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

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

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 concrete 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.