National Resin Drives Dispatch provides emergency resin-bound surface installation when contractors disappear. Permeable SuDS-compliant systems, 30+ aggregate colors, UV-stable resin. No planning permission needed (permeable surface). 15-20 year lifespan.
Prep Monday. Lay Tuesday. Cure Wednesday. Drive on Thursday.
Aggregate mixed with clear polyurethane resin, troweled onto prepared base. Permeable = rainwater drains through (no planning permission required under Permitted Development). Base: 100mm Type 1 MOT compacted + 40mm porous tarmac. Resin layer: 15-18mm thick. Cures in 4-6 hours (no traffic), fully cured 24 hours. Colors: 30+ (golden gravel, silver grey, red granite). Cost: £50-70/m². Lifespan: 15-20 years. No weeds grow through. UV stable (won't fade). Smooth surface (wheelchairs, pushchairs).
Since 2008, driveways >5m² need planning permission UNLESS permeable surface. Resin-bound = permeable (water drains to ground, not sewers). Building Regs Part H compliant. Drainage rate: 300-600mm/hour (far exceeds UK rainfall). Eliminates need for soakaway/drainage connections. Ideal for front gardens (planning-free). Must have permeable base too (Type 1 + porous tarmac). Non-permeable base + resin = NOT SuDS compliant. Check contractor specs—some use standard tarmac base (not compliant).
Resin applied to tarmac, aggregate scattered on top (not mixed). Cheaper: £30-45/m². NON-permeable (needs planning permission). Surface loose stones for first few months (sweeping required). Less durable than resin-bound (10-12 years vs 15-20). Suitable for paths, patios, driveways with existing drainage. Not wheelchair/pushchair friendly (loose surface). Popular for industrial/commercial (car parks) due to lower cost. Domestic: resin-bound preferred for quality.
Resin vs pattern imprinted concrete (PIC): Resin pros: Permeable (no planning), no cracking (flexible), fast cure (24h vs 7 days). Resin cons: Higher cost (£50-70/m² vs £40-60/m²), can't drive heavy plant over (diggers). PIC pros: Cheaper, stronger (HGV-rated). PIC cons: Non-permeable (needs planning + drainage), cracks appear 3-5 years. Resin better for domestic drives, PIC for commercial yards. Resin looks more natural (gravel effect). PIC looks stamped/artificial.
Existing resin drive cracking/fading/damaged. Repairs: Small areas (1-2m²) patch with matching aggregate/resin (£150-300). Large damage: Resurface entire drive. Remove top 10mm resin layer, apply new resin+aggregate (£35-50/m²—cheaper than full install). Fading: UV exposure over 10+ years. Can't "re-stain"—need full resurface. Cracking: Usually base failure (not resin). Need to dig up, relay base, re-resin (£50-70/m² full cost). Check guarantee—most cover 10 years material defects only (not base failure).
Resin cures via chemical reaction (temperature-dependent). Minimum: 5°C air temp, 10°C base temp. Below 5°C: Curing slows (24 hours becomes 48-72 hours), resin may not bond properly. Oct-Mar installations risky in UK. Solutions: Use winter-grade resin (cures at lower temps, +£5-10/m²), install under heated marquee (adds £300-500), wait until April. Contractors who install in Jan/Feb at standard rates = cutting corners. Guarantee may be invalid if installed below minimum temps. Always check weather forecast 3 days ahead.