Resin bound or resin bonded?
The names sound alike but the finishes are very different, and quotes do not always make clear which one you are getting.
- Resin bound means the stones are mixed with clear resin and trowelled out as a smooth layer, typically 15 to 18mm thick for a drive. The surface is porous, so water drains through it.
- Resin bonded means resin is spread on a solid base and loose stone is scattered on top. It is grippy, but it is not porous and the stone can wear away over time.
For a drive at the front of a Stockton house, resin bound is what most people actually want. Make sure the quote says "resin bound" and gives the stone size and depth.
What it needs underneath
Resin bound is a thin wearing layer. It has no strength of its own, so the base does all the work. A good installer will propose one of two bases:
- Open-graded (porous) tarmac laid over a compacted stone sub-base. This is the most common choice for new drives.
- A permeable concrete or an existing sound tarmac or concrete drive, if it is level, uncracked and drains.
Laying resin over a cracked 1970s concrete drive is the classic false economy. The cracks reflect straight through within a year or two. On Stockton's heavy clay, where water sits rather than soaking away, the sub-base depth and an outlet for water at the low point also matter. If the drive falls towards the house or a garage, ask how the water will be dealt with before you agree a price.
Cost in Stockton
On Checkatrade's April 2026 averages, resin bound is about £120 per m², the dearest of the four main drive surfaces. MyBuilder's August 2026 range runs up to about £130 per m².
| Drive size | Typical cost at £120/m² |
|---|---|
| 20m² single | about £2,400 |
| 40m² double | about £4,800 |
| 60m² large drive | about £7,200 |
Source: Checkatrade driveway cost guide, April 2026. Smaller drives cost more per m², because set-up and mixing costs are fixed.
The extras that push a resin quote up are mostly groundwork: breaking out old concrete, removing clay and building a new porous base. Resurfacing over a sound existing drive is the cheaper end. Our Stockton cost guide sets out the other extras.
Things to ask before you agree a quote
- Is the resin UV-stable (aliphatic)? Cheaper aromatic resins can darken and yellow in sunlight, which shows on pale stone.
- What depth and stone size? Around 18mm with 6mm stone is a common spec for drives.
- What is the base, and how deep is the sub-base?
- How will the edge be finished? A block or steel edge stops the resin crumbling at the lawn or border.
- How long before I can drive on it? Usually a day or two, depending on temperature.
- What happens at the pavement? Resin should meet the footway neatly, and a new crossing needs the council's agreement first. See dropped kerbs.
Where resin works best in Stockton
Resin suits the inter-war semis in Norton and Hartburn, where you can match a warm stone mix to red brick, and the newer estates where people want a cleaner look than block paving. It is less suited to steep drives and to spots under trees that drop sap, because resin shows staining more than tarmac does.
If you are deciding between this and blocks, both have their place. Block paving is easier to patch and extend. Resin is smoother and has no joints for weeds. The block paving page covers the other side of the comparison.
Planning and drainage
Because resin bound is porous, a properly built resin drive normally counts as a permeable surface for the front-garden rule, as long as the base is porous too. A resin layer on top of solid concrete is not permeable overall. Our guide to permeable driveways and the front-garden rule explains the 5m² rule and the government guidance behind it. In parts of the Norton and Hartburn conservation areas, a new hard surface needs permission whatever it is made of; see driveways in conservation areas.
Common questions
Is resin worth the extra cost over block paving?
It depends what you value. Resin is smoother, has no weed joints and drains well. Block paving costs a little less on average and is easier to repair in patches.
Can resin be laid over my old concrete drive?
Only if the concrete is sound, level and not cracked. If it has moved or cracked, the cracks will show through, so the old drive usually has to come out.
Does a resin drive need planning permission?
Usually not, provided it is resin bound on a porous base, so water drains through. Parts of the Norton and Hartburn conservation areas are an exception.
Will resin go yellow?
UV-stable aliphatic resin is designed not to. Ask which type is in the quote.
How soon can I park on it?
Typically after 24 to 48 hours, depending on the weather.
Does resin cope with frost?
A properly mixed and laid resin bound surface on a free-draining base copes with normal north-east winters. Problems usually come from a poor base or too little resin in the mix.
