How Much Does A Resin Driveway Cost In 2024?

The average resin driveway costs £2,400 without VAT. Obviously, the cost of a resin driveway will vary depending on factors like resin type, choice of edging and the size and current condition of the driveway. However, £40 to £70 per square metre should cover supply and labour costs.
The rates might even be lower if you are building a large driveway. On the other hand, there are also circumstances that could lead to higher rates. That’s our reason for creating this article. We want to help you fully understand resin driveway costs.
How Much Does a Resin Driveway Cost in the UK?
On average, resin driveways cost around £40 to £70 per square metre. This estimate should cover the cost of purchasing supplies, prepping the site, building the subbase, and laying the resin. Here is a table showing the average cost of resin driveways of 20, 50 and 150 square metres
Driveway size | Cost of resin driveway installation |
Small (20 square metres) | £800-£1,400 |
Medium (50 square metres) | £1,000-£3,500 |
Large (150 square metres) | £3,000-£10,500 |
Resin Driveway Cost Calculator
Factors Affecting the Cost of a Resin Driveway
Here are the factors that determine the cost of resin driveways.
Size and shape
Size affects resin driveway costs. A bigger driveway is costlier because it requires more labour and supplies. Shape also affects resin driveway costs. A simple rectangular driveway will be cheaper than a uniquely shaped one. Next up is unevenness. Resin is an excellent choice for uneven or sloping driveways. But installation is still complicated. So, expect this to affect the cost of a resin driveway.
Resin type
The two types of resin commonly used for construction are epoxy resin and polyurethane resin. Epoxy resin is significantly cheaper. But in truth, it is more cost-effective to opt for Polyurethane Resin. It will last twice as long and be easier to maintain.
Either way, your choice will affect the cost of the resin driveway. In fact, this isn’t limited to the type of resin. Here is another example. Resin is a highly customisable material. Therefore, you might be tempted to build a bespoke driveway with various patterns, colours and shapes. This will increase resin driveway costs.
The current condition of the existing driveway
Resin is an adaptable and robust material. In most cases, it can be installed over the previous driveway material with little fuss. However, in some cases, the existing driveway requires repairs before you can resurface it with resin. Sometimes, the driveway even needs to be removed entirely. All of these affect resin driveway costs.
Driveway resurfacing is considerably cheaper than fresh installation. With fresh installation, you still have to prepare the site (by clearing and levelling it), lay weed membrane (if necessary), and install the subbase (of tarmac, asphalt or concrete) before adding resin. Therefore, the resin driveway costs more.
The condition of the site also influences resin driveway costs via aggregate size. Contractors prefer to lay the resin at least three times the diameter of the aggregates used. Some sites require larger-sized aggregates. Therefore, the cost of a resin driveway will rise with the size of aggregates used.
Edging
Your choice of edging will also affect how much the resin driveway costs. Options included metal, stone, brick and timber edges. They all carry different price tags. So, expect edgings to influence the cost of a resin driveway. However, you don’t have to spend money on new edgings if the existing ones are still functional.
Types of Resin Driveways
Two types of resin are commonly used for construction and, specifically, to build driveways.
Epoxy Resin
This is a synthetic compound made of a mixture of liquid resin with a hardener. It is more rigid and, therefore, less porous than other types of resin.
Although it was quite commonly used in driveways a few years ago, it has faded in popularity as it is not best suited for handling heavier vehicles. Corrosive materials such as oil can also take their toll on the surface.
Because of this drawback, epoxy resin has a shorter shelf-life than other types of resin. Epoxy wears and gathers stains and discolouration over time. You will probably have to replace an epoxy resin driveway within a few years.
Polyurethane Resin
This form combines liquid resin with aggregate stones to provide a durable material.
The first thing you will notice is that polyurethane resin is softer and far more pliant than the epoxy version. However, this does not mean that it is a less substantive material. On the contrary, scientific testing shows that it is four times stronger. It is also far more resistant to stains and discolouration. Therefore, it will still appear presentable in the long term.
The strength and flexibility of polyurethane resin render it the ideal material for a driveway. Polyurethane is remarkably resistant to oil and even battery acid. Therefore, it can stand up to the constant pressure of supporting vehicles.
What are the Advantages of Resin Driveways?
Resin has unique advantages. It combines a great deal of strength and resilience with permeability and adaptability. What does this mean in practice? As a homeowner, you will have to do very little to maintain a resin driveway.
Effectively deals with rain
One of the significant advantages of resin in this regard is its ability to deal with rain or moisture of any kind. Water and other liquids easily pass through a resin-based driveway.
That means you will not have to deal with any of those pesky puddles gathering on the driveway. Instead, rain immediately flows through the driveway without damaging or undermining its integrity. Therefore, it is the best surface to use in a rainy area.
Can be set in different patterns
Contractors can also set resin in a wide variety of patterns. The best news is that once you have settled on a look, it will not change for a very long time. Resin does not oxidise and rarely becomes discoloured. As an additional bonus, the resin mixture is odourless.
Very durable
The traditional materials used for driveways are not as durable as before. Keep in mind that tarmac and asphalt are byproducts of oil refinement. As the refineries have improved over the years, they use more quality material, and the remaining residue has decreased in quality. As a result, the asphalt and tarmac available today are inferior to the ones commonly used twenty years ago. Resin has not suffered a similar fate.
More customisable
Finally, the resin is an exceptionally customisable material. The blend used can come in different colours and consistencies. Driveways are generally not particularly pretty. However, with some imagination, the resin variety can be quite attractive.
These advantages show why resin is an increasingly popular choice in the UK and elsewhere.
What are the Disadvantages of Resin Driveways?
More Expensive
Resin is significantly more expensive than most materials. Contractors require expertise in the material, and working with it can be challenging. Also, the installation of resin driveways requires specialised equipment. These factors all raise the cost significantly. The average concrete paved driveway costs about £10 less per square metre, and that adds up.
Sun Damage
Not all resins are suitably able to sustain sun damage. Resin with a darker finish tends to hold up fine in the sunlight. However, the lighter finish is not always that durable in the face of persistent UV rays. The stones will likely turn significantly darker unless you take suitable precautions. Therefore, make sure that you ask your contractor about that and follow their advice.
Regulations
Regulations are another problem. As we will discuss further, there are no recognised certifications for resin installers, and many municipalities and counties have not developed guidelines yet. Therefore, it is crucial to hire a contractor with experience installing resin driveways.
Vulnerable to Vegetation
All driveways are vulnerable to weeds and other vegetation, such as moss. However, vegetation can be more slippery and problematic on resin than on different surfaces. Therefore, you may want to consider installing a sub-base layer or a geotextile fabric.
Installation can be Complicated
The installation of resin is quite complicated. It is challenging for contractors without a great deal of experience with the mix. Therefore, it may take more than a day to install your new driveway. In comparison, contractors typically install tarmac or asphalt driveways within a few hours.
How Long Does a Resin Driveway Take To Install?
It takes an average of 2 to 3 days to install a resin driveway. However, this depends on the size of the driveway and the overall scale of the job. Here is a table showing how long it takes to build 20, 50 and 150 square resin driveways.
Driveway size | Timescale |
20 square metres | 1-2 days |
50 square metres | 2-3 days |
150 square metres | 3-5 days |
Finding a Good Contractor
The installation of a resin driveway is not the most complicated job a contractor can do. However, it requires experience and skill to complete properly. As we have seen, there are also several ways a contractor can charge you extra. The last thing you want is an unscrupulous individual who will take advantage of this leeway in pricing.
Perhaps the main problem with hiring a contractor for this role is that they lack sufficient experience. Resin has become very popular in recent years. However, it is not quite established enough for most contractors to understand its finer points.
Unfortunately, there are few established credentials for British resin driveway specialists. This situation differs from resin flooring’s more established practice, which has a fully certified professional guild. Therefore, it can be challenging to check the credentials of your contractor.
The best action you can take to guarantee that your contractor is a quality one is to check if they are members of one of the more respected UK contractor builder societies. We advise that you look for individuals who are members of the Guild of Master Craftsmen or the Federation of Master Builders.
Get Guarantees
As we have discussed, resin driveways are exceptionally durable. Once a suitable contractor has installed it, you will probably not have to think about your driveway again for years.
However, things can always go wrong, and it is better to be safe than sorry. Make sure that your contractor is willing to guarantee their work. The funny thing about guarantees is that the contractors who offer solid ones usually get the job done the first time. After all, a contractor confident of their work quality will be more likely to provide far-reaching guarantees.
If so, try to hire a contractor who will guarantee the following:
- Cracking and loose materials
- Weather damage
- Petrol damage and discolouration
In sum, resin is the best option for most residential driveways. The cost is somewhat higher, but not enough to counter the value resin provides in terms of longevity and durability. Just make sure you find a trustworthy contractor with experience installing resin driveways.
Conclusion
The average cost of a resin driveway is £40 to £70 per square metre. However, this doesn’t include VAT, which is an extra 10% to 20%. Some contractors won’t also include VAT when providing quotes for resin driveway costs. So, watch out for such hidden costs and ensure your contractor inspects the site before giving you a final quote.
FAQ
Do You Need Planning Permission for a Resin Driveway?
You don’t need planning permission to build a resin-bound driveway. That’s why we recommend using epoxy and polyurethane resins for your driveway. They are both bound types of resin. Bound resin is permeable and SuDS compliant. Therefore, you don’t need planning permission to build these types of resin driveways. The only resin driveways that require planning permission are those built using bonded resin.
What is Resin?
Resin is a rather fantastic substance secreted by plants, usually when they are hurt, to protect themselves. It can shield plants from harmful insects and pathogens while allowing them to heal. This organic type of resin is tough and resilient.
In recent years, humans have made significant advances in producing synthetic resin. The availability of the synthetic version has allowed us to use some of the amazing natural resin properties in constructing our driveways.