Resin Bound Driveways Explained: Resin vs Tarmac

Resin bound is a cold-laid surface in which stone aggregate is mixed with a clear resin in a forced-action mixer, then spread and trowelled smooth over a prepared base. Because every stone is fully coated and the mix is laid as one continuous layer, the finished surface is smooth underfoot, jointless and porous, so water drains straight through it. It comes in a wide range of natural stone blends and colours, which is a large part of why it is chosen for driveways where kerb appeal matters. Laid correctly over a sound base, it gives a clean, high-end finish you do not get from a standard surface.

Both surfaces live or die on what is underneath them, and that is where a full surfacing contractor earns their keep. Tarmac is laid hot: a compacted stone sub-base carries the weight, then bituminous tarmac is spread and rolled hot to a dense, sealed finish, built up in layers to the right depth for the traffic it will take. Resin bound is laid cold, but it still needs a sound, solid base to go onto, most often a fresh tarmac or concrete base laid and cured first, then the resin and stone trowelled over the top once it has set. A resin surface is only ever as good as the base beneath it, which is why we build the base to the same standard we would put down for a road before a single trowel of resin goes on. Every base is assessed, prepared and, where it needs it, laid new, rather than resin trowelled over tired ground and hoped for.

Both surfaces are long-lasting when they are built properly. A well-laid resin bound driveway typically lasts 15 to 25 years, and a professionally laid tarmac driveway holds up for 15 to 20 years, in both cases longer on a drive that only carries cars. The choice is really about the property and the use. Resin bound suits homeowners who want a smooth, permeable, high-end finish with a choice of colours, on a driveway of a manageable size. Tarmac suits larger areas, long or shared drives, private roads and anywhere that takes heavy or constant traffic, where it is usually the quickest and cheapest surface to lay. There is no single right answer, only the right answer for your driveway. Jamie gives you an honest, expert assessment of which surface genuinely suits your home, your ground and how the drive will be used.