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About Road Surfacing
Road surfacing is the layer of asphalt, tar or chip-and-spray bitumen that carries the traffic, and it's only as good as what's underneath it. Tarworks Construction surfaces private roads, estate and complex access roads, industrial site roads and municipal roads across Germiston, the East Rand and Johannesburg, and we build the base before we ever touch the surface. That order matters — a road that ponds water at the edges, ruts under heavy vehicles, or opens up in potholes within a season almost always failed on the layerworks below, not on the asphalt or tar itself. If your road is cracking, rutting, breaking up at the edges or was never surfaced properly to begin with, we'll come out, assess it, and quote it in writing before anything starts.
What's Included
- Site assessment with test holes to check the base
- Confirms if the job is overlay, repair or rebuild
- Sub-grade cut, filled and shaped where needed
- Base course built up and compacted in layers
- Each layer compacted with our own vibratory roller
- Hot-mix asphalt, tar or chip-and-spray to suit the traffic
- Kerb ties, edge restraint and drainage falls set correctly
- Lane lines and markings added once the surface has cured
Our Process
- 1
Assess the Site and Base
We start on site, not on the phone, and dig test holes where there's an existing surface to see what the base is made of and whether it has failed. That tells us whether the job is an overlay, a partial reconstruction, or a full rebuild from the sub-grade up, before we quote it.
- 2
Earthworks and Layerworks
Where a road is being surfaced for the first time or the base has failed, we cut, fill and shape the sub-grade, then build up the base course in compacted layers to the specification the traffic calls for, each layer rolled with our own vibratory roller before the next goes down.
- 3
Lay the Surface
Depending on traffic, budget and finish, we lay hot-mix asphalt, tar (bituminous surfacing) or a chip-and-spray treatment with our own paver, roller and spray equipment. Asphalt gives the smoothest, most durable finish; chip-and-spray costs less and suits lower-speed and industrial access roads.
- 4
Edge Restraint and Drainage
We tie new surfacing into existing kerbs and manholes, build edge restraint where there is none, and set the falls so water runs to an outlet rather than sitting on the road. Lane lines and markings are added once the surface has cured.
Project Gallery
Road Surfacing FAQ
What is road surfacing?
Road surfacing is the process of applying a durable, skid-resistant top layer, usually asphalt, tar (bituminous surfacing) or a chip-and-spray treatment, over a prepared base so a road can carry traffic safely. It also covers resurfacing an existing road that has worn or failed. The surface protects the layers underneath and gives the road its skid resistance and finish, but it only performs as well as the base it sits on, which is why we treat base preparation as part of the surfacing job, not a separate one.
What's the difference between road surfacing and resurfacing?
Surfacing usually refers to laying a road surface for the first time, on a new or previously gravel road. Resurfacing means applying a new layer over an existing road to restore it, either as an overlay on a sound base or as a full rebuild where the base has failed. We use the same crew and plant for both, and we'll tell you honestly which one your road actually needs after we've looked at the base.
What materials do you use for road surfacing?
We lay hot-mix asphalt, bituminous tar surfacing, and chip-and-spray treatments, depending on the traffic and finish required. Asphalt gives the smoothest, longest-lasting finish and is what we use for most private and complex roads. Chip-and-spray is a sprayed bitumen binder with stone chip rolled in, more affordable and well suited to lower-speed roads, farm access and industrial yards. We'll recommend the one that matches the road's actual traffic rather than the most expensive option by default.
How long does road surfacing last?
A properly built road surface, with a sound base underneath it, should last well over a decade before it needs resurfacing, with lighter maintenance such as slurry seal or rejuvenation extending that further. A surface laid over a base that was not properly compacted can fail within a season, which is the single biggest reason roads in this area need premature repair. The base, not the surfacing material, is what decides the lifespan.
How long does a road surfacing project take?
It depends on the length and condition of the road. A resurfacing overlay on a sound base can be done in a matter of days. A full reconstruction, where the base has to be rebuilt from the sub-grade up, takes longer because the layerworks need to be built and compacted in stages before the surface goes down. We'll give you a programme in writing once we've assessed the site, and we'll tell you if weather is likely to affect it.
Ready to start your project?
Get a free, no-obligation quote from Germiston’s trusted road construction, tarring and paving team.