Why you should buy a resin bound drive (and why you shouldn’t)

Thanks for reading this article

We wrote is as a handy guide to explain the pros and cons of using Resin Bound Gravel, and it has become the most popular page on our site – especially in the USA.

However, New Driveway Company is based in Oxfordshire in the South of England, UK – so unless your home is between London and The Midlands, we can’t lay one of our fantastic resin bound gravel driveways for you.

Anyway, we hope you find the article useful and that you find a good installer local to you.

Resin-bound paving is a hardened mixture of small aggregate stones and resin used to pave footpaths and driveways. Visually, resin driveways offer you something unique and clean-looking compared to traditional alternatives – which has led to its rise in popularity.

However, it is not always the best solution, so why you should buy a resin bound drive? We have set out the pros and cons of using resin to help you make the best choice.

The main feature of resin is its permeability. Minute voids between the stones allow water to soak through into the sublayers creating a well-drained surface. This avoids any planning issues and is fully compliant with SUDs (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems) and helps to manage flood risk.

Many contractors will offer to overlay your existing tarmac or concrete drive. This can be temptingly cheap, but is not always advisable. Standard tarmac and concrete drives are impermeable so overlaying with permeable resin can cause problems if there is insufficient drainage. Every case is different so your surveyor will advise on the best approach after a site inspection. Furthermore, overlaying worn surfaces, block paving or paving slabs is a big no-no!

New-Resin-bound-Driveway-and-Indian-Sandstone-Patio,-Kirtlington,-Oxfordshire-After-2

The idea of a “no maintenance driveway” is a bit of a myth. However, with no weeds and no loose stones, resin can simply be power-washed to keep it looking fresh, which appeals to most customers. We always use a UV stable resin which will not fade in the summer sunshine. It is also frost resistant and is finished with an anti-slip coating.

The process of laying a resin driveway from scratch is a lot more involved than block paving, and that is reflected in the price. Resin driveways are not the cheapest solution.

A properly laid resin driveway will last up to 25 years, but the biggest problem we see with resin driveways is that they are often installed by unskilled people. Frustratingly, these sub-standard installations create a bad reputation for the industry.

Resin is a complex product and can be very expensive to rectify if it goes wrong. Materials need to be mixed in exact ratios to avoid a patchy look and it needs to be laid in the correct temperature, humidity and moisture conditions. It may take months for any defects to show, by which you’ve already handed over your cash.

The industry is largely unregulated and sadly, with many fly-by-night operators plaguing the industry, many people have found themselves with a defective resin finish and a company that no longer exists or picks up the telephone.

There is a saying that goes, “buy cheap, buy twice” and this couldn’t be more true than when buying landscaping products and services.

You should always do your due diligence when choosing a contractor to work with.

Permeable-Block-Driveway-with-Resin-Features,-Aylesbury,-Buckinghamshire---AFTER-1

New Resin-bound Driveway and Indian Sandstone Patio, Kirtlington, Oxfordshire

It is important to know that resin is suitable for light vehicle traffic only. Cars and vans are fine but the surface would degrade much quicker with frequent heavy vehicle use and unlike block paving it cannot be simply patch repaired.