Resin bound or resin bonded? The one word that decides whether your drive lasts

Ask three contractors for a "resin driveway" and there is a fair chance you will get two different products back. Both look gorgeous on the day. Only one of them will still look that way after a few hard winters.

Resin bound: the stone carpet

With a resin bound surface, natural aggregate and a clear resin are mixed together on site, then spread and trowelled by hand to a smooth, even finish. Every stone is wrapped in resin. Because there are tiny gaps between the stones, rainwater drains straight through it.

• Permeable, so water soaks away instead of pooling by the door
• No loose stones to kick onto the pavement
• Smooth underfoot, good for pushchairs and wheelchairs
• Usually SuDS compliant, which matters for planning (more on that below)

Resin bonded: glue and gravel

A resin bonded surface works the other way round. A layer of resin is rolled onto the base and loose stone is scattered over it while it is wet. The stones stick to the top, but the surface underneath is solid resin, so water cannot pass through.

If a quote says "resin" and nothing else, ask one question: is the stone mixed in, or scattered on top?

Bonded surfaces have their uses, such as grip on a steep path. But on a driveway, the loose stones that do not bond properly tend to come away under tyres, and the surface is impermeable.

Why it matters for planning

In England, which includes Carlisle and the rest of Cumbria, paving more than five square metres of a front garden with a surface that does not let water through usually needs planning permission, unless the water is directed to a lawn or border. A permeable resin bound drive generally avoids that problem. Scotland has its own rules, so if you are in Dumfries & Galloway or the Borders, it is worth a quick check with your council.

The bottom line

For a driveway that drains, keeps its stones and stays smooth, resin bound is almost always the right call. We lay resin bound surfaces in 26 colour blends, and we will tell you straight if your existing base is good enough to overlay. See the colour chart or read more about our resin driveways.