Resin Vs Concrete for Driveways - What's The Difference?

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:37:42 GMT

What is the best option for a driveway surface? Resin or concrete?

When it's finally time to upgrade to a new driveway , resin bound and concrete are two popular options in Andover and nearby. In both cases, longevity is a given, but what else can impact the decision-making process? The guide below is designed to help understand the core differences, benefits, and drawbacks of each material, so that you can choose the one that truly makes sense for your property.

Visual Appeal

In terms of visual appeal, you can see in the second image below that resin gives a smooth and seamless finish - additionally, hundreds of natural stone colours are available. You can create a bespoke design geared towards modern or classic properties - there is a colour to match any property.

As you'll see in the first image below, concrete also gives a nice, clean effect. The colours and "stamp" patterns can be changed, although less variation is available when compared to resin.

Who wins the visual aspect prize? Resin, every time. The options are endless and can suit any type of property.

Lifespan

Concrete is a very strong type of material, it can handle heavy loads. However, it is the most "crackable" surface when weather changes happen. Repairs are also very visible when cracking happens.

Resin, when properly installed, is very hard-wearing. It has a lot of "flex", which means it can tolerate ground movement better than other driveway materials and is less prone to cracking. For any surface with vehicle traffic, resin is best.

Drainage Capabilities

Resin bound surfacing is the number one most porous (permeable) option for a driveway. Water just drains through immediately. This means no puddling, reduced flood risks, and full SUDS compliance. Additionally, no planning permission is required to install resin at a property, thanks to the drainage capabilities.

Concrete is not permeable whatsoever, it is pretty terrible for water management. Water will sit on the driveway unless drainage channels and falls are correctly installed. This also causes water run off and increases flood risks.

Resin is by far the better option for drainage, that is what it's designed for, after all.

Video demonstrating porous resin bound

Cost of Resin vs Concrete

This is where concret e excels a bit more, it is cheaper to installed compared to resin, often around 20-40% cheaper depending on the size and specifications. Because of the numerous "wins" that resin has within this guide, it is indeed more expensive to install. However, over time, with the added maintenance costs of concrete, it can often even out.

Maintenance Requirements

Resin is extremely low maintenance, some sweeping sporadically, maybe a jet wash once a year! It is resistant to weeds, fading, and does not require sealing. The porous nature of resin also helps to avoid debris build up on the driveway.

Concrete is relatively maintenance-free for the first couple of years. After that point, it can start to fade and potentially crack. It can also become quite slippy in the winter when it starts to wear. In that sense, sealing is required to keep concrete functional and looking good, often every 2 years, and can cost from £500-£2,000.

How long do they take to install?

Installation times are very similar. If we're talking about a full excavation project, the process is actually quite comparable - dig out the area to the required depth, dispose of all waste, build up the base and sub-base, install the finished surface.

Depending on the project, resin or concrete could take from 3 days to 7 days to fully install, that's for most domestic projects.

Also, both materials require several days before vehicles can be used.

Which surface is best overall?

According to the guide, you'll notice resin has more benefits compared to concrete. However, if your budget is tight, saving 20-40% can be big deal. So in reality, it all comes down to cost. If you're looking for a longer lasting, better looking, and truly maintenance-free product, resin is absolutely the winner.

That said, some customers prefer the design of concrete, and are happy to pay the maintenance fees every few years. In that case, it would make more sense to go for concrete.

The Most Popular Resin Driveway Colours in Andover

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:26:25 GMT

What colours are most regularly installed in Andover and nearby? We are local experts, let us answer the question for you.

Andover and surrounding areas like Salisbury , Winchester , Swindon , Reading , etc. are becoming extremely popular for resin driveways, patios, and pathways.

At Royal Homes, we specialise in creating resin surfaces, and have done so for many years. Therefore, we have a good feel for what colours are the most popular around here, and why.

Top 3 Colours

First up is Titan Silver. This modern and stylish blend of white and silver angular stones is extremely common, and it's no surprise. You'll see in the finished patio image that Titan Silver ties in extremely well with modern properties. It's not too "in your face", it comes across very sleek and seamless. We love Titan Silver for newer properties that have black, grey or white accents.

Next is Sienna. This colour is bound to impress anyone who stumbles upon it. It's different, it's exciting - hence it's popularity across Hampshire and beyond. This blend includes beautiful reds, browns, and oranges. Once fully installed, the result is very impressive, it suits more classic properties, especially alongside red brick. It's great for farm houses or cottages. That said, plenty of modern properties are also built with red brick, so Sienna can still be a great option.

Last, but not least, is Gunmetal Grey. A much more discreet and sleek finish compared to the above. It is commonly used as an alternative for tarmac - seeing as you still get the permeability and design benefits. If your whole estate has tarmac, Gunmetal Grey is a lovely solution to not stand out like a sore thumb, but still have a different (and more durable) finish. This blend is used across modern and classic properties in Andover and the surrounding towns.

Why are these colours so popular?

Despite having over 150 colours at our disposal, a lot of attention is drawn to these colours, we would estimate about 70% of all orders. We believe the reason is simple - customers don't want to take a gamble with a new or less common colour, they like knowing exactly what the finished product is going to look like. Often times, customers will have seen our work on nearby streets, so it's easy for them to envisage their surface in these same colours.

Also, this trio of colours can cater for classic, modern, luxury, budget properties all at once. You have Titan Silver for the modern look, Sienna for the classic, and Gunmetal Grey for the discreet.

Honourable Mentions

Cappuccino

Richmond

Springtime

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