Services
Resin driveways across Surrey, Hampshire & South West London
A resin driveway gives a smooth, seamless finish that suits modern and traditional homes alike. “Resin driveway” covers two quite different systems, resin-bound and resin-bonded, with different finishes, drainage and planning implications, so it pays to know which one you are being offered.
We install resin driveways, including replacing old drives. Compare all our driveway options, or see our gravel driveways guide.
What we do
Our resin driveways work
- New resin driveways
- Replacing a worn driveway with a resin surface
- Advice on the resin system, base and drainage for your drive
Thinking about resin driveways?Tell us a little about your space and what you have in mind, or give Dan or Adam a call.
Planning advice
Resin driveways: what to know
- Resin-bound and resin-bonded are different
- In a resin-bound surface, the stone is mixed with resin and trowelled smooth, so the stones are held right through the layer. The finish is smooth, and on a porous base water can drain through it. In a resin-bonded surface, a coat of resin is spread over a solid base and loose stone is scattered on top. The finish is textured and grippy, but it is not permeable. They can look alike in photographs but behave very differently.
- Drainage and planning permission
- A resin-bound surface laid on a porous base can count as permeable. A resin-bonded surface, or any surface on a sealed base, is not permeable. In a front garden in England, if more than 5 square metres is covered, rainwater must then run to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property, or planning permission is needed.Sources: GOV.UK: permeable surfacing of front gardens (opens in a new tab), Planning Portal: paving your front garden (opens in a new tab)
- The base matters most
- Resin is a thin wearing layer, so it can only be as good as the base beneath it. A new base is usually needed; an existing tarmac or concrete drive can be reused only if it is sound, stable and suitable for the system chosen.
- Colour and sunlight
- Light-coloured stone looks its best with a UV-stable resin, which resists yellowing in sunlight. It is worth asking which resin will be used.
- Weather
- Resin has to be laid in dry conditions and within a suitable temperature range, so installation dates can move with the weather.
- The ground beneath
- A porous base relies on water soaking into the ground. Clay, common in north Surrey and South West London, drains slowly and may need extra drainage below a permeable resin drive; sandier soils around Woking, Camberley and Fleet usually drain more freely. A site visit shows what your ground needs.
- Looking after it
- Regular sweeping and an occasional wash keep a resin surface looking fresh. Follow the care guidance for the system used, and deal with oil spills promptly.
- Where the drive meets the pavement
- A new or wider dropped kerb needs approval from the highway authority before the drive is built across the pavement.Source: GOV.UK: apply for a dropped kerb (opens in a new tab)
FAQs
Resin driveways: common questions
Is a resin driveway permeable?
A resin-bound surface laid on a porous base lets water drain through. A resin-bonded surface is not permeable, because the resin coat seals the base.
Do I need planning permission for a resin driveway?
A permeable resin-bound drive on a porous base does not normally need planning permission in a front garden in England. An impermeable surface over 5 square metres needs permission unless rainwater drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property.
Can resin be laid over my existing driveway?
Sometimes. An existing tarmac or concrete drive can be used as a base only if it is sound, stable and suitable for the system. Otherwise a new base is laid first.
Resin or block paving?
Resin gives a smooth, seamless look with no joints for weeds. Block paving offers more patterns and borders and can be lifted and relaid in small areas. Both need a properly built base.
Start your project
Tell us about your outdoor space
Call Dan or Adam for a chat about what you have in mind, or send us a few details and we’ll get back to you.