Photo Credit: Julia Kuzenkov, www.pexels.com

A driveway is a welcome mat to your home. Not only does it bring you home after a long day, but it is the first thing that visitors experience in your house.  A cluttered or even overgrown driveway can become an eyesore for your home and your neighborhood and can be a hazard to anyone entering. 

For this reason, it is important to install a driveway that is easy to maintain, durable and attractive to look at. The driveway has to withstand the outdoor elements as well as the wear and tear of cars and all of the other traffic that goes along with entering and leaving the home.  It is important to research the right materials to use on the driveway, and ensure that you are using the right products to create the entrance. 

There are various options available for you to choose from. Concrete, pavers, gravel, and asphalt are some of the more popular, whereas stone pavers make for a more natural look. Each comes with their pros and cons, and might or might not match your home. In this article, we took a look at resin driveways. We looked at the pros and cons, the costs involved and whether or not this is the option for your home. 

What is a Resin Driveway?

The first thing that we will cover is what a resin driveway is actually made of. A resin driveway is a mixture of aggregate stones and resin to create a permeable surface for your driveway, footpaths or other surfaces that are exposed to the elements of nature. It is a popular choice among those who have large areas outdoors that experience high rains, snow or high winds. It is also an attractive option as you can match the stones, patterns, and colours to your home to create a uniform, balanced look and feel. 

Factors to Consider

Now that we have a good idea of what makes up a resin driveway, we can delve into what you need to consider before installing one. Doing research is vital before simply starting a project as you need to know whether it is the right option for you and to not waste money on a process. So, below are the things you need to tick off for your peace of mind. 

What is the Cost?

The first thing to consider when thinking about the resin driveway cost is what is currently the base of the driveway. Will the existing driveway need to be pulled up completely, as you cannot install a resin application over bricks or concrete? Secondly, you will need to consider what the basis of the driveway will be made of. 

Another thing to look at is how big the stones are going to be, and what kind of resin you are going to use. This will be a big factor in how much your new driveway will cost. If you can install it on the existing sub-base, you can look at a ballpark figure of around $70 per square meter. This is more expensive than the gravel driveways, which is the cheaper option out of all of them but can be cheaper than the tar option. 

How Much Time Does it Take?

This is one of the easiest driveways to install. Depending on the size of the area that needs to be covered, it can take only a few days to get the whole area done. What needs to be considered here too, is whether or not there is an existing sub-base that needs to be removed first. This will extend the time and costs involved in your new driveway. 

Who is Installing it?

The next thing to look at is who is doing your driveway? Is it going to be a DIY job, or are you getting a professional in to do it? The rule of thumb is that you should rather hire a professional to do it than do it yourself. Make sure you use a reputable company if you are using a professional. If, however, you feel like you are totally capable of doing it yourself, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• The driveway will need to be laid on a dry, warm day; 
• You will need to get the ingredients just right; 
• There is not much time to play with as the resin can set quickly, so there is not much room for error; 
• You will need to be fully prepared and organized before you begin to make sure you get a smooth surface.

What is the Gradient of your Driveway?

The next thing to think of is the gradient of your yard. The flatter the driveway, the better. If you have a steep driveway, this might not be your best choice. It can be a bit slippery, and your tires might not be able to grip. For a steep driveway, rather look into tar. It provides enough grip for you to navigate out of your home. 

Is There a lot of Traffic on the Driveway?

Naturally, we all do assume that one or two cars will be using a driveway frequently, with the number of cars increasing less frequently. If you have more traffic in your yard than this, you should rather consider other options. Higher traffic, or areas where a lot of turning will need to take place will damage and lift the resin. 

Does it Take a Lot of Maintenance?

As long as the driveway is installed correctly, the driveway should have a lifespan of anything between 10 to 25 years. You do need to ensure that you keep the area maintained, however. Luckily, they do not take excessive maintenance. Should you see that the driveway is becoming clogged or overgrown, a quick pressure hose will be the only thing that you need to do to keep the area clean. 

The last thing to keep an eye on is if it has any drainage problems. In general, resin driveways are very permeable and are great for water drainage. What you need to remember, is that the smaller stone doesn’t allow such easy drainage. So, if you live in an area that floods easily and you don’t have any drainage to bedding, the larger stone is your better option. 

Last Thoughts

There are certainly more pros than cons to resin driveways for most households. It is, however, advisable to get a professional contractor to assist you with the assessment of your property and installation of your brand new driveway.