Image credit: Mike Carter via Flickr.
There are two types of resin driveways. You can choose to have a resin bonded driveway or a resin bound driveway.
In this guide, we’ll tell you about the differences, the costs and how to find a driveway specialist. We’ll also advise you about extra costs, how a contractor lays a resin and answer some frequently asked questions.
Topics
How Much Does a Resin Driveway Cost?
The table below looks at the cost of laying resin bound, resin bonded, and concrete driveways.
| Type of Driveway | Size of Driveway | Cost to Lay | Labour Costs | Time Required | Total Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resin bound | 15 m2 | £750 | £150-£300 | One day | £1,150-£1,350 |
| Resin bound | 25 m2 | £1,250 | £250-£350 | One day | £1,500-£1,600 |
| Resin bound | 35 m2 | £1,750 | £300-£400 | One day | £2,050-£2,150 |
| Resin bonded | 15 m2 | £450 | £150-£300 | One day | £600-£750 |
| Resin bonded | 25 m2 | £750 | £250-£350 | One day | £1,000-£1,000 |
| Resin bonded | 35 m2 | £1,050 | £300-£400 | One day | £1,350-£1,450 |
| Concrete | 15 m2 | £619-£825 | £506-£675 | Two to three days | £1,125-£1,500 |
| Concrete | 25 m2 | £1,031-£1,375 | £844-£1,125 | Three to five days | £1,875-£2,500 |
| Concrete | 35 m2 | £1,444-£1,925 | £1,181-£1,575 | Four to six days | £2,625-£3,500 |
The table above gives some price examples using an average price of £50 and £30 per square metre for the materials plus labour. Your costs may vary depending on the size of your driveway and the type of aggregate you choose.
Our estimates also presume that the driveway is flat, and there is an existing suitable subbase for the resin. If you need to excavate part of your property to make it flat and accommodate a new subbase, your overall costs will increase.
If you’re ready to get quotes, fill in our online form and we’ll find driveway specialists near you who can offer no-obligation quotes so you can find the best person for the job:
Click To Get QuotesWhat Is the Difference Between a Resin Bound and a Resin Bonded Driveway?
Resin bound aggregate is similar to gravel, but the resin sticks or bonds, the stones together so they don’t move and it forms a smooth base.
You have to lay bonded resin on a flat surface so your driveway must have concrete or tarmac already, or you must lay this too. It is permeable so you don’t need extra drainage.
Resin bonded material doesn’t have the resin mixed into the stones. You lay it, like glue, onto a flat surface. The stones are then put on top of the resin.
The majority of the stones stick to the base and the rest are loose like a gravel driveway. Resin bonded aggregate is impermeable, so that means you will need to build in extra drainage if you use this material.
What Impacts the Cost of Resin Driveways?
Several factors could impact the cost of a resin driveway.
Driveway size and shape
The size and shape will affect the price of your resin driveway. A smaller driveway uses less material and will take less time to get the job done. The shape will affect labour costs more than materials. If the shape is awkward or difficult to access then this will slow the work down.
As a result, you will pay for more hours.
Driveway Slope
A driveway that slopes will have to have wooden formers placed across the driveway attached to the formwork. This creates a barrier so that any resin poured in at the top of the slope doesn’t slide back down to the bottom.
Depending on the size of your drive this could add from one hour to four hours of labour to your costs.
UV-Stable vs Non-UV Stable Resin
| Type of Resin | Darkens in Sunlight | Risk of Cracking | Moisture Resistant in Half a Day | Estimated Cost per Kilo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV Resin | No | No | Yes | £6.11 |
| Non-UV Resin | Yes | Yes | No | £4.24 |
Preparation
If you already have a concrete or tarmac drive then you can place a resin driveway can be placed on top of the flat surface without any excavation or filling costs.
If you have stonework, you may not have to excavate and create a subbase, but you will have to remove the stones. If the subbase is inadequate you will have to have it excavated and filled with hardcore to bring it up to standard.
This will add around £21 per square metre to the costs. So for a small 15m2 driveway, this would be an additional £315.
Drainage and Services
If you have a resin bonded driveway you will need extra drainage. Resin bonded driveways are impermeable, which means the water won’t drain into the ground.
Extra drainage on your property will channel the water into a soakaway. The drain has to be in your garden as it is against regulations to let the water flow into a public drain.
Ask your driveway contractor if this job is something they do themselves. It could be that they use a trusted plumber or a builder to come and help them.
If they don’t you will need to make arrangements for a plumber to come and install the extra drainage.
Ease of Access
Ease of access can affect your labour costs. If the driveway is easily accessible it will be faster to get the work completed, whereas difficult parts of the driveway might increase labour costs because doing the job will take longer.
Type of Aggregate You Choose
If you want bright, different coloured stones then you will pay more than if you decide to keep to standard neutral colours.
For example, grey aggregate costs less than a variety of colours or colours with sparkle.
Additional Materials
You won’t have any additional materials if you are putting down the resin on a flat surface, but if you need to excavate and lay a flat surface you will need:
- Wood
- Pegs and string
- Hire of an excavator or a spade
- Weed control sheet
- Hardcore
- Concrete
- Sand
- Sealer
As we have already mentioned these extras will cost approximately £21 per square metre.
Size of Driveway
| Size of Driveway | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| 15m2 (Small) - Single | £315 |
| 25m2 (Medium) - Double | £525 |
| 35m2 (Large) - Triple | £735 |
Not all driveways will need excavation. If you have a driveway already that was excavated before, the contractor might only need to remove the current material from your driveway and lay a new subbase.
Therefore the charges should be cheaper than the costs outlined in the above chart.
Skip Hire
Many tradesmen include skip hire in their quotation, but if your contractor doesn’t then you’ll have to organise and pay for the skip.
You can hire a medium-sized skip from between £165 and £200 depending on which part of the country you live in.
Extras
Security Lighting
Lighting on your driveway will give you extra security. Look for the type that comes on automatically when someone steps onto your drive. Motion sensor lighting starts at around £90 to supply and fit.
CCTV
CCTV is also another popular security measure. You will be able to record the activity on your drive and it should help to deter opportunist thieves. A standard four-camera system will cost approximately £550 to supply and fit. Costs may be higher in London and Southern England.
Landscaping
Now that you’ve decided to add a new driveway you might decide to consider the rest of the garden. A professional gardener can landscape the area around the drive to give it the wow factor.
A gardener costs around £40 to £50 per hour in London and the South of England. If you live in the Midlands, Wales, or the north of England you should find a gardener for about £25 an hour.
How Can I Save Money on a Bound or Bonded Resin Driveway?
The best way to save money on a resin driveway is to install it on a flat surface. If the area that you plan to pave is already flat, you’ll save anywhere from £315 and £735 on the excavation and filling costs.
Another way to save money is to purchase a resin driveway kit. If you’re confident enough to do the work yourself, you can use a kit that contains the aggregates, the stabilizer, and the activator.
Resin driveway kits cost about £35 per square metre. So, paving a small driveway yourself could cost approximately £525.
Click To Get QuotesHow Does a Professional Lay a Resin Driveway?
The surface needs to be swept and cleaned before the work begins. The surface must be completely dry.
The contractor will start with an inspection of the surface to make sure it is ready.
The contractor will mix the resin. If it is a cold day and it’s less than 15ºC (59ºF) they will add an accelerator to the mix.
The aggregate is then mixed with sand and the resin. (If you want the ground to have extra slip resistance ask the contractor to add a quantity of crushed glass).
The contractors then transfer a quantity of the mix to the desired location on the drive.
Using a trowel, the contractor then spreads the mix making sure to fill all the corners.
Once all the material is down it’s time to level and compact it.
The final job will be to polish the surface to bring out the shine.
As we have said previously if you don’t have a flat surface the contractor will have to create a new flat base. This will either mean starting from scratch with excavation, the creation of a subbase and the laying of concrete 0r it will mean taking up the old drive, making good the subbase and creating a flat surface.
Is Resin the Best Choice for My Driveway?
Resin driveways are becoming more popular because if you already have a flat surface they are quick to install and cheaper than concrete alternatives.
Of the two types, resin bound driveways are the easiest to maintain. It will give you a smooth, flat surface, without weed infiltration. It won’t fade and isn’t slippery when it’s wet.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Driveway Materials
| Type of Material | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Concrete | -Low maintenance -Long-lasting -Uncomplicated installation | -More expensive the tarmac -Patching and repairs can be expensive -Prone to icing in very cold weather -Salt and de-icing liquid can damage the surface |
| Imprinted/Patterned Concrete | -Attractive -Many colours and designs available -Low maintenance -Less weed infiltration | -Invisible repairs virtually impossible -A new part will be different in appearance from the rest -Wears quickly if incorrectly installed |
| Tarmac | -Coloured tarmac is attractive -Durable -Economical -Easy to repair | -Prone to weed, moss and algae infiltration Isn’t as long-lasting as concrete |
| Brick and Stone | -You can create attractive patterns -No waiting time once pavers are laid -Less likely to slip on brick and stone when wet -DIY friendly | -Need more time to install -Not permeable -Needs more maintenance to keep clean and tidy -Needs additional drainage |
| Gravel | -Long-lasting -Durable -DIY friendly -Attractive | -Gravel moves as you walk or drive on it -Needs regular topping up -Not recommended in areas with snowfall as the gravel is picked up with the snow when clearing |
How Do I Find and Hire a Driveway Contractor?
At HouseholdQuotes, we specialise in helping you find the tradesmen you need to complete your project—including resin bound or bonded driveways.
To get no-obligation quotes from local driveway specialists, click the button below:
Click To Get QuotesAnother great way of finding a driveway contractor is to ask family, friends, or neighbours. Resin bound and resin bonded driveways are becoming increasingly popular. So, if you see a resin driveway in your neighbourhood, you may find it helpful to ask which contractor they used.
Ensuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Use the below questions to check the professional you want to hire is fit for the job:
- Ask them about their experience laying a driveway using resin. Find out if they have a website so you can look at case studies, photos, or testimonials from past clients. If they don’t have a website they may have recommendations.
- Talk to them about the additional drainage if you are going to have a resin bonded driveway. If they don’t do this job themselves they may arrange for a plumber to do it or recommend one to you.
- Confirm whether or not they will include rubbish removal in the quotation. If it isn’t you can then arrange to hire a skip.
- Make sure they have public liability insurance. This insurance protects you from any accident claims, should someone injure themselves on your property during the driveway installation.
- Finally, always get a written quote and make sure they include everything you need.
Final Checklist
The below checklist covers the best steps to take if you’re hoping to instal a resin driveway:
- Ask the contractor if they can lay the resin on the ground, as it is, or whether excavation and a subbase need creating
- Choose the colour of your aggregate
- Clean and remove rubbish from the ground before the work starts, unless the contractor includes it in your quotation, and then you can leave it to the contractor
- Make sure the contractor takes away all the rubbish unless it wasn’t included in the quote and then it’s a job for you
- Use HouseholdQuotes to compare quotes from local driveway specialists
If you already have a flat surface a resin bound driveway is less work than a concrete driveway and it dries faster too. There are plenty of coloured stones to choose from including the sparkly type for an attractive finish.
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
Do I Need Planning Permission for a Driveway?
This is because resin bonded material is impermeable and the council will want the assurance of extra drainage to make sure any excess water isn’t flowing into public drains.
What Are the Planning Regulations for a Dropped Kerb?
Your driveway must be at least 4.5 metres wide at right angles to the road to be eligible for a dropped kerb, or the same length as your car. The driveway also needs to be at least 2.75 metres wide.
There must also be clear visibility from the end of your drive into the road. You can’t have any obstructions at the end of the drive, larger than 0.6 metres in height. This is to keep visibility clear.
It’s worth asking your contractor if they know what steps you need to take to apply for planning permission, they might even include doing this work in their quotation.
If not, then pay a visit to your local planning office or have a look at your local authority website.
Can I Put Resin on Top of an Existing Driveway?
Are Resin Driveways Easy to Maintain?
A resin bonded driveway is more difficult to maintain because the loose stones make sweeping and hosing difficult.
Is Every Resin Driveway Compliant With the Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDS) Initiative?
SuDS reduces flooding and improves water quality.
All permeable materials such as resin bound and block stone comply with the SuDS initiative, but resin bonded doesn’t, because it is impermeable.