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A resin bound driveway can be a great option for an attractive and functional driveway. With that being said, it is important to be aware of the problems that can go along with resin bound driveways and how to avoid and/or fix them. Ensuring that it is applied correctly is often the first step to avoid encountering problems.
As the name suggests, resin bound driveways have a resin bound surface material. There is a smooth underlying base that is made of, for example, asphalt or concrete. It isn't too important what the base is made of as long as it is flat and durable.
The resin bound element of the driveway is the surface layer. It is created by mixing resin with aggregate consisting of stones and/or gravel. These two materials are mixed together in a forced action mixture ready to be laid. They can then be trowelled onto the base layer to create a smooth and flat finish.
There are plenty of advantages to choosing a resin bound driveway, which is why it is such a popular option.
Before we begin with the common problems you might find with resin bound driveways, it is important to make the distinction between the different types of resin driveways. While the names are very similar a resin bonded driveway is completely different from a bound one.
With resin bonded driveways, rather than the resin being mixed with the aggregate of stone and gravel and then laid, it is instead placed directly onto the base layer. The aggregate is then poured on top of the resin layer. Once the resin has fully cured, any loose stones are swept away.
It is a cheaper option when compared to a resin bound system, but it isn't as durable, the layer of stones isn't permeable, and the surface tends to be rougher.
Many of the common problems that you might run into with a resin driveway are caused by poor installation. It is important to identify these issues as quickly as possible so that they can be corrected (if they can be), and to make sure that the contractor installing your resin bound driveway is reputable.
Resin driveways can be difficult to apply correctly. This is mainly because they have to be laid very quickly. The curing time of the resin can be surprisingly short and can vary depending on a couple of different factors:
The entire resin bound surface needs to be applied in one go and, depending on the above factors, the curing time can be as little as 10 minutes. If the curing time is too quick, it can result in a looser bond and the potential for cracks to appear.
Choosing the right time to lay your resin driveway can help to avoid these issues. The most important factors to be aware of are:
This happens when the resin bound surface cracks and detaches from the base. It is usually due to the surface not having been sealed correctly, and the driveway being compromised by the frost/thaw cycle. Unfortunately, this is a difficult fix and your only option may be to have the entire driveway redone.
The area of the driveway surface that has become detached will need to be cut out and reapplied but if you choose this option (as opposed to re-laying the entire driveway) it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to get a perfect colour match.
This is a similar problem to surface detachment but it is related to the base layer rather than the surface layer. If the layer underneath has become compromised, this can cause the surface to shift which results in reflective cracking and/or peeling. Most cracks are a sign that something has gone wrong when the surfaces were installed.
This isn't just an aesthetic issue. It is also a safety issue. The cracks and lifts can cause accidents so it is important to address this problem as soon as possible. If you notice your driveway cracking you will need to get someone to come and take a look.
When laying resin bound surfaces it is important that the mixture remains dry. If it gets wet during the new driveway installation process, this can compromise the strength and the finish of the resin bound surface.
Keeping a close eye on the weather forecast (e.g. via a reliable weather app) is, therefore, key when choosing when to lay a resin bound driveway.
Many resin driveways can become discoloured and this is often due to three main processes:
Many aggregates contain some portion of iron oxide and/or lead which can rust over time, resulting in dark stains. You can avoid this problem either by deliberately choosing an iron oxide or lead-free aggregate or by using more resin in your mix.
The resin itself can interact with the aggregate to cause patches of discolouration and this is much more common with lighter-coloured stones. Using a UV-resistant coating can help to prevent this.
This is caused by moisture interacting with the surface while it is curing. You can prevent clouding by keeping a close eye on the relative humidity and ensuring that you only lay the driveway when you can be assured of dry conditions.
Loose stones occur when the aggregate hasn't bonded sufficiently with the resin. One possible reason for this is that you have used the wrong ratio between aggregate and resin. You should aim for a mix that has 8% resin to the aggregates to make sure that it bonds properly.
Another potential reason for this problem can be that the resin bound system hasn't been laid to a sufficient depth during installation. It is immediately apparent why a thinner layer can be a cheaper option but it can also make it much more likely that the stones will come loose.
The right depth to ensure that the mix will hold is three times the size of the largest size stone in the aggregate. Loose stones can lead to patches in the driveway that will stop it from leaving the smooth finish that you are looking for.
It is very important to prevent any weight from being placed on the resin bound surface while it is still curing. If a person or an animal walks on the laid mix before it has finished curing, this can cause damage.
If you can reach the damaged area without also walking on the surface, you can re trowel it and it should cure in line with the rest of the surface. To do this, you should carefully chisel out the affected area, mix up a small amount of the resin with some more stones, and carefully compact the new mix in its place.
Placing some warning tape around the exposed area can help to prevent people from walking on the surface. It can be more difficult to stop animals, however, so it is a good idea to have someone keep an eye on the driveway the whole time it is curing.
If you find bumps on your driveway, this is usually a problem with the sub base rather than the surface layer. This is an issue that will need to be addressed because bumps can cause dips in which water can pool, leading to a variety of driveway problems.
Ensuring that the base is completely flat before the resin surface is installed is the best way of avoiding this situation. To fix it after the fact, you will need to remove the surface, flatten the base layer, and then reapply the resin layer.
One of the biggest advantages of a resin drive is that it is porous. Unfortunately, incorrect installation can interfere with the surface's ability to drain water correctly. This is often because the gaps that you would usually find around each stone have closed up.
There isn't a quick fix for this problem. If you are finding water pooling on your driveway and it doesn't appear to be draining properly then you may need to start again from scratch.
This is a common problem that can be encountered when laying a resin bound driveway. Many contractors will order the smallest amount of the materials but it can also be difficult to estimate accurately how much of everything will be needed.
The amount that you will need for full coverage can vary depending on the makeup of the aggregates and the depth that you will be placing the resin surface.
It is important to plan ahead by ordering more of each material than you estimate that you will need (ideally 10% - 15% more). If you don't have enough mix to cover the entire driveway, this can be disastrous because it can cause the final finish to look messy.
Since a smooth and neat surface is one of the big appeals of a resin bound driveway, a messy finish can ruin the entire project.
A resin bound driveway is a popular choice. It is attractive, durable, and porous and is very versatile in terms of when and where it can be used. It is important to be aware, however, of the most common problems that can occur with this type of driveway so that you can avoid them. Prevention is almost always better than cure, so stopping the potential problems before they occur can leave you with much less of a headache than trying to fix them after the fact.
