Many people in the UK believe new driveway choices are limited to Tarmac, concrete or gravel. Unfortunately, they completely forget about a modern resin drive.
The average cost of a resin driveway ranges from £40-£170 per m2, depending on size, shape and ground conditions. Therefore, for a 40m2 driveway, you would receive estimates from a resin driveway specialist of around £1,600-£8,000. But in reality, the average costs level out at approximately £4,000.
A resin driveway installation gives the homeowner a durable and smooth surface, having no loose stones. Furthermore, UV-stable resin aggregate colours won’t suffer from fade or discolouration due to the sun’s UV light. And, permeable resin-bound surfaces ensure rainwater drains away with no chance of puddles or slippery surfaces forming.
Typically, because of its relatively low cost per square metre, many people use resin material for all their property’s hard surfaces, including patios, garden paths, steps, and swimming pool surrounds. Thus, providing a unified, unbroken surface around the house.
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Topics
How Much Does a Resin Driveway Cost?*
You can use the following table as a resin driveway cost calculator for your project.
| Driveway size | Type | Installation time | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20m2, 1-car | Resin-bound | 3-5 days | £1,200 |
| Resin-bonded | £800 | ||
| 40m2, 2-cars | Resin-bound | 7-14 days | £2,500 |
| Resin-bonded | £1,600 | ||
| 80m2, 4-cars | Resin-bound | 2-3 weeks | £5,000 |
| Resin-bonded | £3,100 | ||
| 100m2, More than 4-cars | Resin-bound | 3-4 weeks | £10,000 |
| Resin-bonded | £6,200 |
* We compiled this estimated data from various online resources, and you should use them as a starting point for your own research. Also, you will find that prices inflate in London and southeast England by up to 20%.
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New Resin Drive Cost Factors
You will find that a few factors affect the cost of a new domestic resin driveway installation. Furthermore, it would be helpful to consider these carefully before approaching a resin driveway installer for an estimate.
Remember that a reputable installation company will need a site visit to see your property before giving an estimate.
Resin-bound or resin-bonded
We’ll talk more about the differences between these later on. But, for now, you should know that they have very different properties and prices. A typical resin-bound driveway is more expensive than a similar-sized resin-bonded surface.
UV Stable or non-UV Stable resing
Ultraviolet light (UV) can cause damage to the colour of some resin driveways. The answer is to choose a UV-Stable resin rather than the non-UV-Stable version. To help you make up your mind, here are a few differences between the two:
Colours
Non-UV-Stable resin can fade or discolour when exposed to intense sunlight. If the sunlight where you live is particularly strong, you may find that discolouration occurs within a month of laying the driveway.
This might not bother you if the colour change occurs evenly. But, you will find that if you put something onto the resin, such as a wheelie bin or ornament, you will see that the area underneath is significantly darker after a few days.
UV-Stable resin, however, does not change colour to the same degree and is almost unnoticeable.
Durability
Although non-UV-Stable resins produce a hard and strong surface, they are prone to brittleness and can crack without warning. On the other hand, UV-Stable resin is more flexible so that it won’t suffer from cracks. Whichever resin type you use, you must have an appropriate and well-installed sub-base foundation material. A professional resin driveway installer will assess your soil type and be able to design a sub-base suitable for your circumstances.
Price
As you might expect, UV-Stable resins cost more to buy than non-UV-Stable resins, almost twice as much. If you have a limited budget and don’t mind having a colour change, choose a non-UV-Stable resin. Otherwise, go for a UV-Stable type that looks good for much longer.
Location
Although materials costs stay pretty much the same across the country, you’ll find that labour charges vary considerably depending on where you live. The price variation varies with the cost of living and the number of driveway installation companies in the area. If there aren’t many companies around, they will charge at the upper end of the approved price range.
Weed control
Although resin driveways are weed resistant, you need to prevent vegetation from forcing its way from underneath. Add a geotextile weed controlling membrane to the sub-base.
Edging
Finishing off the resin driveway is essential, and an existing wall or additional curbstones are ideal for providing a retaining boundary.
Time of year
There is a good time and a bad time to install your new driveway. Resin manufacturers state that the resin shouldn’t be poured below 5⁰C. Therefore, the ideal times would be in the spring and summer. Sometimes parts of the UK might suffer from a cold autumn, and many installation companies have less work during this time. But, if you are happy to “fit in” between cold spells, you might find some significant discounts during this time of year.
Colours
The available colours are one of the advantages that make a resin gravel driveway special. The various colours come from the type of aggregate used. So, choose the colour to suit your existing house and garden colour scheme.
The following bullet points list the most popular colours available. However, there are many more. But remember, different suppliers might have other names for them.
- Grey slate – different shades of grey. Looks good on modern properties.
- Oyster Pearl – looks like mother of pearl and is one of the most popular types. It suggests sophistication and is UV-resistant.
- Spanish Marble – is a popular choice. The chips are creamy-white and look like natural marble.
- Jewels – This is a mixture of grey and gold stone. This stone resin driveway is widespread in coastal areas as it looks like a shingle beach. Also, it matches nicely with rendered properties.
- Cotswold – This is a mixture of shades of golden, brown and white stone. The colours complement Cotswold stone and other natural stone-built properties.
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Driveway Size
Although obvious, we should mention that the size of the driveway is a significant factor. The larger it is, the longer it will take for the installer to complete the project and the more materials they need. Look at the table above and consider the significant difference in cost between a small, one-car driveway and those holding four or more cars.
Current driveway condition
For a durable driveway that lasts many years, you need substantial foundations. Therefore, you must remove your existing drive before installing a new one. Its condition, and the state of its foundations, will determine how much preparation you need. If your existing foundations are undamaged, you should be able to use this for your new driveway. However, the installer won’t know its condition until after removing the top layer, so be prepared for additional costs. If you need to remove the existing sub-base and install it as new to create suitable drainage, you might find the price per square metre doubles or triples.
Driveway depth
Your existing driveway will have a foundation deep enough to prevent any movement or subsidence, and this will vary depending on the soil conditions in your area.
Therefore, a deep foundation will take longer to remove than a shallow one, and to replace it will need more sub-base material of the appropriate sizes. Typically, you can expect to excavate to about 250mm in a normal domestic situation, although it might be more.
Furthermore, you have to take into account the difference in thickness of the resin aggregate. A helpful rule of thumb states that the thickness of the layer must be at least three times the largest aggregate diameter. Therefore, if the largest stone in the resin is 10mm in diameter, then the layer must be a minimum of 30mm thick.
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Waste disposal
You will need a waste skip if you intend to remove the existing driveway and sub-base foundations. The number of skips will depend on the size of the drive and what parts you can’t reuse.
Machinery access
All driveway installation companies need access for their machines. Typically, they will need access for the excavator and waste skip (although you can place this on the road with appropriate local authority permissions).
Extra drainage
Regulations constrain the amount of surface water allowed without additional drainage. If you require drainage channels, you must consider these during the planning stage.
Company Hiring Tips
Unfortunately, the driveway installation industry is one of those that suffer from rogue traders. Therefore, it’s essential to check the qualifications of the company you intend to use. Also, check that they belong to relevant trade associations and hold appropriate insurance.
Trade Associations
Typical trade associations for the resin driveway industry include:
- The Resin Flooring Association (FeFRA) – FeFRA represents product manufacturers, specialist installation contractors, and raw material suppliers for resin flooring and screeding (including driveways).
- Constructionline – promote quality standards among various construction material suppliers. Its Acclaim Accreditation certification deals with health and safety accreditation for over 3000 organisations.
- The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) – BALI is the leading trade association for landscape professionals. They have a Code of Conduct to which all members subscribe.
- The British Aggregates Association (BAA) – BAA is the trade association for independent quarry operators in the UK. Additionally, the association assists essential suppliers and associated specialist consultants and contractors.
Contractors that are members of these organisations maintain national standards and maintain quality and environmental management systems. However, membership doesn’t guarantee a good resin driveway. You only know the quality of their work by recommendations, references and word of mouth.
Quality of work
Good quality contractors will provide photographic evidence and offer references to the quality of their work. Ensure you follow up on the references to view the standard of work.
Only use locally established companies that provide after-sales customer service or established national companies that have the resources to advertise nationally. Don’t use companies with short trading history or those that turn up on your doorstep touting for business.
Guarantees and charge rates
Reputable companies offer guarantees to the customer providing reassurance against:
- Quality of work.
- Extreme weather damage.
- Colour change and surface degradation.
- Solvent damage.
- Loose stone and cracked resin.
Get at least three quotes for the work to a similar specification so you can compare costs. Finally, the company should follow the national charging guidelines. Typically, the average charge should be between £50 and £80/m2. If the quotation moves too much outside this range, you know there’s something wrong.
Benefits of Resin Driveways
Resin driveways are flexible in design. Unlike concrete and Tarmac, there are many aesthetically pleasing colours available for you to choose from, and you can select UV resistant resin if you want. Furthermore, resin-bound surfaces are porous to surface water, meaning rain will seep into the supporting ground rather than discharge to drains or flood nearby properties or roads, which is a huge advantage.
Resin driveways are quick and easy to install but have a lifespan and durability comparable to other materials. They will take the weight of standard vehicles without cracking but try to avoid heavy commercial vehicles.
Resin driveways are very easy to maintain; Just a jet washer and a broom will remove moss and dirt and leave the surface as new.
Finally, the cost of resin driveways compares well with Tarmac and gravel. Resin costs around £50-£80/m2 for a standard-sized driveway, Tarmac costs about £40-£60/m2, while gravel costs £40-£80/m2.
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Resin-Bound vs Bonded: What’s The Difference?
There are two types of resin driveway available in the UK
- Resin-Bound.
- Resin-Bonded.
Although they have similar names, they have different properties and are laid differently.
Resin-Bound
Usually used for driveways, this type coats the aggregate in polyurethane resin, then trowelled into place. Small voids form naturally between the aggregate. Typical solids vary depending on the style and colour required. But, the most popular include crushed marble, pebbles, recycled plastic and many others.
Resin-bound surfaces are water-permeable, so there isn’t a problem with puddles or providing additional drainage. Resin coats each stone, so there’s no chance of solids working loose, and the thickness of the layer depends on the aggregate type and the surface’s purpose.
Resin Bonded
Resin-bonded surfaces are made by pouring a resin layer, scattering the aggregate on top, and then pressing them into the layer. Because the aggregate is on top of the resin and the layer is only one stone thick, the stones are exposed and might work loose. Furthermore, because there is an unbroken resin layer, it is a non-porous surface. Therefore, surface water might cause localised flooding.
Resin-bonded surfaces are cheaper than resin-bound, about £25/m2 compared to £40/m2 for a resin-bound driveway. However, although resin-bonded surfaces are more affordable, they aren’t often used in the UK for driveways. This is because the UK Planning Regulations specify that surfaces such as these should be porous. We’ll talk more about this later.
Project Steps & Estimated Timelines
Let’s consider the steps involved in laying a resin-bound driveway.
1. Preparation
Either inspect the existing sub-base for repairs or remove and install a new sub-base foundation. Ensure the foundation and underlying soil can support the expected load.
Because the resin curing time depends on humidity and temperature, the contractor should record these values before and during installation to ensure they are within the manufacturer’s tolerances.
2. Mixing the resin
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter when mixing the two components so that each batch is consistent.
3. Combine resin and aggregates
Combine the resin and aggregate using a forced action mixer, and once again follow the instructions.
Note: all solids must be dry and clean, or bonding won’t take place. Mix each batch for the same duration to avoid colour differences.
4. Transfer mix to the sub base
Transport the mix to the prepared subbase using a plastic-lined wheelbarrow and spread it evenly.
5. Trowel the mixture
Smooth the mix onto the sub-base and fill all cavities and hollows.
6. Curing time
Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on curing time. But, generally, curing time is around four hours if the temperature is 20⁰C
Timeline
Preparation time depends on the size of the area and the depth of the sub-base. If you need a new surface, the job will take around two days. In comparison, if you already have a suitable sub-base, the job shouldn’t take longer than one day.
As we said previously, the curing time varies with humidity and temperature. However, the surface will be ready for pedestrian traffic after eight hours; small vehicles can use it after 48 hours, while larger vehicles need 72 hours.
UK Planning Permission & Building Regulations
Driveways and other hard external surfaces must comply with Planning and Building Regulations:
- Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) compliance manages floods and pollution from surface water in urban areas. Usually, you don’t need Planning Permission for porous resin-bound driveways. In comparison, you need permission and other drainage methods for resin-bonded, concrete and Tarmac surfaces over 5m2.
- Your project won’t require Building Regulations unless the new driveway causes problems accessing the property. Specifically, items such as adding steps and changing ground levels.
Find Local Experts
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