Choosing the Right Resin Driveway Finish

In addition to the range of resin driveway surfacing options available to homeowners and businesses, there are also many different finishes available.

Table of Contents

Bound or Bonded

As a starting point it is worth noting that there are two main types of resin driveway finishes, Resin Bound and Resin Bonded. The key to both of these is that aggregate (such as stone or grit) is mixed with resin to form a surface that is permeable. A Bound surface is where the aggregate is mixed with the resin before application to create a smooth finish, whereas a Bonded surface is made by scattering loose aggregate onto wet resin, to create a rougher surface.

Pick Your Aggregate Carefully

Quartz aggregates produce very bright uniform coloured drives and are very good at holding colour in strong UV light. Flint and Basalt aggregates produce very dark, almost black drives and are good for “natural” looking drives. Marble produces warm, speckled drives. Each aggregate takes dye slightly differently, it’s always a good idea to view a sample board in daylight to get a true colour representation.

Stone Size and Drainage

A resin driveway finish made up of very small aggregate such as 1 to 3mm stone will create a very solid surface, great for areas with lots of foot traffic. Larger stone aggregate such as 3 to 6mm is more suited for car drives as it allows for better infiltration of water. It is something to consider for homeowners looking at Resin Driveways Gloucestershire as part of front driveways and the permitted development rules regarding front drives and the requirement for permeable surfacing to manage runoff.

Check Slip Resistance Ratings

Make sure that the surface has a good slip resistance value, particularly if it is going to slope or if there are going to be senior citizens using it. Most resin bound surfaces have good slip resistance ratings but this will vary depending on the type of aggregate and the size of the aggregate used.