In the last few years, the word on the lips of every homeowner and property manager interested in hard-wearing, personalisable and beautiful driveways and paving has been resin.

The use of resin in construction is absolutely nothing new; frankincense and myrrh were prized natural resins as far back as Ancient Egypt and both natural and epoxy resins have been used for basically everything from nail polishes to wind turbines. 

In that sense, the question of why resin is used for driveways has an ostensibly very simple answer; resins are highly versatile adhesives used for everything else, so it makes sense you could make a drive from them.

However, that misses the primary focus of the question, which is less about why it can be used or has been used by some contractors, but why it has become so much more appealing now compared to previous driveways made from paving stones, concrete, gravel or asphalt.

There are a few reasons for this, and it comes down to being a more sustainable and versatile solution.

Environmentally Conscious Materials

Because many resins are either wholly or partly derived from natural materials, and the aggregates used are either stone or other recycled materials, the driveway becomes exceptionally sustainable and environmentally conscious.

It is a far more sustainable solution compared to any of its major competing systems. Concrete is an infamous polluter as is asphalt, whilst paving stones are not always sustainably sourced given the waste involved in cutting large suitable slabs to size.

As well as this, because they last a long time with minimal maintenance and can be laid with far less preparation, there is less of a carbon cost in the initial installation compared to other installations.

Permeability

Sustainable designs and materials are a major part of why resin has become a huge part of the driveway world, but another part of the equation is permeability and the rise in demand for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).

The big problem with concrete, especially, as a driveway material is that it is impermeable, leading to surface water pooling and running off into sewerage systems, potentially leading to lower water quality and flooding.

A SuDS driveway would fix this by allowing water to drain through it into an appropriate sub-base that is also permeable. 

This is not always an option, for example, if it is being laid onto a pre-existing concrete base, but given that SuDS often count as permitted developments, this sustainable choice can save time, energy and money in the long run.

Flexible Durability

The combination of resin and stone is inherently very durable in the first place, but one aspect that makes it so strong in the long run is flexibility.

Unlike concrete, which will crack over time in many cases, the resin is resistant to cracking, as well as being typically resistant to other forms of decay such as fading and the effects of weeds and pests.

Popularity

Word of mouth is key when it comes to home design, and the big reason why resin is used more than ever with driveways is simply that more people are aware of it and its benefits.

Once someone takes the plunge and gets a resin drive fitted, neighbours and passers-by will take notice, and gradually the word will spread.