Here at Buffalo Driveways, we often encounter a few common issues with resin driveways.
In the end, most of these loop back to the sub-base or the type of maintenance. On this page, we’ve compiled a list of a few dos and don’ts when it comes to your resin driveway.
Follow this advice to help ensure your driveway lasts as long as possible. Barring any freak accidents, that should be decades. Let’s get started.
DO: Jet wash your resin driveway twice per year
A resin-bound driveway requires far less maintenance than other common materials. However, that doesn’t mean you should lay it and never touch it again.
Use a jet wash on a low-pressure setting to avoid damaging the resin. We recommend doing this twice yearly for optimal results (some people only do it once).
The stream of water washes small dirt (and salt in winter) particles off the surface, preventing them from clogging the pores or staining the resin.
It shouldn’t take too long – allow half an hour or so. Doing this twice per year isn’t too taxing.
DO: Sweep the leaves off in autumn
As with any surface, you should sweep the leaves off when they fall in autumn. There are two primary reasons for this:
- A significant buildup of leaves could pose a slip hazard. The layers slide across each other, making the non-slip quality of the resin driveway redundant.
- As the leaves rot and decay, they’ll stain the resin. The severity of this stain depends on the trees from which the leaves fall, but it’s not worth the risk.
Use a stiff-bristled broom to remove the worst of the leaves before putting them in your brown bin or mulching them into your garden or beds. You can remove the rest (especially if they’re dry) using a leaf blower or the jet wash mentioned above.
DO: Install a high-quality sub-base first
Resin is a strong material, but it has no chance if it’s sitting on a broken, uneven or generally poor-quality sub-base.
The sub-base underneath your resin driveway will almost always be a poured concrete slab. You may already have one in good condition from your old drive.
Pouring resin onto a cracked sub-base – or even skipping the sub-base altogether – will inevitably put unintended stresses on the surface, leading to cracks and damage. Lay the foundations for a robust driveway that will last decades. It’s worth the extra expense.
DON’T: Park anything too heavy on the resin driveway
A resin-bound driveway is strong enough for all the average traffic you’d expect. Bicycles, motorbikes, cars, vans and small delivery lorries won’t damage the surface.
However, huge, heavy vehicles – such as crane trucks dropping off building supplies – should stay on the road, including their stabilising jacks.
You should also be careful with certain types of tyre jacks and axle stands when used on heavier vehicles.
Resin-bonded is another method of laying resin that’s stronger and more suited to these loads. However, this technique makes it more difficult to get planning permission and thus isn’t a service typically offered to households. It’s more likely to be used in car parks or managed residential developments.
DON’T: Go ahead if you can’t get planning permission
As alluded to above, getting planning permission for the typical resin-bound driveway is usually straightforward. Actually, in most cases, it falls under permitted development, meaning you don’t need authorisation from the council.
It’s worth double-checking, regardless. This is especially true if you live in a conservation area, AONB (Area of Natural Beauty) or National Park.
In the unlikely situation that you need planning permission and the unlikelier-still case that it’s denied, don’t go ahead. A resin driveway is a significant investment, and there’s no way to hide it. You’ll be made to rip up the surface and lose all the money you put in.
Resin-bound driveways are naturally porous and SUDS-compliant, meaning they’re better for the water table than comparative surfaces. This means it’s much easier to sway any hesitant planning officers.
DON’T: Use an untrusted or inexperienced layer
Like concrete, the resin is mixed on-site and immediately poured. Once it sets, that’s what you’re stuck with.
As such, it’s imperative to do it right the first time. Many trustworthy resin driveway layers are out there but do your research. Ensure they’ve worked in your area before and offer guarantees and warranties on their services.
The last thing you want is to find your driveway developing a crack just one month in and the layer unwilling to help.
Why use Buffalo Driveways for your resin driveway?
Based in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire areas, Buffalo Driveways is a resin-bound driveway installer, also specialising in patios and pathways.
Why choose us? Well, we have over 500 local installations for you to browse, many of which are posted on our website. Our team comprises dedicated surveyors, engineers and layers with years of experience. We also don’t use subcontractors, so you can rest assured that our quality and standards are always consistent.
We offer guarantees and warranties on all our work (ten years if we lay the sub-base). Alongside all this, we work with you from the start, with our design and surveying team helping you visualise and create your dream driveway.
Ready to get started? Contact us through the website today for a free, friendly chat.