A driveway that drains, never sprouts weeds and stays put.
Resin-bound surfacing: natural aggregate mixed with a clear resin and trowelled into a smooth, permeable driveway. No loose stones, no puddles, no weeds through the joints, laid over a sound base in your choice of colour.
What you get
Drains right through
A permeable surface that lets rain soak straight through, so no standing water and no run-off off the front.
No loose stones
Every stone is bound into the resin. Unlike scattered gravel, nothing migrates onto the path, the lawn or the road.
Weed-free and low upkeep
A seamless surface with no joints for weeds to push through. A brush or a hose keeps it looking new.
Colour to suit the house
Natural stone blends through to bolder mixes, chosen to suit the property when we quote.
How it works
Tell us the details
Tell us about the drive, what is down now and how it drains, and we spec the base and finish to suit.
Quote in writing
One fixed price for the whole job, in your inbox. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Driveway laid
Prep the base, lay and trowel the resin-bound surface, then cure. We plan the work around a dry weather window.
What resin-bound actually is
Resin-bound is aggregate and a clear resin mixed together and trowelled out into one smooth, continuous surface. Because the stone is fully coated and bound, the finished drive is firm underfoot with no loose gravel to kick about, and water drains straight through it rather than sitting on top. You choose the finish from a wide range of colours and styles, from natural golds to modern greys.
It is not the same as resin-bonded, where resin is laid down and loose stone is scattered over the top. Bonded looks similar on day one but sheds stones and is not permeable. We lay resin-bound for a driveway that drains and holds together. Our guide to resin-bound versus resin-bonded driveways breaks the difference down in full, and we also put resin up against block paving and tarmac.
For coatings on an existing patio or porch rather than a new bound surface, see our patios and outdoor flooring page.
Permeable, so usually no planning headache
Because resin-bound lets water through, it counts as a permeable surface. That is the bit that matters for a front driveway: a new impermeable surface over a certain size can need planning permission and drainage sorted, whereas a permeable one generally sidesteps that. We will talk you through it for your property when we quote, and our guide to planning permission for a resin driveway explains the rules in plain English.
It is only as good as the base
A resin-bound surface needs a sound, well-drained base. If your existing concrete or tarmac is in good order we can often lay straight over it; if it is broken or moves, we put down a proper sub-base first. We assess what is there and flag anything that needs sorting first before we quote, so the finish bonds and stays put through the seasons. It is the single biggest of the disadvantages of a resin driveway, and almost every one on that list comes down to the base and the install rather than the surface itself. If an existing resin drive has already failed, our guide to resin driveway repairs covers whether to patch or resurface.
How long a resin bound driveway lasts
A well-laid resin-bound driveway lasts for many years when the base underneath is sound and the mix is laid right. The base and the workmanship decide it far more than the weather. Our guide to how long a resin driveway lasts covers what to look for in a lasting job.
What a resin driveway costs
Cost comes down to the area, the state of the base and access for the work, not a flat rate per square metre. We give one fixed written price for the whole job, with no guesswork on the day. Our guide to what a resin driveway costs walks through the drivers and why the base decides the price.
Resin-bound vs other driveway surfaces
A driveway is usually a choice between four surfaces. Here is how resin-bound compares on the things that actually matter out front: drainage, loose stones and weeds through the joints.
| Surface | Drains through? | Loose stones? | Weeds at the joints? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resin-bound (what we lay) | Yes, fully permeable | None, all bound in | No joints to seed |
| Loose gravel | Yes | Migrates onto path and road | Pushes through the surface |
| Resin-bonded | No, sheds water | Sheds stones over time | Minimal |
| Block paving | Only with permeable blocks | None | Through every joint |
Where we work
Across Leicestershire and the East Midlands
We are resin driveway installers across Leicester and the wider county, with dedicated pages for Oadby, Market Harborough, Loughborough, Hinckley and Melton Mowbray, plus the rest of Leicestershire and the East Midlands. See everywhere we cover.
Common questions
- Do I need planning permission for a resin driveway?
- Usually not. Resin-bound is permeable, so it generally avoids the planning permission a new impermeable front driveway over a certain size can trigger. We talk it through for your property when we quote.
- Can you lay it over my existing concrete or tarmac?
- Often, yes, as long as the base is sound and drains. If it is cracked or moving we lay a fresh sub-base first. We assess it when we quote and tell you straight what it needs.
- Will weeds grow through it?
- No. It cures into one seamless surface with no joints or gaps, so there is nothing for weeds to push up through the way they do between block paving or slabs.
- Is it the same as resin-bonded gravel?
- No. Resin-bonded scatters loose stone over a resin coat, so it sheds stones and is not permeable. We lay resin-bound, where the stone is mixed through the resin for a smooth, permeable, hard-wearing finish.
- How much does a resin bound driveway cost?
- It depends on the area, the condition of the base and access for the work. We do not work off a flat rate per square metre. You get one fixed written price for the whole job up front, with no surprises on the day.
- What are the disadvantages of a resin bound driveway?
- A resin-bound surface needs a sound, draining base and a dry weather window to lay, and it is only as good as the install. Laid right over the right base, it avoids the loose stones, weeds and puddles you get with gravel and block paving.
- Are resin driveways slippery?
- A resin-bound surface has natural grip from the aggregate. For a sloped or shaded drive we can work in an anti-slip grade for extra bite in the wet.
Get your free quote.
Tell us about the space and we'll email your fixed-price written quote inside two working days.