Resin surfaces have been becoming more and more popular in recent years.

Resin-bound options, such as those offered by us at Buffalo Driveways, have many advantages compared with traditional alternatives such as tarmac, block paving and gravel.

If you’ve been considering investing in a resin-bound surface but already have a paved driveway, you may be wondering, can you lay resin over block paving? This article will explain why it’s possible but not usually a good idea and how a slightly higher cost now might save you money in the future.

What is resin-bound surfacing?

Resin-bound surfacing is the process of mixing resin with thoroughly cleaned, often coloured, stones. This creates a hard-wearing permeable surface perfect for driveways.

With a resin-bound driveway, the design options are almost endless. Because you can select stones of any colour, creating intricate patterns is much easier than with other methods.

A resin-bound surface is easy to maintain, with natural protection against the sun’s rays and weeds, moss and algae growth. Simply sweep any excess dirt and debris off every now and then and give it a good jet wash a couple of times per year, and it’ll stay looking as good as new for many years.

Resin-bound driveways are SUDS-compliant (provided the sub-base is also permeable), meaning they allow water to drain through them quickly. This not only protects the environment and local waterways but also helps to prevent your driveway from flooding and standing water issues.

What are the benefits of a resin driveway?

Compared to block paved surfacing, a resin-bound driveway has a whole host of benefits.

For example, a resin-bound surface is particularly strong at preventing weed growth (although, like everything, it still needs a little maintenance here and there). Block paving, however, is made up of individual cut stones, with small gaps between them. These gaps can allow weeds to grow through in no time.

Another key quality of a resin-bound driveway is its natural anti-slip surface, providing more grip than most other options in most conditions. It’s important to keep the surface free from dirt and moss because these could affect how much grip you have. Anti-slip driveways might be especially useful for the elderly or anyone with mobility struggles. Block paving, by contrast, needs to be coated with a specific sealer to make it anti-slip.

When it comes to design and colour ideas, block paving certainly offers a wide range of possibilities. However, the sun will bleach the colour out over time, and you’ll always be limited to those “block” shapes. When it comes to a resin-bound surface, the resin protects the coloured stones from UV rays, meaning its colour should last much, much longer. Resin is much more flexible than block paving with designs and patterns, allowing you to create almost any shape you can imagine.

For installation, resin surfaces can usually be laid quicker than block paving, depending on the design in question. It will also, in most cases, be ready for use just 24 hours after applying, minimising the disruption to your home life.

How to lay a resin driveway

There are many steps to go through before you actually come to the laying of the resin driveway, such as sourcing the materials and equipment needed, surveying and preparing the plot, and potentially installing the new sub-base.

Block paving is a tricky field to navigate when it comes to resin overlays. In fact, the question posed as this article’s heading generally splits most workers and their opinions down the middle.

This is because block paving is sometimes laid over a good, compact and robust sub-base. Provided this is the case, the driveway is unlikely to sink and thus cause the surface to crack.

However, block paving is sometimes laid on ground that isn’t appropriately prepared, sometimes on a sand base. Then there’s the weeds and moss that grow through them and the power of a jet wash as it cleans the surface down. All this potentially makes the ground underneath the block paving particularly susceptible to movement or subsidence.

One of resin’s advantages is that it is technically possible to lay it on almost anything, including existing surfaces like block paving. As any good resin-laying company will tell you, though, it’s crucial to check the sub-base before laying a new driveway surface over it.

If you don’t, it might look good for a few years, but if the base levels weren’t prepared properly, they’ll move with time and usage, leading to cracks. The cracks will, unfortunately, compromise the resin and the entire driveway.

So, although overlaying a block-paved driveway with resin is possible, we’d usually recommend installing an entirely new sub-base for added security on your investment.

In general, laying resin-bound over block paving has a lower initial cost but is much less likely to last into the future. While digging out and rebuilding a new foundational structure will cost more in the moment, your investment should be more worthwhile in the end. You can expect the surface to last much longer.

What Buffalo Driveways can do to help

Overall, we’d always recommend a survey before you commit to either an overlay or an entirely new sub-base. At Buffalo Driveways, all our quotes come with a full technical survey, so you know what you’re paying for.

We’re happy to work with your old block-paving driveway, whether it’s an overlay or a brand-new structure, but we’ll always complete that technical survey to give you reassurance on which option makes the most financial sense.

All our work comes with a guarantee. We’ll provide a 5-year warranty for all driveways we overlay and a 10-year warranty for any resin surfaces we install along with a new sub-base.

To get in touch with us about resin-bound driveways, or any queries about working with an existing block-paved surface, don’t hesitate to contact us for an informal chat. We can be reached by phone on 01773 712288. Alternatively, our email address is sales@buffalodriveways.co.uk, or you could fill out the form on the Contact page, and we’ll be back in touch as soon as we can.