15 June 2021
Resin driveways – what are they?
If you follow us on social media, you might have noticed a garden feature that’s becoming increasingly popular these days – resin driveways. Some of you may already be aware of this driveway favourite, but for those who aren’t we’re going to break down what a resin driveway is, why they’re so popular, and whether they’ll work for your garden!
Is there more than one type of resin driveway?
Resin driveways generally fall into two categories – resin bound, and resin bonded. Both methods of installation utilise resin and aggregates (a coarse combination of materials), and both methods result in what’s known as a fixed surface, but that tends to be where their similarities end.
Resin bonded systems spread resin to create a non-permeable base, and then aggregates are scattered on the top of that surface. Most of the scattered material adheres to the resin, but some stays loose on the surface, meaning the final product has the appearance of loose gravel. Aesthetically, some do prefer this look, but because water cannot break through the resin layer, this solution is not considered to be great for wet climates (we’re looking at you rainy U.K. weather).
Alternatively, resin bound driveways do allow water to pass through to the ground underneath because of the way they are installed. For this method, dried aggregates are mixed together with the resin, and then both are applied to the base to create a level, smooth surface with no loose material. When laid on a permeable base, water passed through the drive with ease to the ground below, meaning you don’t need to worry about water damage a couple of years down the line. It’s this that also makes them SuDS compliant.
This is why resin bound driveways provide a much more suitable solution for U.K. homeowners, and it’s the reason that FirstLight Landscaping only use the resin bound system in their designs. That’s not the only reason people are choosing a resin driveway for their home.
What are the benefits of resin driveways?
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They’re resistant to UV rays, meaning the sun won’t degrade the colour or quality of the surface, and it won’t freeze over winter either.
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The nature of resin means that the surface is slip-resistant – great for keeping your car (and your family) secure, and safe on rainy or snowy days.
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Resin driveways have a long lifespan, and when installed properly have been known to last up to 25 years, so you don’t have to worry about redoing your driveway every few years.
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They’re low-maintenance – nothing will grow through your resin drive, meaning you won’t have to spend your precious weekends weeding!
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It’s aesthetically pleasing – you can choose all sorts of designs and finishes that are perfectly in-keeping with the design of your home.
How does resin compare with other materials?
Many of the benefits we’ve highlighted give resin driveways an edge over other materials, such as tarmac, concrete or stone, but essentially it comes down to design preference. This is where a Design and Build from FirstLight landscaping can really help – we’ll find out everything we need to know about you and your home, and recommend the perfect features for you.
If you’d like to know more about resin driveways or any of the other products we offer check out some of our other projects here, or get in touch via our contact page.
