Tar Surfacing in Pretoria: Tar Driveways and Asphalt Paving
Tar surfacing in Pretoria costs R90 to R160 per m² for a residential driveway, according to a Gauteng residential tar guide updated in January 2026 (tar guide F). Tar surfacing lays hot-mix asphalt, stone bound with bitumen, over a compacted base.
Use the form below for a paving quote.
Paving Wiz Pretoria lays hot-mix asphalt driveways, paths and yard areas on homes across Tshwane, with brick or block edging where the tar meets lawn or paving. Other surfaces are covered under paving in Pretoria.
Tar Surfacing Prices in Pretoria, Guide by Guide
| Item | Price | Tar guide (January 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Pretoria residential tar, basic | R90 – R130 per m² | F |
| Pretoria residential tar, premium | R130 – R160 per m² | F |
| Standard 50 m² driveway, Pretoria | R5,000 – R8,000 | F |
| Residential driveways, Pretoria | R80 – R250 per m² | G |
| Residential driveways | R80 – R250 per m² | H |
| Hot-mix asphalt | R100 – R200 per m² | F and H tables |
| Hot-mix asphalt tarring | R70 – R150 per m² | G and H text |
| 200 m² home driveway | R21,000 – R27,000 | F |
| 200 m² residential driveway resurfacing | R21,000 – R27,000 | G |
| 200 m² commercial tar surfacing | R21,000 – R27,000 | H |
| Tar labour, Pretoria | R105 per m² | H |
Guides F and H share a publisher, and guide G uses near-identical wording. Each row keeps its guide's own scope. Rows explicitly marked Pretoria use Pretoria figures; other price rows are general South Africa-wide guide figures with inclusions not itemised. Guide C: Johannesburg and Pretoria guide, updated February 2026.
Tar Driveway Cost by Size
| Driveway | Area | Pretoria basic (F: R90–R130) | Pretoria premium (F: R130–R160) | Residential (G: R80–R250) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, 3 m × 6 m | 18 m² | R1,620 – R2,340 | R2,340 – R2,880 | R1,440 – R4,500 |
| Double, 6 m × 6 m | 36 m² | R3,240 – R4,680 | R4,680 – R5,760 | R2,880 – R9,000 |
| Long drive, 3 m × 20 m | 60 m² | R5,400 – R7,800 | R7,800 – R9,600 | R4,800 – R15,000 |
| Yard | 100 m² | R9,000 – R13,000 | R13,000 – R16,000 | R8,000 – R25,000 |
The written quote states the asphalt thickness and what happens to the base. Base repair and removal of an old surface are quoted on the measured area.
Tar Driveway or Paving?
| Attribute | Tar driveway (asphalt) | Block paving |
|---|---|---|
| Price per m² | R90 – R160 (Pretoria, guide F) | R250 – R350 installed concrete blocks (guide C, Feb 2026) |
| Lifespan | 15–20 years hot-mix (guides F, H) | Blocks re-laid on a rebuilt base |
| Look | One black surface | Colours, patterns and borders |
| Repairs | Cut out and patch with hot asphalt | Lift and re-lay the same blocks |
| Rain | Sealed surface — water runs off | Joints take a little water; permeable pavers take more |
| Steep driveways | Smooth, continuous surface | Edge restraints hold blocks on the slope |
Block options are set out under driveway paving in Pretoria, and paving figures under paving prices in Pretoria.
Tar Repairs and Resurfacing
| Repair | Price | Tar guide (January 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Crack sealing | R30 – R50 per m² | F |
| Pothole patching | R100 – R200 per m² | F |
| Pothole surfacing | About R550 per hole | H |
| Tar resurfacing | R50 – R100 per m² (text) / R80 – R150 per m² (repair table) | F |
Resurfacing lays new hot asphalt over a sound base. A base that has failed is dug out and rebuilt before any new tar goes down.
Asphalt Paving Is a Hot-Mix Job
Asphalt is spread and rolled while it is hot. The City of Tshwane writes a temperature limit into its own reinstatement rules. The Work in the Public Road Reserve By-laws (Provincial Gazette 048, 11 February 2026), section 18(5)(f)(iv), allow only hot fine asphalt with a minimum thickness of 35 mm to reinstate micro trenches, and asphalt at 112 °C or lower must be removed from site and cannot be used. Tar guides F and H give cold-mix asphalt a lifespan of 1 to 2 years against 15 to 20 years for hot-mix. Paving Wiz Pretoria lays hot-mix asphalt and does not lay cold-mix product.
How a Tar Driveway Is Laid
- Remove and excavate. Old surfacing, grass and soft material come out.
- Shape the falls. The base is graded so water runs away from the garage and house.
- Compact the base. The base is compacted in layers, because asphalt only lasts as long as the layer under it.
- Prime, lay and roll. The base is primed, the hot-mix asphalt is spread to the quoted thickness and rolled before it cools.
- Edges. Brick or block edging, or a neat cut against existing paving, stops the edge from crumbling.
Paving Tar on Dolomite Ground
Tar is a sealed surface, so rain runs off it rather than soaking in, and the run-off needs an outlet. On dolomite stands, where the City of Tshwane's 2025 council report names concentrated water ingress as the main cause of sinkholes, that outlet is planned at the site visit. The national Department of Public Works' pro forma dolomite status certificate (PW344/2017, Annex G) describes its Class 7 high-risk dolomite zone as "No residential development", with special dry uses such as parking areas and "All surfaces sealed". That is a land-use class, not a driveway specification. The ground conditions are explained under paving in Centurion.
Paving and Tar Together
Many driveways combine paving and tar: a tar run from the gate to the garage, with a paved apron at the garage door, a paved border along the lawn or paved parking bays beside the drive. The paved parts give colour and a firm edge alongside the tar. The join between the two is set level, so water does not stand at the line.
Tar Driveway Care
- Seal every 3 to 5 years. Tar guide F recommends sealing at that interval against moisture and UV.
- Keep fuel and oil off it. Diesel and oil soften bitumen, so leaks are cleaned up quickly.
- Support the edges. An unsupported tar edge breaks away under wheels.
- Seal cracks early. A crack lets water into the base. Crack sealing runs R30 to R50 per m² in guide F.
Paving Wiz Pretoria: Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tar surfacing per m² in Pretoria?
R90 to R160 per m² for Pretoria residential tar in tar guide F (January 2026): R90 to R130 basic and R130 to R160 premium. Tar guides G and H put residential driveways at R80 to R250 per m².
Is tar cheaper than paving?
Yes, per m². Pretoria tar runs R90 to R160 per m² in tar guide F, against R250 to R350 per m² for installed concrete blocks in a February 2026 paving guide. Paving lifts and re-lays in patches and offers patterns and colours.
How much does a 50 m² tar driveway cost in Pretoria?
R5,000 to R8,000 for a standard 50 m² driveway in Pretoria, in tar guide F (January 2026). At guide G's R80 to R250 per m², 50 m² costs R4,000 to R12,500.
How long does a tar driveway last?
15 to 20 years for hot-mix asphalt, in tar guides F and H (January 2026). Both guides give cold-mix asphalt 1 to 2 years; guide F recommends sealing every 3 to 5 years.
How long does it take to lay a tar driveway?
A few days for a home driveway, according to tar guide F. The base preparation takes most of that time.
Do you lay cold-mix tar?
No. Paving Wiz Pretoria lays hot-mix asphalt only. Cold-mix lasts 1 to 2 years in tar guides F and H, and the City of Tshwane's road-reserve by-law accepts only hot fine asphalt for reinstating micro trenches.