With the level of interest resin driveways are getting, a lot of installers are getting enquiries from customers that lead with the question of cost.
Whilst this is an understandable question, one that any reputable installer will answer based on the information provided, there are a lot of factors that can affect the price of a resin drive as a whole, sometimes by significant margins.
This is true of any construction and landscaping work, but the relative newness of resin drives means that it has a few more factors that affect it compared to concrete, tarmac, gravel or stone flag driveways.
Here are some of the main factors that can affect the price of a new drive.
Installer Expertise
Whilst resin has been used for thousands of years and has been used in construction since the days of the Amber Room, its use for driveways in the UK is relatively new, and that means it can be difficult to find installers depending on your region.
More experienced installers will set prices commensurate to the results, providing advice, guidance and a skilful, efficient installation.
Prior Condition
Resin drives can be installed onto a variety of other surfaces, but this is predicated on them being in good condition. If that is not the case, and the goal is a driveway that is SuDS compliant, then a suitable sub-base will need to be installed.
An installer will let you know ahead of time if this is necessary when providing a quote and offer as many options as are feasible.
In general, an uneven or damaged base will need at least levelling and major preparation to make it suitable for a resin-bound driveway installation.
Size And Shape
Whilst there are always some base costs that are relatively fixed, the larger the driveway, the more materials and man-hours are needed to install it.
Similarly, straightforward shapes such as rectangular and square drives will be easier to install, which by extension makes them cheaper to install.
Materials
There are two important materials that go into a resin driveway, and they vary wildly in quality, style and usability.
There are a lot of different resins, and both the quality and quantity will have a major effect on the price, as well as conversely reduce the cost of remedial works years down the line.
Similarly, there are a lot of options for aggregate, and how much it will cost will depend on local availability and if multiple colours and styles of aggregate are needed.
Type Of System
There are two main types of resin drive systems. Resin-bonded driveways tend to be cheaper but are non-permeable and thus are not inherently SuDS compliant, whilst resin-bound drives cost more but typically have better results and can be made SuDS compliant.
Typically, most people want a resin-bound drive but be mindful that it is a more complex system.
Complexity
A straightforward one-tone rectangular driveway will cost far less than one with intricate designs, patterns and multiple types of aggregate. This requires greater expertise to pull off as well as more time to ensure the results are perfect.