Over the past few years, resin driveways have gone from a relative niche into a highly desirable pavement and landscaping surface, benefitting from a unique look and a durable, versatile design.
As a sustainable drainage system, they have become increasingly practical as planning restrictions restrict the laying of large, impermeable driveways and patios.
One advantage of using resin that is less often discussed is that it can be applied on a huge range of surface types without installing a dedicated new base first, which can be beneficial if you need the driveway to be installed more quickly.
In some cases, however, this can come at the expense of the excellent drainage capabilities that make resin-bound driveways so popular.
What Existing Surfaces Can Resin Surfacing Be Installed On?
Beyond a sustainable, porous base, many existing driveway surfaces that are clean and in good condition can be used, although they will need to be inspected for any potential fatigue or failure points before it is used completely.
The best options for existing surfaces are often long-lasting, solid surfaces such as tarmac or concrete.
Tarmac needs to be thoroughly cleaned, but as long as it is deep enough to support the weight of the aggregates and resin, it can be used to lay a resin surface easily and quickly.
It also needs to have settled, as tarmac can expand, contract and shift for up to a few weeks after laying.
Similarly, concrete is a sturdy enough surface for laying resin on top of, as long as it is in a suitably good condition, has been thoroughly cleaned, has no stress fractures or cracks, and should be primed with a polymer-based solution to ensure that the resin bonds properly with the concrete.
Other surfaces such as block paving and grid-based surfaces can be used but will need additional preparation and potentially more resin in order to maintain a consistent surface.
Should You Use An Existing Surface?
The temptation to use an existing surface is there for many people, particularly as it can potentially save money and time by not requiring an additional base, but there are a lot of considerations to think about before you decide.
The first and most important one is that a resin pavement is only as permeable as the base it is installed on, so if you are installing resin onto a tarmac or concrete surface, it will continue to be impermeable, and any issues you have with standing water or runoff will not disappear.
We will be able to give you advice about suitability and recommendations about whether it is better to lay on top of your existing paving surface. If your drive is suitably steep then standing water may not be an issue.
As well as this, it is important to avoid any surface that moves, has cracks or fatigue in it, as this can shift the layer of resin and cause damage that can affect the lifespan of a resin drive.
The results can vary depending on the base you have and your intentions for your driveway, but it is possible to install a resin drive on the right types of existing surface.