Resin bound driveways need a solid, well-drained base and cannot be laid onto soil or loose hardcore. They cost more per square metre than tarmac or block paving, repairs to a damaged area remain visible because new resin cures differently from old, and installation is weather-dependent — it cannot be laid in rain or near-freezing conditions.
We install resin driveways. We also think you should know the drawbacks before you commit, because the most common resin complaints come from installations that were never suitable in the first place.
1. It needs a proper base, and that is where the cost hides
Resin bound is a surface course, not a structure. It must be laid over sound tarmac or concrete. If your existing driveway is gravel, soil or failing block paving, you are not buying a resin driveway, you are buying a new base plus a resin driveway, and the base is the larger part of the bill.
Any quote that seems unusually cheap is worth checking on this single point: is a new base included, or is the price assuming your existing surface is sound?
2. Repairs are visible
If a patch is damaged, a dropped tool, a fuel spill left too long — it can be cut out and replaced. But new resin cures at a slightly different colour and sheen to resin that has been down for four years, so the repair will be discernible in certain light. Block paving does not have this problem; you lift the damaged blocks and put matching ones back.
3. It costs more per square metre
Resin bound is typically the most expensive of the three main driveway surfaces per square metre. Over its life the maths improves, because there is very little maintenance. But the upfront figure is higher, and on a long driveway that difference compounds.
4. Installation is weather-dependent
Resin cannot be laid in rain, onto a damp base, or when temperatures are near freezing. In a Norfolk autumn or winter, that means installation dates can move. If you need a driveway finished by a fixed date in November, that is worth knowing before you book.
5. UV fading on pale aggregates
Some fading of the resin over the years is normal, and it shows most on very pale aggregate blends. Mid-tone and darker aggregates hide it almost entirely. A good installer will tell you which blends age best; ask to see a sample that has been down for a few years, not just a fresh board.
6. Poor installation is unforgiving
Resin bound is less tolerant of shortcuts than tarmac. Too little resin in the mix and the surface sheds aggregate. Laid too thin, it cracks. Laid on a damp base, it fails to bond. There is no way to fix these problems other than taking the surface off and starting again.
So when is resin the right choice?
- You have, or will build, a sound solid base
- You want a seamless, weed-free, loose-stone-free finish
- You need permeability to avoid a planning application
- You want minimal ongoing maintenance
- You are happy to pay more upfront for that
And when is it not?
- Your budget is the deciding factor — tarmac will go further
- You want a surface where any future repair will be invisible — choose block paving
- You need the work completed in a fixed winter window
- Your existing base is failing and you do not want to pay to rebuild it
Frequently asked questions
How long does a resin driveway last? 15 to 20 years when correctly installed over a sound base. Failures before that almost always trace to the base rather than the resin.
Can resin be laid over block paving? Not reliably. Block paving flexes at the joints and resin will crack along the joint lines. It needs a continuous solid base.
Does resin bound crack? Correctly installed over a stable base, it should not. Cracking is a symptom of movement underneath, a base that was not sound, or a surface laid too thin.
Is resin bound slippery? No more than other surfaces. The aggregate gives natural texture. Algae in permanently shaded areas can make any surface slippery, resin included — an occasional wash prevents it.