How much does a resin driveway cost?
Suspicious-looking men randomly knocking on your door offering to tarmac your driveway is, fortunately, a thing of the past. Resin-bound driveways offer a new and unique way to turn your garden into the tidiest on your street. No more amateur tarmac drive experts on your doorstep waxing lyrical about their mercurial paving talents. If you are an owner occupier or a landlord that likes to get his or her hands dirty, this article may be of interest. A word of caution, some DIY work can invalidate your home insurance. This does not apply to installing a resin driveway. Read the terms of your home insurance or your landlord multi property insurance terms before embarking on any work that may require professional assistance. Most maintenance work such as guttering cleaning will not impact your house insurance
But how much does resin driveway cost? Well, it all depends on how large your driveway is, and what budget you have. Let’s take a look at the factors that will go towards determining the final financial outlay.
What is Resin Bound Driveway?
Resin-bound driveways are a surfacing solution that uses a mixture of resin materials that when bonded together can be used to pave your driveway. This mixture is also sometimes referred to as ‘stone carpet’ and is trowelled onto a surface to create a flat and smooth finish. This durable and decorative bound gravel finish is practical and looks great. It can turn your garden into a clean and inviting space.
These resin bound surfaces are easy to maintain and take little cleaning effort. It’s why people love them so much. This permeable solution not only gives your driveway the perfect finish, but also helps to absorb rain puddles. The SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage System) technology used in the mix helps manage flood risk.
You also don’t need planning permission to pave your driveway with this resin-bound material. You can make a decision today and start filling your new driveway tomorrow. It’s easy to install, durable, reliable, aesthetically pleasing and looks fantastic.
Resin Bound vs Resin Bonded
Resin bonded is not the same as resin bonded, and it is not recommended for a driveway. With a resin bound surface, the process involves laying a thin film of resin onto a dry and clean surface, and the dry aggregate is then scattered over the surface. This is then left to dry and the excess aggregate is swept up. This produces a single stone layer with a rougher surface than the bound resin process.
Why Do I Need a Resin Driveway?
If you’ve been considering tarmacking your driveway or generally clearing up your garden, a resin-bound driveway was designed with you in mind. The resin material is UV stable and protects against sun damage or breakdown. Because of its high porosity, you are also protected against possible damage and deterioration caused by the freezing winter temperatures.
What is the Resin Driveway Cost?
The real reason you are here is to find out about resin driveway cost and prices. It only makes sense to get a good idea of the financial outlay before you decide. Several factors combine that can dramatically affect prices. Let’s take a look at the varying factors that contribute to resin driveways costs.
What is the size of your area?
The amount of resin you need to use will directly correlate to the size of the area you need paving. Resin has a fixed price, so the more you use it, the more expensive. The materials usually cost in the region of £80 to £100 per square meter. You can get a quick guesstimate by multiplying the square meter size of your area by those standard rates. You won’t get the exact figure, but you will get a ballpark estimate.
What is the depth and size of the aggregate?
Next, you will need to decide the size aggregate that you want to use. There are several standard aggregate sizes such as 1-2 mm or even a full 10 mm aggregate. We recommend that you calculate it by the depth being 3 times the largest aggregate size. For example, if you had a 2.5 mm aggregate, it would need to be installed at 15 mm. A 10 mm aggregate will need 30 mm. The more aggregate and depth, the more expensive.
What Surface is Your Current Driveway?
The type of materials your current driveway is made from will also affect pricing. Whoever installs your new resin driveway will take into account your existing surface for many reasons. This will dictate the type of preparation needed, or even surface repairs, levelling, and cleaning. The most common driveway materials are tarmac, block paving, and concrete, which can be difficult to deal with.
Installing Resin Over Existing Drive Costs
The good news is that if your existing driveway is made from concrete or tarmac, it’s highly likely that you can install resin over the existing driveway. The existing base needs to be in good condition or the resin filling isn’t possible. Make sure there are no major cracks, weeds, or even potholes. We would highly recommend that you seek out the advice of an expert installer who can help you with your preparations and any queries you might have.
Generally speaking, here is an example of the cost of filling your existing driveway with resin.
| Area(sqm) | Price per sqm |
|---|---|
| 0-40 | £60 |
| 40-100 | £50 |
| 100+ | £45 |
Just remember that these prices examples are for a UV-stable resin that is overlaid at 15 mm.
Installing Resin Driveway on Block Paving Costs
You might experience some issues if your existing driveway is made from block paving. Speaking to a resin drive installer before you make any decisions is essential. The price is similar to a standard resin driveway, but you might need to physically remove and replace the concrete base, and before you start filling in the driveway with resin.
Do I Need UV Stable Resin or Non-Stable Types?
In terms of resin type, two main varieties are used for resin-bound driveways. These are UV-stable resin and non-UV stable resin. Price will be affected depending on which type you use. If you’re working to a tight budget and need to keep costs to a minimum, we suggest you use the cheaper non-UV stable resin. It is almost half the price of UV stable resin.
UV stable resin protects against discolouration, but that’s the only advantage. If you use non-UV stable resin, your driveway will have a yellowish appearance over time. This category is where you can make the biggest savings if you’re okay with slight discolouration.
Summary : Pros and cons of Resin driveways
Resin driveways are an attractive alternative to tarmac or plain old concrete. The ability of a resin with coloured gravel bonded to enhance the look of your property has led to its increased popularity over the traditional methods.
One possible downside is that it may require more maintenance over time and if the driveways gets a lot of traffic may not be the best long term solutions.
The decision will be yours, but make sure that you employ a reputable driveway installer that is a member of Interlay (Association of Block Paving & Driveways).
The cost of a resin driveway will depend on a few factors. It largely depends on the size and depth of the area you need filling. The larger the size equates to more resin, which is priced by the square meter. The state of your pre-existing driveway will also have a massive impact on your price. But if you’re looking for a durable, reliable, and attractive solution to take your driveway to the next level, nothing can match resin-bound driveways.
Resin Driveway Cost Q&A
Now we’ve discussed everything about resin-bound driveway options, it’s time to make some purchase decisions. But before you do, check out our resin driveway cost Q&A for any questions or queries you might have.
Q: Do resin driveways get slippery?
A: The smooth appearance of resin driveways can give the impression of being slippery, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Once the initial film has worn in from the top layer, it shouldn’t be slippery at all. The materials used in the mix such as sand and glass act as anti-slip agents, so you should be okay.
Q: Is a resin driveway waterproof?
A: No, it’s permeable. It essentially allows the water to drain through. This is one of the advantages of buying a resin driveway in the first place.
Q: How long do resin driveways last?
A: Long-term studies have not been performed on resin driveways, so it’s hard to tell. This type of resin has only been used for the past 10 years, so the jury is still out. However, it’s still regarded as the most reliable and durable driveway material out there.
Q: How long before a resin driveway dries after it’s been laid?
A: Always be careful for the first day or two after a resin driveway has been laid. However, you can walk around on the driveway after just 24-hours, and drive smaller vehicles on it after 72 hours. You have to be especially careful in the freezing winter months. Ideally, if you have large vehicles, you might want to wait for almost a week.
Q: What’s the cheapest way to get a resin driveway?
A: If your existing garden is grass or paving blocks, there is probably no cheaper way to get a reason driveway. You will need to take the excavation route, which is always more expensive. But if your existing driveway is concrete or tarmac, you should be able to simply fill it in with resin without any extra costs.