Resin driveways are attractive, hard-wearing, and versatile, adding a decorative touch to your property with a smooth and flawless finish. These surfaces can be quickly laid over existing concrete or patio solid surfaces.
With this guide, you can learn about the types of resin driveways and their advantages and disadvantages. This article also covers the planning permission requirements and building regulations for resin driveways in detail to help you make the right decision.
Types of Resin Driveways
The following are the two popular types of resin driveways:
Resin Bound Driveways
A mixture of aggregate and resin is applied on the surface to create a permeable and multi-layered driveway. A smaller number of loose stones are found in such driveways with a smoother finish. They also offer resistance towards frost.
Resin Bonded Driveways
These driveways are laid by applying a resin layer; gravel is scattered over it before it dries and sets. This way, a non-permeable surface is formed with a single layer of stones. These driveways have rough surfaces suitable for high-traffic roads and disability ramps.
Advantages of Resin Driveways
Aesthetics
Resin driveways are one of the popular choices to enhance the aesthetic quality of your property. They come in various colours and patterns, allowing you to select one according to your preferences and property’s design. This way, you can add a striking and modern contrast to your premises’ visual appearance.
Durable & Long-lasting
Resin driveways are composed of various ingredients, including natural aggregates, recycled glass, and stones. Therefore, they are durable, long-lasting, and rigid surfaces suitable for parking heavy vehicles. These driveways are resistant to water damage, due to which they last longer.
Easy Maintenance
Resin driveways do not experience weed growth if they are regularly kept clean. In this way, you can save money, which will otherwise be required to clear weeds. It only requires you to wash the driveway regularly to remove the debris and avoid its accumulation.
Flood Control
Resin bound driveways can prove to be one of the tools for flood prevention as they absorb water rather than directing it to a drainage system. In this way, they can prove beneficial to avoid overflowing rivers which reduce flood risks.
Good Drainage & Permeability
Properly installed resin bound driveways allow efficient drainage as the resin bound is an excellent permeable surface. It also prevents water from draining off to the sides as no pooling water is on the surface.
Heat Absorption
Resin driveways can be a solution to deal with rising temperature problems which are caused by asphalt paving in big cities and towns. Resin driveways allow the underneath soil to breathe efficiently, thus reducing the surrounding temperature.
Perfect Finish
In resin driveways, all the perfectly installed stones together ensure a perfect surface finish. With a gravelly appearance, these driveways look alike to the surroundings.
Quick Installation
These driveways can be installed easily over a concrete sub-base, and their quick installation saves you a lot of time.
Sustainability
Resin is made from natural and recycled materials, making it sustainable for use in driveways. It is an environmentally friendly way to contribute to sustaining the environment.
Value Addition
Resin driveway installation in your property also enhances its monetary value. It will then be an attractive option for potential buyers by creating a fantastic impression on them as they walk up to the property.
Versatile Designs
Resin driveways can be installed in almost all properties as they come in various designs, patterns, and shapes. They provide a unique appearance to your home and allow you to combine different patterns and shapes to make your driveway look unique.
Affordability
Resin driveways are affordable to install, making them an investment worth it.
Skid Resistance
Resin driveways are exceptionally skid-resistant, offering lesser risks of falls and slips.
Disadvantages of Resin Driveways
Require Precise Installation
Installing resin driveways is challenging as it requires professional and qualified services. If these surfaces are not installed properly, they become prone to cracks and chipping, compromising their smooth and flawless finishing.
Climatic Impacts
One of the potential drawbacks of resin driveways is that they are incompatible with varying climatic conditions. They can become brittle and get cracked during cold weather. On the other hand, resin becomes very soft and has a higher risk of melting in the sun during high-temperature hours.
Fading
If you choose low-quality resin samples for installation on your property, they might fade away eventually. Moreover, direct exposure to sunlight can also result in fading the colours of your resin driveways.
Difficult Repairing
Repairing the damaged resin driveway surfaces is tricky if it gets cracked or chipped. Repairs make them look worse and may require the replacement of the whole driveway in case of severe damage.
Lack of Official Regulations
There are no formal official regulations for resin driveway installation contractors, so you might face the problem in finding an experienced and licensed company. Therefore, you must conduct extensive research to find a reputable company.
Slippery Surface
Resin driveways become slippery when wet, posing a safety risk if cyclists and pedestrians use these surfaces. Therefore, you must take additional precautionary measures to save yourself from slipping.
Staining
If you install light-coloured resin material to your driveways, they can get easily stained. Tires and oil stains can leave marks on the surface, making its look unappealing for the visual senses.
Resin Driveways & Planning Permission
In the UK, city councils are concerned about drainage problems in larger cities and have introduced Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). Resin-bound driveways provide efficient drainage and water management; therefore, they do not usually require Planning Permission for installation.
However, checking the local planning authority rules before changing your driveway if your property is located in a listed property or conservation area is suggested. You must also obtain Planning Permission according to the permeable surfacing legislation to convert your property’s front garden into a driveway.
Resin Driveways & Building Regulations
Resin driveway installation usually does not need Building Regulations approval if it does not involve raising the ground level of your property. Therefore, consulting with your local authority before starting the project is recommended.
