Bonded resin driveway
Discussion
CAPP0 said:
About to look into this myself, although I'm in the SE. Initial indications are anything from £20 to £80 a metre - big spread!
20 to 80 is as you say a ridiculous spread, I'm mysteriously attracted to the lower end of your range whereas my first contractor quote is at a rather higher level2.5pi said:
200m2 any clue as to a reasonable costing? Midlands if that helps, I'm keen to get it done right but concerned that I'm being quoted based on size of house and car choice rather than cost of doing drive! Many thx PH
Some things to be careful about:Make sure you understand the difference between resin bonded and resin bound. They are different things, work differently and cost different amounts. Resin bonded is aggregate glued to a base - for example bitmac. It turns your drive into a great big sheet of sandpaper. Resin bound is a thicker layer of aggregate bound together a bit like a gravel flapjack.
Resin bonded drains at surface level (water runs off), resin bound at substrate level (it runs through).
Both products have limitations. If you are going for bonded, as per your title, the integrity of the base is key. Even over good quality bitmac you can get blistering, which is like rust bubbling under the paintwork of a car and a repair is likely to be visible.
Also be careful about aggregate choice. Some aggregates have iron deposits in them which don't become apparent until the surface has been laid a while. Then you get rust spots on your drive. Sometimes lots of them and very visible.
Resin drives seem to be going through an early adopter stage at the moment where contractors are still chancing their arms with pricing. You'll get a huge spread of pricing and price is not an indication of quality, I don't think.
If you PM me I can put you in touch with a contractor in the Midlands who won't take the rip on price and seems to have the right attitude to sorting out problems. We're having issues with one of their drives at the moment and they seem to be making the right noises.
Bonded, 35/m2. Bound, 75/m2.
Those are commercial rates for 10x the quantity so allow for economies of scale.
Bound is the better option.v
There isn't a huge amount to differentiate operators as aggregate comes from the same small number of plants and the process, while needing care, isn't rocket science if you're conscientious. Willingness to honour warranty is the big thing, really.
Those are commercial rates for 10x the quantity so allow for economies of scale.
Bound is the better option.v
There isn't a huge amount to differentiate operators as aggregate comes from the same small number of plants and the process, while needing care, isn't rocket science if you're conscientious. Willingness to honour warranty is the big thing, really.
Edited by iphonedyou on Friday 23 September 09:38
iphonedyou said:
Bonded, 35/m2. Bound, 75/m2.
Those are commercial rates for 10x the quantity so allow for economies of scale.
Bound is the better option.v
There isn't a huge amount to differentiate operators as aggregate comes from the same small number of plants and the process, while needing care, isn't rocket science if you're conscientious. Willingness to honour warranty is the big thing, really.
Bonded looks about right but in Surrey on about 1500m2 im paying £40-55/m2 for most versions/colours of Bound from Addagrip.Those are commercial rates for 10x the quantity so allow for economies of scale.
Bound is the better option.v
There isn't a huge amount to differentiate operators as aggregate comes from the same small number of plants and the process, while needing care, isn't rocket science if you're conscientious. Willingness to honour warranty is the big thing, really.
Edited by iphonedyou on Friday 23 September 09:38
No regulating included.
BOLD bit is really really important! Dont use a cowboy!
dan_almond said:
Bound is the way to go!
Bound is by far the nicer end finish if you have the money to spend on it. Far more expensive than bonded, which can transform an unsightly but structurally sound drive way or walk way for about a 10th of the cost. You can do bound yourself as a relatively easy DIY job also whereas I wouldn't tackle bonded.To avoid the 'leave your drive like sandpaper' effect on bound driveways, use an aggregate that's been polished smooth, like tiny beach pebbles.
A neighbour has recently had a bonded driveway that extends across the whole front garden. Had an unusual red colour aggregate used with a black brick surround, and a contrasting pathway with a stainless steel edging. Looks really good. Will take a photo next time i'm passing. Lots of prep work though, whole garden dug out and a solid concrete sub strata installed. Technically I think you need planning permission for this type of change as there will be a huge increase in rain water run off.
There are a few of these resin driveways round my way - some look great, some look like absolute trash.
One, for example has wheel marks where the bloke obviously pulls into his drive and parks in front of his house the same way every time - he would have been better off buying gravel, at least he could rake the tracks out then.
Others still look perfect despite having 3 or 4 years of cars moving around on them every day.
I'm guessing it comes down to the quality of materials and application - but how do you know how well he is doing it, or what he is using? Sure, the contractor can show you a driveway he did a month ago and it'll look great - but will he show you one he did 2 years ago that looks like it should be ripped up and replaced?
One, for example has wheel marks where the bloke obviously pulls into his drive and parks in front of his house the same way every time - he would have been better off buying gravel, at least he could rake the tracks out then.
Others still look perfect despite having 3 or 4 years of cars moving around on them every day.
I'm guessing it comes down to the quality of materials and application - but how do you know how well he is doing it, or what he is using? Sure, the contractor can show you a driveway he did a month ago and it'll look great - but will he show you one he did 2 years ago that looks like it should be ripped up and replaced?
CAPP0 said:
13m said:
Useful info
Thanks, that's appreciated. mine will be going onto existing reinforced concrete, in good order except for one very small piece which may need a repair first. Which option would you recommend? Bound sounds a better bet? How you want it to look: Bonded gives a more traditional gravel look, which is more suitable for period properties. Bound gives a very uniform and somewhat smooth, shiny finish which can look a little pristine in some applications, perfectly good in others.
How you want it to drain: If you can allow water to flow through the aggregate to the concrete and let it drain at that level you could use bound. If the finish could drain at surface level you could use bonded.
How much build do you want? Resin bonded may only be 2-5mm thick, whereas bound will be at least 12mm.
Is the substrate level?: If not you'll get pooling with resin bonded and bound, but with the latter you will potentially get a mossy, green build up within the aggregate. Any discolouration on bonded is more easily washed off. A similar problem applies with icing.
Traffic: If you're forever doing 3-point turns on the same spot bonded surfaces may have the aggregate broken off or (less likely) pulled out the resin.
Whether loose aggregate bothers you. With bound you'll have very little, with bonded you may have some. The latter gives that traditional gravel experience but gets everywhere.
Price: Aggregate is cheap, resin is expensive. Bonded used less resin and is cheaper.
Thanks for that, really useful. I think bound is the way to go:
How you want it to look: Bonded gives a more traditional gravel look, which is more suitable for period properties. Bound gives a very uniform and somewhat smooth, shiny finish which can look a little pristine in some applications, perfectly good in others. Much prefer the smooth look
How you want it to drain: If you can allow water to flow through the aggregate to the concrete and let it drain at that level you could use bound. If the finish could drain at surface level you could use bonded. There's only one drain on the drive. The concrete is sectioned into about 5 large pieces with expansion gaps. I guess the sections with no drain, drain into the expansion gaps but I don't know.
How much build do you want? Resin bonded may only be 2-5mm thick, whereas bound will be at least 12mm. That's potentially an issue, although only in respect of the garage door (currently up n over). If I change that for a roller, as planned, I guess no other issues
Is the substrate level?: If not you'll get pooling with resin bonded and bound, but with the latter you will potentially get a mossy, green build up within the aggregate. Any discolouration on bonded is more easily washed off. A similar problem applies with icing. Yes, seems pretty flat and level
Traffic: If you're forever doing 3-point turns on the same spot bonded surfaces may have the aggregate broken off or (less likely) pulled out the resin. No, we pretty much drive in and back out, although there is a little bit of turning to line up (mostly so I can get the bike out in between the cars!)
Whether loose aggregate bothers you. With bound you'll have very little, with bonded you may have some. The latter gives that traditional gravel experience but gets everywhere. would prefer nothing loose
Price: Aggregate is cheap, resin is expensive. Bonded used less resin and is cheaper. I reckon I'm in the region of 100m sq. That puts the top-end pricing around £7.5k; expensive but not a complete disaster.
How you want it to look: Bonded gives a more traditional gravel look, which is more suitable for period properties. Bound gives a very uniform and somewhat smooth, shiny finish which can look a little pristine in some applications, perfectly good in others. Much prefer the smooth look
How you want it to drain: If you can allow water to flow through the aggregate to the concrete and let it drain at that level you could use bound. If the finish could drain at surface level you could use bonded. There's only one drain on the drive. The concrete is sectioned into about 5 large pieces with expansion gaps. I guess the sections with no drain, drain into the expansion gaps but I don't know.
How much build do you want? Resin bonded may only be 2-5mm thick, whereas bound will be at least 12mm. That's potentially an issue, although only in respect of the garage door (currently up n over). If I change that for a roller, as planned, I guess no other issues
Is the substrate level?: If not you'll get pooling with resin bonded and bound, but with the latter you will potentially get a mossy, green build up within the aggregate. Any discolouration on bonded is more easily washed off. A similar problem applies with icing. Yes, seems pretty flat and level
Traffic: If you're forever doing 3-point turns on the same spot bonded surfaces may have the aggregate broken off or (less likely) pulled out the resin. No, we pretty much drive in and back out, although there is a little bit of turning to line up (mostly so I can get the bike out in between the cars!)
Whether loose aggregate bothers you. With bound you'll have very little, with bonded you may have some. The latter gives that traditional gravel experience but gets everywhere. would prefer nothing loose
Price: Aggregate is cheap, resin is expensive. Bonded used less resin and is cheaper. I reckon I'm in the region of 100m sq. That puts the top-end pricing around £7.5k; expensive but not a complete disaster.
CAPP0 said:
Thanks for that, really useful. I think bound is the way to go:
How you want it to look: Bonded gives a more traditional gravel look, which is more suitable for period properties. Bound gives a very uniform and somewhat smooth, shiny finish which can look a little pristine in some applications, perfectly good in others. Much prefer the smooth look
How you want it to drain: If you can allow water to flow through the aggregate to the concrete and let it drain at that level you could use bound. If the finish could drain at surface level you could use bonded. There's only one drain on the drive. The concrete is sectioned into about 5 large pieces with expansion gaps. I guess the sections with no drain, drain into the expansion gaps but I don't know.
How much build do you want? Resin bonded may only be 2-5mm thick, whereas bound will be at least 12mm. That's potentially an issue, although only in respect of the garage door (currently up n over). If I change that for a roller, as planned, I guess no other issues
Is the substrate level?: If not you'll get pooling with resin bonded and bound, but with the latter you will potentially get a mossy, green build up within the aggregate. Any discolouration on bonded is more easily washed off. A similar problem applies with icing. Yes, seems pretty flat and level
Traffic: If you're forever doing 3-point turns on the same spot bonded surfaces may have the aggregate broken off or (less likely) pulled out the resin. No, we pretty much drive in and back out, although there is a little bit of turning to line up (mostly so I can get the bike out in between the cars!)
Whether loose aggregate bothers you. With bound you'll have very little, with bonded you may have some. The latter gives that traditional gravel experience but gets everywhere. would prefer nothing loose
Price: Aggregate is cheap, resin is expensive. Bonded used less resin and is cheaper. I reckon I'm in the region of 100m sq. That puts the top-end pricing around £7.5k; expensive but not a complete disaster.
I'd quiz a contractor about the expansion gaps to make sure that the degree of expansion is something the resin can handle. I've seen bitmac overlay form neat cracks where the concrete substrate expands and contracts.How you want it to look: Bonded gives a more traditional gravel look, which is more suitable for period properties. Bound gives a very uniform and somewhat smooth, shiny finish which can look a little pristine in some applications, perfectly good in others. Much prefer the smooth look
How you want it to drain: If you can allow water to flow through the aggregate to the concrete and let it drain at that level you could use bound. If the finish could drain at surface level you could use bonded. There's only one drain on the drive. The concrete is sectioned into about 5 large pieces with expansion gaps. I guess the sections with no drain, drain into the expansion gaps but I don't know.
How much build do you want? Resin bonded may only be 2-5mm thick, whereas bound will be at least 12mm. That's potentially an issue, although only in respect of the garage door (currently up n over). If I change that for a roller, as planned, I guess no other issues
Is the substrate level?: If not you'll get pooling with resin bonded and bound, but with the latter you will potentially get a mossy, green build up within the aggregate. Any discolouration on bonded is more easily washed off. A similar problem applies with icing. Yes, seems pretty flat and level
Traffic: If you're forever doing 3-point turns on the same spot bonded surfaces may have the aggregate broken off or (less likely) pulled out the resin. No, we pretty much drive in and back out, although there is a little bit of turning to line up (mostly so I can get the bike out in between the cars!)
Whether loose aggregate bothers you. With bound you'll have very little, with bonded you may have some. The latter gives that traditional gravel experience but gets everywhere. would prefer nothing loose
Price: Aggregate is cheap, resin is expensive. Bonded used less resin and is cheaper. I reckon I'm in the region of 100m sq. That puts the top-end pricing around £7.5k; expensive but not a complete disaster.
Thanks all, some great information , I've found someone who I trust to do a great job at a good price as he's just retired after doing paving work for 25 yrs for a friend of mine who's a property developer!
He's coming round on Sunday to drink coffee , eat biscuits and hopefully finalise the spec for his first post retirement "escape from domestic chores" gig.
Once again thanks to all who responded
He's coming round on Sunday to drink coffee , eat biscuits and hopefully finalise the spec for his first post retirement "escape from domestic chores" gig.
Once again thanks to all who responded
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