Resin Driveway Cost UK

These prices are based on the assumption that the driveway needs a simple installation where an existing base will work for a fresh resin surface. If the foundations have to be rebuilt, or the old driveway is to be removed, overall expenses will go up. Labour is also more costly in London and the South East, so prices there can be 10 to 20% higher than the figures above.

Total price quoted by a contractor is not always the full story as a large part of the budget is spent on preparing the ground and building a solid sub-base for a 50m² resin driveway. Then you apply the resin and aggregate, then the edging, borders and any decorative touches you've chosen. That is why two driveways of the exact same size can get very different quotes.

Knowing what goes into it explains where your money goes. Plus, you get a better feel for whether or not a quote is reasonable when talking to different installers.

Removal of existing driveway
There will usually be a need to remove an existing driveway before any new work can take place. Then the area is dug out to the correct depth for a new foundation to be laid. This part of the job can take the better part of a working day on an average-size driveway easily.

Building the sub-base
After the ground is prepared, aggregate layers are laid and compacted down to form a strong base. This phase is one of the most important steps of the whole project because a well-constructed sub-base will carry the weight of vehicles for many years, whereas a poor one is susceptible to sinking, movement or cracking. It is worth asking what depth the installer is allowing for, and what materials they'll be using underneath the resin.

Installing the edging
Before the resin goes down, any edging or border details are fitted into place to give a nice edge to the surface and help keep everything tidy when the driveway is finished.

Laying the resin surface
The aggregate and resin are then mixed and spread by hand on the drive. The work is done in sections because the mixture begins to cure shortly after it is made. This is where practical experience really pays off. A good installer will also ensure that the whole driveway is finished evenly and smoothly, whereas poor workmanship can often be seen in uneven patches or visible joins.

Allowing the resin to cure
The driveway isn't ready to use straight away and it needs atleast 24 to 48 hours before it can support the weight of a vehicle and this time can vary depending on the weather. Warm, dry conditions help the resin cure properly, while colder temperatures or damp weather can slow the process and delay completion.

Lots of people looking for the cost of a resin driveway do not understand that there are two systems you can get. At first they seem the same but they are made in totally different ways and that is why they cost different amounts.

A resin bound driveway is made when you mix the resin and the stones together before you put it down. The finished surface is smooth and solid and allows rainwater to drain through it naturally. In many situations it complies with SuDS regulations without the need for extra drainage. When most people think about a resin driveway this is the kind they are thinking of. It is the type that we talk about in this guide. Resin driveway is what most homeowners want and resin driveway is what we will focus on.

A resin bonded driveway has a different production method where resin is spread over the base first and then loose stone is scattered across the top and then pressed into place. The final surface has more texture and it looks closer to decorative gravel. It is also cheaper as compared to resin bound and it's cost ranges between £40 to £70 per m². This type of surface can only last between 5 to 8 years and that is why most homeowners choose the resin bound driveway because that can last for decades.

When a contractor who give you quotes talk about a "scatter coat" or they show you a sample that looks like gravel that means it is bonded, not bound. Make sure to ask them whether the quote that they are giving is for resin bonded or resin bound as they are completely different types.

The cost of a resin driveway is not about how big it is and two driveways that are the size can have very different prices. The resin driveway cost can be hundreds or even thousands of pounds when you add up all the costs.

The aggregate you choose for your resin driveway
The type of stone in the resin driveway mix affects what it looks like and how much it costs. If you pick a standard blend for your resin driveway it will be cheaper but if you want a premium mix or a natural stone mix for your resin driveway it will cost more. If you want a colour or a fancy finish for your resin driveway it will cost a bit more because the materials are more expensive.

The quality of the resin
The quality of resin is very important as not every resin product performs the same. If you are using a better quality, UV stable resin product, the colours will last much longer are far less likely to yellow as the years go by. They are costly but that cost will automatically justify as they will last for years and your driveway will be much more durable.

Thickness of the surface
The depth of the resin layer is also one of the main factors that will affect the final price. More material is used on the thicker surface, but it can better withstand the daily traffic and repeated use by vehicles. Some low quotations look attractive because less resin has been allowed for but those savings can't be justified when it comes to the strength and durability of your driveway.

The condition of the existing driveway
You can't cover a bad base with resin and expect it to hold up and any cracks, movement or rough areas in the existing driveway should be addressed before putting down the new surface. The cost of ground preparation can add a substantial amount to the overall cost of a resin driveway which is the reason why prices can vary so much between contractors, even if the driveway size remains the same.

Overlay or full dig-out
There are some installers who will lay resin right over your existing driveway as an overlay instead of digging the whole thing out and building the sub-base from scratch as long as your existing driveway is structurally stable. This can save you a real cost, with actual quotes we've seen showing a difference of £1,500 to £2,000 or more between an overlay and a full dig-out on the same size job. The best thing to do is to ask any installer directly if an overlay is an option for your driveway before assuming that a full rebuild is the only choice.

Shape and slope
A simple rectangular driveway is cheaper to install than an curved one. This is because curves result in waste and they take a longer time to install properly.

A driveway that is sloped also costs more. This is because it requires work to dig and to get a level and stable base for the driveway. It also needs to be done in a way that manages water run-off properly.

The cost of a driveway and the cost of a sloped driveway do not show up in a standard cost per square meter. These are common reasons why the final cost of a driveway is higher, than what you see on this page.

Borders and decorative features
A simple driveway with straight edges is faster to install than a driveway that has curved edges and the homeowner wants contrasting colours or decorative patterns. More complex designs cost more because each additional detail requires more labour and materials.

If you are comparing different types of driveway, rather than just resin, you should check out our main driveway cost guide that explains how groundwork, drainage and location influence prices for every type of driveway.

Most resin driveways are installed by specialist teams rather than general builders and the labour costs can vary between £300 and £500 per day depending on your location and the experience of the company doing the work. it can take up to 2 to 5 days to complete an installation job but this time can increase if the driveway is bigger than average.

Timing is also a much bigger factor than most people realise. Resin requires dry weather and consistent temperatures during laying and curing, which is why many installers prefer to work in the spring or early autumn. Poor bonding and an uneven finish are more common when installing in cold and wet conditions. Good companies will often wait for the weather to get better rather than take that risk and many of them will put this into their quote.

A number of homeowners consider doing the work themselves when laying a resin driveway in order to lower the total cost. The cost of the materials alone for a 60m² driveway is about £2,200 to £3,500, before any equipment hire or labour is taken into account. Although it is certainly feasible, resin is not one of the simpler materials to use when laying a driveway. It is necessary to mix the resin and aggregate accurately, spread them evenly and complete the work within a short time frame. After the surface has begun to cure, mistakes become hard to conceal and even more difficult to repair afterwards.

Advantages

• Creates a smooth, seamless finish that suits both modern and traditional properties.
• Available in a huge range of colours and aggregate blends.
• Water drains through the surface, helping it comply with SuDS requirements in many situations.
• Very little routine maintenance beyond sweeping away debris and giving it an occasional wash.
• Weed growth is kept to a minimum because there are no open joints across the surface.
• Loose stones aren't a problem, unlike gravel or resin bonded driveways.

Disadvantages

• A solid sub-base is essential, and rebuilding one can add a noticeable amount to the overall cost.
• Costs more than gravel, tarmac or plain concrete for the same size driveway.
• The quality of the finish depends heavily on the installer's experience and attention to detail.
• Installation is weather dependent, so work may need to be postponed if conditions aren't suitable.

A resin-bound driveway which has been properly installed can last between 20 and 25 years, and a great many of them keep on working well past that period if looked after correctly. The kind of maintenance required is simple: most of the time all that is needed is to sweep off the leaves and dust, followed by occasional hosing down with a hose.

It is worth considering resealing as one of the long-term running costs, since there is no universal rule that all installers adhere to and as a result prices and recommendations can vary. A few contractors recommend that you should give the surface a light reseal every 3 to 5 years which can cost you around £3 to £5 per square metre, while others advise waiting longer and carrying out a more extensive reseal every 8 to 10 years, the cost of which is approximately £10 to £15 per square metre.

Either way resealing is not a major expense but should not be ignored when planning the lifetime cost of a resin driveway. Like any driveway, a lot depends on how well it was installed in the first place, and how much upkeep it will require later. Saving money upfront by cutting corners on the resin or sub-base may lead to repairs much sooner than expected. In fact, poor preparation below the surface is one of the biggest reasons that resin driveways fail much earlier than they should.

In most cases, if your present resin driveway has developed problems then it is cheaper to carry out a repair rather than starting again, so you should consider this option before deciding that a complete replacement is necessary.

The cost of minor repairs, such as hairline cracks or a small patch, is between £100 and £400.

The cost of moderate repairs, such as fixing loose stones, filling in patchy areas or treating the edges—ranges from £200 to £1,500.

The cost of more extensive repairs, such as those involving a sinking surface, failed drainage, or the need to redo a large area can range from £1,000 to £3,000 or higher.

Most of the time, the real problem isn't the driveway surface and the real culprit can be the base itself. If the damage is just faded colour, a few small cracks or worn patches, a repair will do the job for you but if the sub-base has started to fail, you'll usually see signs like sinking, puddles that won't drain or cracks that keep coming back.

Putting a patch over a bad base would not solve the problem and if you decide to repair anyways, it might look fine for a while but the driveway will keep moving and you'll probably end up replacing it anyway. Before agreeing to any sort of repairs, do ask the installer to check the base properly. It's one of the easiest ways to avoid paying for a job that won't last.

When people are comparing the cost of a resin driveway, block paving is usually the other option that appears on their shortlist. Although the two fall within a similar price range, they provide a very different finish and ownership experience.

A resin driveway provides a clean and continuous surface that has a uniform colour over the entire area and allows rainwater to drain through it, which helps to prevent puddles at the same time as giving a modern look that is suitable for many properties.

Block paving driveway has a more traditional appearance and provides greater flexibility when you wish to have patterns, contrasting borders or decorative arrangements. It also has one practical benefit, which is that if a particular section becomes damaged or stained then the individual blocks can be removed and replaced without having to redo the whole driveway.

It's a good idea to get several quotes, but you shouldn't concentrate solely on the price; a few simple questions can show you much more regarding the quality of the installation than the total amount listed at the bottom of the page.

Which resin system are you using?
When a quote refers only to resin without naming the product, you should ask about both the brand and the specifications. A trustworthy installer should be willing to tell you precisely which resin system they are using so that you can check its quality yourself.

What's included in the sub-base?
Do not accept a general statement that the base will be prepared; instead ask about the depth of the excavation, what kind of aggregate will be used and how the sub-base will be constructed. The strength of the driveway begins beneath the resin, not on the surface.

Is the UV stable resin included?
It doesn't follow that UV stable resin is included by default. Should it not be mentioned, you should ask the question before agreeing to carry out the work. Spending a bit more on a better resin can help ensure that the driveway retains its colour for many years, particularly when it receives a lot of sunshine.

What happens if the weather changes?
You shouldn't put in the resin under inadequate conditions just in order to meet the schedule. Check if the quotation contains a weather clause or provides for delays when the conditions are unsuitable. An installer who is willing to wait until the conditions are right is much more likely to provide a durable and long-lasting finish than one who rushes the work.