As the weather eases up but before the height of summer means a lot of travel, parties and entertaining guests, spring is the best time to install a new driveway, but choosing the right one can be difficult at times and will often depend on its intended use.

Whilst historically, people have opted for hard-wearing concrete, asphalt or stone flags, a new generation of safer, more versatile and more sustainable solutions made from resin or rubber crumb have entered the market. 

Whilst primarily associated with artificial turf, pathways and playgrounds, rubber driveways have become a particularly desirable option, particularly for people who want the uniform look of asphalt but without some of the problems that come with it.

Rubber is becoming increasingly used in driveways, in no small part because it has some major advantages over other surface types.

Safety 

Part of the reason why rubber is used in playgrounds is because it is a lot safer than alternative materials for two main reasons.

The first is that whilst it is not completely soft, it is much softer than tarmac or concrete, which means that someone who falls has a lower risk of hurting themselves and a much lower risk of serious injury.

The other part of the safety equation is that rubber offers much better traction, meaning that people are much less likely to slip and fall than they would be on wet stone or concrete. It is also more comfortable to walk on, avoiding long-term joint issues.

This can be improved with a rubber-aggregate mix that can further improve traction whilst also increasing its longevity.

Sustainable Drainage

Not all rubber paving is permeable, but the rubber crumb we use is designed to drain water quickly, aided by the permeable base layers often used with resin-bound driveways.

Whilst this is beneficial for its own sake in avoiding water runoff and potentially creating flood risks, it also has the side benefit of reducing standing water, helping to improve traction further in adverse weather conditions.

With homeowners and new developers focusing more on sustainable drainage solutions, rubber crumb is gaining popularity for the same reasons resin-bound surfaces are; they provide the same amazing look but with far fewer of the downsides.

As well as this, most rubber drives are made with recycled rubber, which provides an ecologically conscious alternative for disposing of tyres rather than relying on landfills.

Low Maintenance

Unlike natural stone and to a lesser degree tarmac, rubber driveways are much easier to take care of. Many of them simply need to be swept and hosed down occasionally, with stains easily fixed using soap and water.

As well as this, the nature of rubber crumb, similar to that of resin, is that it is designed to move and shift enough to avoid cracking or wearing out in the way that certain types of concrete can.

It can also withstand freezing cold and extreme heat, making a surface type ideal for all weathers without the risk of damage being caused to it by a particularly frosty winter or lengthy summer heatwave.