Guildford Resin Driveways

Resin bound over concrete

A sound concrete driveway can make an excellent base for resin bound and avoids the cost of digging out. The overlay will copy any movement in the concrete, though, so cracks, expansion joints and drainage need dealing with first.

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In short: resin bound can be laid over concrete that is structurally sound, clean, dry, well-bonded and laid to falls. Cracks and joints must be treated or they will reflect through the resin. The finished drive will not drain to ground through solid concrete, so water must run off to a lawn, border, channel or soakaway, which also affects planning.

Is my concrete suitable?

Check Good sign Warning sign
Structure No movement, rocking slabs or hollow sounds Sunken areas, broken edges, slabs that move
Cracks Fine hairline cracks only Wide, stepped or active cracks
Surface Clean, no oil saturation, no loose laitance Oil-soaked patches, flaking or dusty surface
Levels Falls away from the house to a drainage point Ponding, falls towards the house or garage
Height Room for the resin layer without bridging the DPC or blocking doors Threshold already tight against the damp-proof course

Preparation an installer should describe

  1. Clean and, where needed, mechanically prepare the surface (for example by shot blasting or grinding).
  2. Repair or break out failed areas; one manufacturer's guide specifies removing damaged areas to at least 200 mm depth and reinstating.
  3. Treat cracks and joints, for example by cutting out and reinstating, or with a crack-control detail.
  4. Apply a primer suited to concrete.
  5. Fit edge restraint and recess or replace manhole covers.

Drainage

Concrete is impermeable. Water passes through the resin and then runs across the old slab, so falls matter. If the drive slopes towards the road, a channel drain at the boundary connected to a soakaway or permeable area keeps it within the 2008 planning rules. If you want a genuinely permeable driveway, the concrete has to come out. Compare the options in permeable resin driveways.

Frequently asked questions

What about expansion joints in my concrete?

Expansion joints exist because the slab moves. If resin is laid straight over them, a crack usually appears in the same line. Options include cutting a matching joint in the resin or breaking out and reinstating the area. Ask the installer which approach they use and why.

How old does new concrete need to be?

One manufacturer's installer guide gives 28 days as the ideal cure for a new concrete base before laying resin. Laying too early traps moisture.

Does an overlay on concrete need planning permission?

Replacing the surface of an existing hard driveway is a replacement surface under the 2008 rules. If it is impermeable, over 5 m² in a front garden and drains to the road, planning permission is needed. Drain it to a lawn or border on your property to avoid that.

Related guides

Resin over tarmac

Turning a sound tarmac drive into a resin finish without digging out, and when it is not suitable.

Driveway resurfacing

Overlay or full rebuild? How to tell which your drive needs, and what each involves.

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