Resin Bound DrivewaysSmooth, Permeable, SeamlessAcross Bucks & Surrey
Hand-troweled resin bound driveways in natural aggregate blends, installed over a properly prepared base, guaranteed for 12 months on workmanship, and backed by £10m public liability insurance.
About Our Resin Bound Driveways Service
What it is
Resin bound is a cold-mixed system of clean, kiln-dried aggregate blended with a two-part UV-stable polyurethane resin and hand-troweled onto a prepared base. The result is a smooth, joint-free, fully permeable surface that drains vertically through itself, no puddles, no run-off, no SuDS headaches.
Who it's for
Homeowners across Amersham, Beaconsfield, Chesham, Great Missenden, the Chalfonts, Hazlemere and Farnham who want a clean, contemporary driveway finish that doesn't need weeding, re-sanding or re-laying. Also popular on paths, patios, pool surrounds and commercial entrances.
When you need it
You need resin bound when a tired tarmac or block-paved drive has reached the end of its life, when you're building new and want a low-maintenance surface, or when you need permeable construction to meet SuDS and planning rules without planning permission.
Why professional installation matters
Resin bound depends entirely on the base and the mix ratios. Too little resin, the aggregate strips out under tyres within a year. Wrong base, the surface cracks along every joint below. We prep tarmac or concrete bases correctly, use the correct 6.5–7.5% resin-to-aggregate ratio for driveways, and trowel to a consistent 15–18mm depth.
What Happens If You Leave It
Small problems don't stay small. Here's what we see when homeowners delay, and the corner-cutting mistakes that make it worse.
Stripping and pothole failure
Under-resined mixes lose stones under wheel turning within months. Once a bald patch forms, water gets under the resin layer and the failure spreads.
Cracking over tired tarmac
Laying resin over cracked or oxidised tarmac without proper prep telegraphs every crack straight through to the new surface within a winter.
UV yellowing on cheap resins
Non-UV-stable resins (common on rushed jobs) yellow visibly within 18 months. We only use aliphatic UV-stable resin systems, SureSet, Addastone, DALTEX.
Our Resin Bound Driveways Process
A clear, in-person system from first visit to final handover, no surprises, no scope creep.
- 1
In-person site survey
We assess the existing base, check drainage, take measurements and bring a sample tray of aggregate blends so you can pick a colour against your house.
- 2
Fixed written quote, same day
Itemised price covering base prep, primer, resin, aggregate, edging and any drainage, no hidden extras.
- 3
Base preparation
Existing tarmac is repaired, cracks are cut and filled, oil stains are burned off, and a bonding primer coat is rolled on. New builds get a full permeable sub-base and open-graded tarmac layer.
- 4
Mixing & trowelling
Aggregate and resin are batch-mixed in a forced-action mixer to the correct ratio, poured out in wet-edge sections, and hand-troweled by an experienced installer to a smooth, consistent finish.
- 5
Cure, clean & handover
Foot-traffic ready in 4–6 hours, vehicles the following day. Full walk-round handover with care advice and 12-month workmanship guarantee.
Why Homeowners Choose Hi Design
Fully permeable, SuDS compliant
Water drains vertically through the surface. No planning permission needed for front driveways, no separate soakaway required in most cases.
Weed-free, no re-sanding
Sealed surface with no joints means nothing for weeds to root into and no sand to wash out.
Smooth, wheelchair & pram friendly
Joint-free, level and quiet underfoot, noticeably better than block or gravel for accessibility.
Recent Resin Bound Driveways Projects
A selection of finished resin bound driveways work across Buckinghamshire and Surrey.
Resin Bound Driveways: The Detail
Aggregate blends and colours
We install from all the major aggregate suppliers, DALTEX, SureSet, Addastone, Kingfisher. Popular blends include Autumn Gold, Rustic Blend, Chocolate, Silver Birch, Bailey and Barley. Aggregate size is typically 1–3mm for driveways (6.5% resin) and 2–5mm for heavier commercial use (7.5% resin). We bring physical sample trays to the survey, not colour charts, which never match reality.
Base options, over tarmac, over concrete, new builds
Resin bound needs a stable, load-bearing, permeable base. Over existing tarmac (in sound condition) we prep, prime and lay directly. Over concrete we install movement joints and prime with an epoxy tie-coat. For new drives, we build a full 150mm MOT Type 3 open-graded sub-base with a 40mm layer of open-graded tarmac, this is the gold standard for permeability and longevity.
Depth, resin ratio and cure
Domestic driveways: 15–18mm depth at 6.5% resin by weight. Commercial and heavy-vehicle areas: 18–22mm at 7.5%. UV-stable aliphatic resin only, never aromatic. Cure time is 4–6 hours to foot traffic, 24 hours to light vehicles, 48 hours to heavy loads or turning wheels. Cold-weather installations pause below 5°C rising.
Resin bound vs resin bonded
Two different systems commonly confused. Resin bound (what we install) mixes aggregate through the resin and trowels smooth, permeable, no loose stones. Resin bonded scatters loose aggregate onto a wet resin coat, impermeable, loose stones on top, cheaper but far less durable. Ask any installer which one they're quoting; the words matter.
Residential vs commercial
Domestic driveways and paths typically use 6.5% resin, 1–3mm aggregate, 15–18mm depth. Commercial car parks, forecourts and delivery yards use 7.5% resin, 2–5mm aggregate, 20–22mm depth with reinforcement grids under high-turn areas. We install both to industry best-practice specification.
Resin Bound Driveways, Common Questions
Related services & areas
Get A Smooth, Permeable Resin Driveway
Free in-person survey with aggregate samples. Fixed written quote same day. 12-month guarantee.
Free site visit · Fixed written quote same day · 0% deposit · £10m insured