installer must make any needed repairs first, such as cracks, potholes, and sagging.

Stone Type And Color

Color and type of stone influence the price of installation. Different types of stone are available in different locations, depending on the local climate. It is typically cheaper to use locally sourced stone than to import stone from a different state.

Weather And Climate

It is advisable to install tar and chip driveways during the summer months when it is dry and the air temperature exceeds 50° F. Usually, paving in the summer will cost less, ensure a stronger, more durable surface, to increase the value of your driveway.

Location And Accessibility

Depending on several factors, chip seal driveway prices may differ depending on the home’s location, distance to the installer and the closest tar plant, and the distance the stone must travel from the supplier to the job site.

In addition to terrain and accessibility, the project price is also influenced by the job site. Installing a driveway with an obstruction makes it difficult to maneuver heavy equipment and costs more.

Slope And Pitch For Oil And Stone Driveways

Driving on sloping surfaces will ensure proper drainage away from the home. As a rule of thumb, a driveway should have a minimum grade of 2% and a maximum grade of 15% to 25% as a rule of thumb. A drive with steep slopes costs more to install and requires slope-reduced transition zones between the garage and street.

Driveway Permit Fees & Regulations

According to the location, driveway building permits range in price from $50 to $200. A permit is generally required for installing a new driveway, although the fee can be waived if the property already has a paved apron.

Land Survey For New Driveways

In general, land surveys range from $250 to $700, depending on the location and the width of the driveway. In addition to ensuring that the driveway does not infringe on other property, a land surveyor also checks to see whether a neighbor is affected.

Asphalt vs. Gravel vs. Chip Seal Driveway Costs

Overlaying tar and chip on an asphalt driveway protects the surface from moisture and lengthens its lifespan. In order to chip seal asphalt, the driveway must have a structurally sound foundation, only minor surface damage, and it must never have been sealed.

Chip Seal Over Gravel

The smoother surface of chip seal over gravel facilitates better drainage and reduces dust and loose aggregate. You should fill any potholes on your gravel driveway before laying a chip seal surface. You should also make sure the gravel base is level.

Chip Seal Over Dirt

A gravel base is laid for structural support before liquid asphalt and stone chips are applied on top. There’s nothing much more to that as the chip seal forms the top layer for the area, and the dirt serves as the foundation layer.

Is Tar And Chip Long-Lasting?

It takes about seven to ten years for tar and chip driveways to wear out. By using a double layer of chip seal, the lifespan is increased by 12 to 15 years. Concrete driveways tend to last 30 to 40 years in comparison with asphalt driveways.

What Color Does Chip Seal Driveway Come In?

Tar and chip driveways come in various stone colors and multi-color blends, including:

Indigo to shades of blue and gray, blue chip driveway stones range in color from light blue and gray to blue and indigo. For chip seal driveways, bluestone comes as gravel or aggregate in addition to stone pavers. Red chips for driveways are available in various colors, including brick red, burgundy, and pink.

What Is The Difference Between Asphalt And Chip And Seal?

Paving with asphalt and sealing with chips use the same ingredients, but they are constructed in different ways. A thin layer of heated liquid asphalt is sprayed onto the chip, and then small stones of different sizes are sprayed on top. Stone chips are then laid on top of the compacted stone in layers, followed by another layer of heavy rollers.

Can You Seal Coat A Gravel Driveway?

Asphalt driveways cannot be coated with sealant, as the substance sprays over them as a protective coating. As a result, a gravel driveway becomes smoother, and dust is lessened thanks to a layer of liquid asphalt emulsion topped with crushed stone.

Where Do You Buy Tar?

A tar and chip driveway can be paved with liquid asphalt emulsion from local asphalt suppliers. Tar for roofing, cold mix asphalt for patching driveways, and other hardware supplies are available at Home Depot and Lowes.

How Much Does An Oil And Stone Driveway Cost?

According to site conditions, stone type and color, and labor costs, oil and stone driveways cost between $2 and $5 per square foot. Chip seal, macadam, and tar and chip are other names for oil and stone.

DIY Chip And Seal Driveway

Chip seal driveways cannot be installed by the average homeowner. To construct a tar and chip paving project, heavy machinery, special machinery for heating and spraying liquid asphalt, and a team of workers must work together to spread and compact the stones rapidly are needed. The best results can be obtained with the help of a professional who specializes in chip sealing.

How To Chip Seal A Driveway

In order to seal a driveway with a chip seal, you must prepare and grade the driveway site first. The layer of stone chips should be layered on top of the hot asphalt emulsion, then rolled into place using an industrial roller. Twenty-four hours should be allowed for the new driveway to cure.

Tar And Chip Equipment Cost

This type of paving utilizes heavy machinery and specialized equipment, such as hot liquid asphalt sprayers and industrial rollers. Renting or purchasing equipment yourself may be more expensive than hiring a professional.

Hiring Tar And Chip Driveway Contractors

It takes special equipment and techniques to install a tar and chip driveway. Asphalt companies do not all have the necessary experience. A contract should be signed before you hire an installer.

You might also ask if the company has worked on macadam driveways and tar and chip driveways (also called chip seals). To compare the estimates, get three or more. Having multiple companies bid on you ensures you’ll receive the lowest competitive price.

Questions To Ask The Professionals

Just because a company says they’re able to do a job does not mean they are necessarily the best in the industry or that they’re fit for you. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of questions you should ask to make sure you’re getting the best job for your money.

Depending on how the companies answer these questions, you can narrow down your choice as to who you want to do this project for you. While doing it yourself is possible, it would cost less to have a professional do it as they will have all the materials and tools necessary.

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