To provide an appealing finish, we use a combination of resin and decorative aggregate laid on top of a concrete and tarmac surface. This gives us the ability to produce any combination of decorative resin surface.

There are two types of resin surface that are similar in name, 'Bound' and 'Bonded'.

A 'Bound' surface is applied as a thin top layer over concrete, where the aggregate and a clear resin are mixed together. This is then applied with a trowel at a depth exceeding 15mm producing a glossy flat surface.

A 'Bonded' surface is a thin layer of coloured resin applied at a depth exceeding 1mm and coated with a small amount of decorative aggregate. This results in a natural gravel appearance, but without any of the problems associated with a gravel surface, such as loose stones, rubbish and the unsuitability for an inclined or declined surface.

A bound resin surface can cost between £40 and £80 per square metre. A bonded resin surface is cheaper at between £20 and £40 per square metre. These prices do not include preparation costs and should be made clear in the quote.

There are four types of bound surfacing and three types of bonded surfacing. Bound includes:

1. Alphatic - This is UV resistant and the best choice due to its high performance.
2. Aromatic - This is a cheaper but less effective surfacing option due to discolouring and cracking over time.
3. Epoxy - This is very rarely used and has been superseded by aliphatic surfacing.
4. Aspartic - This is a newer type of surfacing. The current cost generally excludes it from being a competitive option.

Bonded includes:

1. Polyurethane - This has a fast cure time and is considered the best choice for its high performance.
2. Polyurea - This is similar to Polyurethane, but has a slower cure time, making it ideal for hot weather.
3. Epoxy - Like the bound variant, this has been superseded by alphatic resins due to its history of problems and difficulty of use.

SUDS stands for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. All new driveways must be SUDS compliant. This means that they must provide an alternative method for the channelling of surface water to drains. This only applies to surfacing installed in your front garden and not anything to the rear of your house.

A resin surface is not SUDS compliant in itself, however it can be used as part of a SUDS compliant installation. To be SUDS compliant, the resin surface must be directed onto a porous surface such as a lawn or into a drain.

Only aggregates that are approved decorative aggregates can be used in a resin surface. This must be dry, dust-free and a suitable size for the selected surface.

We would not recommend installing a resin driveway yourself. The materials used are not DIY products and a specific set of skills are required for a good quality installation.

A resin bound installation will typically last around 10 years. A resin bonded installation will be around twice that duration at 20 years. These times are dependent on the quality of the resin, skill of the installation and the desired end use of the surface. Most guarantees only cover product failure and does not include damage caused by excessive use, deformation, cracking, tree roots, stress points, frost and staining from chemicals, fuels and weathering. The resin surface is only as good as the installer.

If you still have any questions about resin surface installation, please don't hesitate to contact us using the form below.