Resin Bonded Driveways: The Complete Guide

Are you looking for a new drive? There are so many options out there when it comes to which surface to choose from and if you’ve come across resin drives, you’ve probably come across both resin bonded driveways and resin bound ones. This article will look at the former and explain in detail all you need to know about installing a resin bonded driveway, the costs you can expect and the maintenance they require.

What Is a Resin Bonded Driveway?

This is a type of resin drive that has the appearance of loose gravel without the worry of any of the stones being displaced onto the pavement or nearby road. It consists of aggregate that’s laid on top of a layer of resin, holding the stones in place while still keeping the effect of natural gravel. Because stones are the shapes they are, this allows gaps between the surface, letting water in. A resin bonded driveway will allow water into the aggregate but the resin isn’t a permeable surface, so it stops any moisture from running straight through. As such, drainage may need to be installed at the same time if your drive is over a certain size.

How Are Bonded Resin Driveways Installed?

Before any work can be done on your new resin bonded driveway, a suitable sub-base needs to be installed. This is because new driveway installations must comply with sustainable drainage requirements. Certain surfaces aren’t suitable for a resin bond driveway, such as block paving, gravel and soil, because they can expand and contract, which may result in movement and cracking in your finished drive. This is also the same for cracks or damage in surfaces that are suitable bases.

If your existing drive is not a suitable surface for a resin bonded driveway to be laid on top, it will need to be excavated and replaced with a suitable sub-base. This may include laying an MOT type 1 sub-base first before installing concrete or tarmac afterwards. Once a suitable base has been installed, this will give you a perfectly even and immovable surface for your resin bonded driveway to be installed upon.

If your existing drive is a suitable enough surface, such as concrete and tarmac, work can start on your new resin bonded driveway straight away. As long as there are no structural issues, such as nearby roots or trees, or huge cracks, work can begin. The resin is poured over the surface and the aggregate is then scattered on top. Only one side of the stones is bonded to the resin and they’re raked in to spread evenly.

How Much Does a Resin Bonded Driveway Cost?

This is a question that is dependent on mostly the size of your drive. As such, you’ll see measurements and costs in metres squared. If you need to replace your sub-base, this will drive costs up too. The aggregate you choose for your resin bonded driveway also has a bearing on the cost. You can typically expect to pay around £26 per metre squared. For an indication of rough costs for driveway sizes, see our table below.

It’s also important to realise that labour costs will need to be added on top of the aggregate. Labourers tend to charge around £200 a day, but this can increase depending on the number of people installing your resin bonded driveway and the size of the aggregate. See our table below for rough installation costs you can expect.

Do You Need Planning Permission for Bonded Resin Driveways?

Planning permission is only required if your resin driveway is non-porous and over 5 metres squared. As resin bonded driveways are impermeable, they are not a sustainable drainage system (SuDS), so a drive over 5 metres squared will need both planning permission and for suitable drainage to be installed at the same time. This is because the water they collect contributes to surface water runoff and can lead to flooding.

If your resin bonded driveway would allow water to drain naturally into a lawn or a border, you won’t need planning permission. It’s only a stipulation for your front garden. If this isn’t an option, drainage in the form of grates may have to be fitted at the same time as your new drive, providing permission has been granted.

Advantages of a Resin Bonded Driveway

The rough surface of a resin bonded driveway is reminiscent of a gravel drive, which provides good grip in all weathers. Even when water has pooled on your drive, you will still have purchase thanks to its anti-grip surface. Because the resin doesn’t allow water through, this also prevents the growth of weeds. This cuts down on any maintenance that may be required with other types of drive.

A resin bonded driveway is also cheaper than a resin bound drive because of the mixing and laying process. The latter is a more labour-intensive process that has to be finished by hand and applied quickly and methodically. You can expect a resin bound drive to cost roughly £40 per square metre, which is much more expensive. If you’re also looking to cut down on costs, a resin bonded driveway can also be installed yourself.

Disadvantages of Resin Bonded Driveways

As we’re all too aware, not being SuDS compliant, a resin bonded driveway allows for water to pool on your drive. Standing water can be an issue as it freezes in cold weather, which makes the surface slippery. If thawing occurs, it might break the bond between the resin and aggregate, damaging your drive.

A resin bonded driveway is also more susceptible to stones becoming loose. As only one side of the aggregate is bonded to the layer of resin, anything above or unbonded can be displaced more easily. That’s why it’s unsuitable to use a stiff brush on resin bond driveway surfaces as you could risk damaging it.

Maintenance Involved

The maintenance required with a resin bonded driveway is usually relatively low, which is what makes it more appealing over other kinds of drive surfacing. It’s only when specific stains appear that you’ll have to know how to deal with them. b can be removed by using a household detergent, which should be allowed to penetrate the stain for 10-15 minutes before being rinsed off with clean water.

Regular sweeping is recommended to remove any loose stones after the resin bonded driveway has initially been installed. This will also remove any leaves and detritus that could cause moss growth. If you wish to give your drive a thorough clean, you can use a pressure washer, but this should be used on a low or fan setting to avoid displacing any adhered aggregate.

See here for the differences between resin bonded and resin bound driveways.