Bound or bonded?
Two products share the name, and they are not the same:
- Resin-bound: stone is mixed with resin and trowelled flat. It is smooth, porous and the type to choose for a drive.
- Resin-bonded: resin is spread on a base and loose stone scattered on top. It is cheaper, rougher and not permeable.
Every price and claim on this page is about resin-bound.
What is underneath
Resin is a thin wearing layer, typically 18mm for cars. Its strength comes from what lies below:
- Dig out to a depth that suits the ground and the use.
- Lay and compact a granular sub-base.
- Lay a porous base, usually open-graded tarmac or porous concrete, so water can keep draining through.
- Fix edgings, then trowel the resin-bound layer on top.
Laying resin straight over old, cracked concrete is a common shortcut. Cracks in the old slab come back through as cracks in the resin.
Costs
| Item | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Resin-bound driveway | about £120 per m² |
| 35m² front drive | about £4,200 |
| Removing an old concrete drive | extra, priced on survey |
Source: Checkatrade, April 2026. The final figure depends on how much digging out is needed and whether a new base has to go in.
Resin on Billingham homes
Resin looks crisp in front of the brick semis found across the 1950s and 1960s estates, and it is popular for replacing tired concrete drives that came with the house. On larger, open-plan frontages in High Grange it can cover the whole width in one colour without visible joints.
It is less suited to a drive where cars turn sharply on the spot every day, or to a front garden on a slope where water would need channelling anyway. In the conservation villages, a bright resin can look out of place, and a gravel or clay paver finish is often easier to get approved.
Choosing a colour
Buff and honey blends suit red brick, and grey-silver mixes suit render and newer buff brick. Ask for a sample panel and look at it outdoors on an overcast day, which is what you will see most of the year.
Looking after it
Sweep it, rinse it with a hose a couple of times a year and deal with oil spots quickly. Avoid harsh solvents. Moss is uncommon on a well-drained resin drive but can build up in shady corners under trees.
Common questions
Does a resin drive need planning permission?
Not normally. Resin-bound is permeable, so it falls within permitted development for front gardens, unless an Article 4 Direction applies.
How long does resin last?
A well-laid resin-bound drive on a proper base is often expected to last 15 to 20 years or more.
Can resin go over my old tarmac?
Sometimes, if the tarmac is sound, well drained and has no deep cracks. A survey should decide, not a brochure.
Will it go yellow?
Cheaper non-UV-stable resins can darken in sunlight. Ask for an aliphatic, UV-stable resin.