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About Our Service

Tarmac Surfacing Done Right

At M Calladine Groundworks, we carry out complete tarmac surfacing projects from the ground up. Whether you need a fresh car park, a new factory yard, a farm access road or a commercial forecourt, we have the experience, equipment and expertise to deliver a surface that lasts.

A good tarmac surface isn't just about what goes on top — it's about what's underneath. We always assess the existing ground conditions, carry out any necessary groundworks, lay the correct sub-base and use the right tarmac specification for your traffic type and use case. No shortcuts.

From small commercial yards to large industrial resurfacing projects, we've worked on all kinds of sites across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. Our team is experienced, professional, and gets the job done with minimal disruption to your business or property.

  • Full groundworks if required
  • Correct sub-base specification
  • Hot lay & cold lay tarmac
  • Line marking available
  • Drainage solutions
  • Kerbing & edging
  • All surface types covered
  • Free detailed quotes
Professional tarmac surfacing
500+ Jobs
Completed
Where We Work

Tarmac Surfacing for Every Type of Site

We carry out tarmac surfacing across a wide range of commercial, industrial and private sites. Each type of surface has its own requirements — traffic load, drainage, sub-base depth, material specification — and we tailor our approach accordingly.

Car park tarmac surfacing West Midlands
01

Car Park Surfacing

Car parks are one of the most demanding tarmac surfaces — they're constantly exposed to vehicle loads, turning stresses, oil and fuel spillage, and the freeze-thaw cycle. A poorly laid car park will develop cracks, ruts and potholes within a couple of years.

We design and lay car park surfaces to handle the specific traffic volumes and vehicle types involved — from small retail car parks to large multi-bay commercial sites.

  • Sub-base: Correct depth of MOT Type 1 or recycled aggregate, compacted in layers
  • Binder course: Dense macadam binder layer to distribute vehicle load
  • Surface course: 6mm or 10mm close-graded wearing course for durability and appearance
  • Drainage: Falls designed to channel water away and prevent standing water
  • Kerbing & edging: Concrete or block kerbs to retain the tarmac edge
  • Line marking: Bay marking, disabled bays, arrows and signage painted to specification
  • Lighting and drainage gullies accommodated and set correctly
Forecourt tarmac surfacing
02

Forecourt Surfacing

Petrol station and retail forecourts face a unique combination of challenges: constant vehicle movement, exposure to fuel and oil, heavy delivery vehicles, and the need to remain operational at all times. Getting the surface specification wrong here costs far more than getting it right first time.

We use fuel-resistant tarmac products where required and can work out of hours to keep your forecourt open and trading throughout the project.

  • Fuel-resistant surface: Specialist binder or surface course resistant to hydrocarbon damage
  • Heavy-duty sub-base: Suitable for HGV tanker deliveries and constant traffic
  • Drainage: Interceptor drainage systems to manage fuel and water run-off
  • Out-of-hours working: Night and weekend shifts to avoid downtime
  • Phased working: Section-by-section approach to keep access open during works
  • Pump island surrounds and concrete bases reinstated neatly
Factory and industrial yard tarmac surfacing
03

Factory Yards & Industrial Estates

Factory yards and industrial estate roads need to handle some of the most demanding conditions of any tarmac surface — HGVs, forklifts, heavy plant, point loads from containers and skips, and non-stop use in all weathers.

Standard residential or light commercial tarmac specifications are not suitable for these environments. We specify and lay surfaces built for industrial use, using thicker layers and stronger materials throughout.

  • Heavy-duty sub-base: 150–300mm of compacted Type 1 depending on load requirements
  • Thick binder course: 60–100mm binder layer to handle point loads and HGV stress
  • Heavy-duty wearing course: 10mm or 14mm aggregate for maximum durability
  • Turning circles & loading bays: Reinforced areas at high-stress points
  • Drainage channels: Steel or concrete drainage to manage surface water
  • Concrete aprons: Concrete in areas subject to extreme point loads if required
  • Traffic management: We work around your operations wherever possible
Commercial road surfacing West Midlands
04

Commercial Roads & Access Roads

Private access roads, estate roads, business park roads and service roads all require a proper road construction specification — not just a thin layer of tarmac thrown over the existing surface. A properly built road will last for decades with minimal maintenance.

We carry out full road construction including earthworks, sub-base, kerbing, drainage, and surfacing, or we can simply resurface an existing road that has reached the end of its life.

  • Full road construction: Earthworks, drainage, sub-base, binder and surface course
  • Overlay resurfacing: Plane off existing surface and lay fresh tarmac where sub-base is sound
  • Speed control: Speed humps, tables and ramps constructed in tarmac or block
  • Kerbing: Precast concrete or granite kerbs, dropped kerbs and radii
  • Road markings: Give-way lines, stop lines, arrows, speed markings
  • Gully drainage and inspection chambers set to finished level
Farm road tarmac surfacing
05

Farm Roads & Rural Access

Farm tracks and rural access roads face a tough combination of heavy agricultural machinery, wet and muddy conditions, and a lack of regular maintenance. A well-laid tarmac farm road transforms the day-to-day operation of a farm — safer for vehicles, easier to keep clean, and a lasting asset to the property.

We understand the practical requirements of farm access — from grain trailers and slurry tankers to combine harvesters and livestock wagons — and we build roads that can take the load.

  • Deep sub-base: Often 250–350mm of hardcore required due to soft rural ground conditions
  • Geotextile membrane: Laid beneath sub-base to prevent migration into soft ground
  • Binder course: Robust binder layer to handle agricultural vehicle loads
  • Open-textured surface: For grip in wet conditions used by farm vehicles
  • Passing places & gateways: Widened and strengthened where required
  • Cattle grids & gateway crossings accommodated and set correctly
  • Ditch drainage: Surface water directed to roadside ditches or soakaways
Residential and commercial driveway surfacing
06

Driveways & Private Premises

A new tarmac driveway is one of the most cost-effective and durable improvements you can make to a property. Low maintenance, long lasting, and neater than gravel or block paving — tarmac is a practical choice for homes and small commercial premises alike.

We lay driveways with a proper edge restraint, correct falls for drainage, and a clean finish that adds to the appearance of the property. Block paving borders and dropped kerbs can be included as part of the same project.

  • Excavation: Existing surface and material dug out to correct depth
  • Sub-base: 100–150mm compacted Type 1 hardcore
  • Edge restraints: Concrete haunch or block kerb to hold the tarmac edge firm
  • Surface course: 40mm dense macadam wearing course, neatly rolled
  • Block paving borders and decorative edging available
  • Dropped kerbs: Highway dropped kerb applications and installation
  • SUDS compliant: Permeable options available where planning requires
What We Use

Tarmac Materials Explained

Not all tarmac is the same. Different surfaces need different materials and specifications — here's what goes into a properly built tarmac surface.

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Type 1 Sub-Base

The foundation of any tarmac surface. MOT Type 1 crushed limestone or granite is laid and compacted in layers to create a stable, load-bearing base. The depth depends on the traffic — typically 150mm for domestic, up to 300mm or more for heavy industrial use. A poor sub-base is the number one cause of tarmac failure.

Foundation Layer
⬛

Dense Macadam Binder Course

Laid on top of the sub-base, the binder course is a thick, coarse tarmac layer that distributes load across the sub-base and provides the structural strength of the surface. Typically 40–100mm thick depending on application. Also called base course or roadbase. This is where the load-bearing happens — the wearing course on top is just the finish.

Structural Layer
⚫

Wearing Course (Surface Tarmac)

The top layer of tarmac — what you actually see and drive on. Typically 6mm or 10mm close-graded macadam, laid at 30–40mm thickness. Fine aggregate gives a smooth finish; coarser aggregate provides more texture and grip. The wearing course is also the weathering layer — it protects the binder course below from rain, frost and UV degradation.

Finish Layer
🔥

Hot Lay Tarmac

Hot lay tarmac is mixed and delivered at around 150-160°C and must be laid and compacted while still hot. It gives the best compaction, the strongest bond and the neatest finish. It's what we use for all major surfacing work. Requires a tarmac plant and delivery lorry, so it's most economical for larger areas.

Best for Large Areas
🏭

Cold Lay Tarmac

Cold lay tarmac can be used at ambient temperature and is ideal for smaller repairs and patch work, particularly in wet or cold weather when hot lay isn't practical. It's less strong than hot lay and better suited to temporary repairs or small patch work rather than new surfacing. We use it where it's the right tool for the job — not as a cheaper substitute for hot lay.

Best for Repairs & Patches
⚙

Tack Coat & Bond Coat

Applied between layers and between the new tarmac and any existing surface, tack coat is a bitumen emulsion that acts as a glue — bonding each layer to the next. Without it, layers can delaminate and slip under traffic. It's a small step that makes a big difference to the longevity of the finished surface. We never skip it.

Critical Bonding Agent
How We Work

Our Surfacing Process

Every project follows the same careful process — from initial survey through to final sign-off. No cutting corners, no surprises.

01

Site Survey & Quote

We visit the site, assess the existing ground conditions and take measurements. We look at drainage, access for machinery, any obstructions, and the intended use of the surface. Our quote is detailed and transparent — you know exactly what you're getting and why.

02

Excavation & Groundworks

We excavate to the correct depth for the sub-base and tarmac layers. Any soft spots, tree roots or unstable ground is dealt with. Where required, we lay a geotextile membrane before the sub-base to prevent migration of material into soft ground below.

03

Sub-Base & Compaction

Type 1 crushed stone is laid in layers and compacted using a vibrating roller or plate compactor to achieve a firm, stable base. This is the most important stage — a properly compacted sub-base is what makes the difference between tarmac that lasts 20 years and tarmac that starts failing within 2.

04

Kerbing & Edging

Concrete haunching, precast kerbs, or block edging is installed around the perimeter before the tarmac goes down. Edge restraint is critical — without it, the tarmac edges will crack and break away. Drainage gullies and inspection covers are also set to the correct finished level at this stage.

05

Binder Course

The structural binder layer of tarmac is laid and compacted. Tack coat is applied first to bond it to the sub-base. The binder course carries the load and provides the mass of the surface — it's laid to the correct thickness for the traffic specification agreed during the survey.

06

Wearing Course & Finish

Tack coat is applied to the binder course, then the wearing course is laid and compacted to a smooth, even finish. Levels are checked throughout. The finished surface is inspected for any defects before we move off. Line marking, signage or any other finishing works are then carried out.

Tarmac surfacing in progress Finished tarmac surface
Why Choose Us

Why M Calladine Groundworks

🏠

Family Run, West Midlands Based

We're a family-run business based in the West Midlands — not a national contractor who subcontracts locally. When you call us, you speak to the people who will actually do your job. We take pride in our work and our reputation depends on it.

📈

Proper Specification, Every Time

We won't lay a thin skin of tarmac over a poor sub-base and call it done. Every job is specified correctly for its intended use — the right sub-base depth, the right tarmac layers, the right material grade. It costs more to do it right, but it lasts years longer.

🛡

Fully Insured & Guaranteed

All our surfacing work is fully insured and we stand behind the quality of what we lay. If there's ever an issue with workmanship, we come back and sort it. We've built our business on repeat customers and referrals — we don't do shoddy work and disappear.

⚡

Minimum Business Disruption

We understand that most of our commercial clients can't simply shut down while we work. We plan projects to minimise disruption — phased working, out-of-hours shifts, maintaining access during works. We'll agree a programme with you before we start and stick to it.

🔨

All Groundworks In-House

We don't subcontract the groundworks and just turn up to lay the tarmac on top. We carry out the full project ourselves — excavation, sub-base, drainage, kerbing, surfacing and line marking. One team, one point of contact, full accountability.

💰

Honest, Transparent Pricing

Our quotes are detailed and clear. We explain what we're doing and why, what materials we're using, and what the finished product will look like. No vague estimates that balloon once the job starts — what we quote is what you pay, unless you change the spec.

Common Questions

Tarmac Surfacing FAQs

A properly specified and laid tarmac surface should last 20–30 years with minimal maintenance. The key factors are the quality of the sub-base, the correct material specification for the traffic load, proper edge restraint, and good drainage. Surfaces that fail early almost always have a problem with one or more of these — usually a poor sub-base or no edge restraint. We won't cut corners on any of these elements.
It depends entirely on the use. A domestic driveway might have 100mm of sub-base and 40mm of wearing course. A car park taking light vehicles needs around 150mm sub-base, 40–50mm binder and 30–40mm surface course. An HGV yard or industrial estate road might need 250–300mm sub-base, 80–100mm binder course and 40–50mm wearing course. We specify the right thickness for your site during our survey — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Timescales vary enormously depending on the size of the project. A small driveway can be completed in a day. A medium-sized car park typically takes 2–4 days. Larger industrial or commercial projects are programmed on a project-by-project basis. We'll give you a realistic programme before we start and keep you updated throughout. We aim to work efficiently and get off your site as quickly as possible without compromising quality.
For residential driveways, permitted development rights generally allow you to lay a new driveway without planning permission, provided the surface is permeable or water drains to a lawn or border — or you use a permeable tarmac product. For commercial projects, it depends on the site, its use and any existing planning conditions. We can advise on this during the quotation process and, where required, can use SuDS-compliant permeable surfacing products.
Sometimes, yes. If the existing surface is structurally sound — no cracks going through the full depth, no rutting, no evidence of sub-base failure — we can plane off the top layer and overlay with fresh tarmac. This is generally more cost-effective than full reconstruction. However, if the existing surface is failing due to a poor or collapsed sub-base, overlaying will simply fail in the same way. We always assess the existing surface honestly before recommending the right approach.
Hot lay tarmac typically needs 24 hours to cool and harden before vehicles use it — longer in hot weather when the tarmac takes longer to reach ambient temperature. Pedestrian access is usually possible within a few hours. For urgently needed access we can advise on the specific situation. We always confirm the appropriate waiting time before we leave site.
Yes. We can carry out thermoplastic or paint line marking as part of the same project — car park bays, disabled bays, hatching, arrows, give-way lines, pedestrian crossings, loading bay markings and text. It's much better to have the line marking done by the same contractor immediately after surfacing, as everything is freshly laid and correctly positioned from the start.
"Tarmac" is actually a trade name that has become a generic term — like Hoover for vacuum cleaner. Technically, what most people call tarmac is dense bitumen macadam (DBM) or hot rolled asphalt (HRA). True tarmacadam (tar macadam) used coal tar as the binder, which is no longer used for health reasons. Modern surfaces use bitumen as the binder. In everyday use, "tarmac", "tarmacadam", "asphalt" and "macadam" are all used interchangeably to describe the same thing — a bitumen-bound aggregate surface.
Where We Work

Tarmac Surfacing Across The West Midlands

Based in the West Midlands, we carry out road surfacing and tarmac laying projects across Birmingham and all surrounding towns. Call us to discuss your project wherever you are in the region.

Birmingham
Wolverhampton
Coventry
Walsall
Dudley
Sandwell
Solihull
West Bromwich
Sutton Coldfield
Halesowen
Stourbridge
Smethwick
Redditch
Cannock
Tamworth
Lichfield
Bromsgrove
Kidderminster
Nuneaton
Rugby

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