Chip-and-seal, tar and chip, tar-seal, or chip sealing: whatever you call it, a chip seal is a practical, long-lasting paving option for Arkansas properties that need something stronger than gravel but don’t require a full asphalt install.
Chip Seal Paving in Arkansas
Parking Lots Plus builds chip seal roads and drive lanes across Northwest Arkansas, especially in rural areas where long stretches of private roadway or sloped terrain need traction, stability, and a surface that won’t wash out every time a storm rolls through.
Our crews have worked with chipseal for years, so we understand how Arkansas heat affects the asphalt binder, how rainfall interacts with local soils, and what aggregate sizes make the most sense for farm roads, private subdivisions, and commercial rural sites. The result is a surface that holds its shape, sheds water well, and stays drivable long after untreated gravel would rut or scatter.
How the Chip Sealing Process Works
Chip sealing is straightforward, but the details determine how long the surface lasts. We start with a graded and compacted base — usually a gravel or reclaimed asphalt layer that’s already shaped to move water where it needs to go. Once the base is set, we apply a hot layer of liquid asphalt across the prepared surface. While that binder is still warm, a layer of clean stone is spread over the top. Everything is then rolled to lock the aggregate into the binder, creating a tight, textured finish.
That stone-asphalt blend forms a tough, weather-resistant wearing surface that performs well on long private lanes, rural commercial lots, low-volume county roads, and older drives where a major reconstruction isn’t necessary.
Chip Seal vs. Gravel: A Practical Upgrade
Gravel has its place, but anyone who’s tried to maintain it in Arkansas weather knows its limitations. Heavy rain can wash it out. Dry spells create dust. And constant vehicle traffic forms ruts and potholes that never seem to stay fixed.
Chip seal solves most of those headaches. By binding aggregate with liquid asphalt, the surface stays in place instead of shifting or scattering. It gives better traction, handles water run-off more predictably, and requires far less routine maintenance than gravel. And although full asphalt (linked elsewhere on your site) offers the smoothest finish, chipseal remains a reliable middle-ground for long driveways or rural roads where cost, distance, or terrain make traditional paving unnecessary.
Why Property Owners Choose Parking Lots Plus
- Local experience: We work with Arkansas soils and slopes every day, and we build chip seal systems that hold up to our climate.
- Reliable materials: We use clean, properly sized aggregate and quality asphalt binders for a durable asphaltic surface treatment.
- Practical solutions: Chip seal is a strong alternative for long rural routes, farm access roads, or commercial properties outside major city centers.
- Honest recommendations: We’ll tell you when chipseal is the right choice — and when another paving option is worth considering.
From Fayetteville to Fort Smith, Bentonville to Van Buren, Parking Lots Plus installs chip seal surfaces built for Arkansas conditions and the kind of dependable performance rural properties depend on.
