THIS IS HOW MUCH A RESIN DRIVEWAY COSTS

Written by Daniel Woodley. Fact Checked by Paul Farley. Published to Prices. Updated: 9th March 2023.

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The popularity of resin driveways has exploded in recent years, and it’s easy to see why.

They look stunning in any garden, are available in dozens of colours and last for years.

Resin drives also provide plenty of grip, allow rainwater to drain through to the ground, can be used as a standalone product or can be mixed with paving or blocks.

Just to be clear and to avoid any confusion, this price guide is for resin-bound driveways and not resin-bonded drives.

Here’s a straightforward explanation of the differences:

Resin-bound means the resin is fully mixed with the gravel and laid several inches thick to form a solid surface.

Resin-bonded means a resin (essentially a glue) is poured onto a surface such as concrete, and gravel is sprinkled onto the surface.

The problem with the resin-bonded method is longevity – I’ve seen cases where gravel came loose after a year or two and based on my experience, I feel it’s more appropriate for decorative areas of the garden rather than drives and paths that get a lot of use.

The price guide below is for full resin-bound driveways. They cost more, but the quality is much better.

Questions Answered in This Guide

Here are the key questions I’ll answer on this page:

• How much does a new resin driveway cost?
• What is the cost for a small 2-car driveway? And a larger driveway for up to 4/5 cars?
• What is the average cost on a per square metre basis?
• Are overlays possible or does the original driveway need to be excavated?
• How much does an overlay cost?

+ many more in our FAQs section

Resin Driveway Price 1: 60 Sq Mtrs

The driveway prices displayed in the table below are an average of the figures provided to me by the 28 installers I contacted in 2023.

These prices are for a standard resin driveway installation as described above.

You may wish or need additional work done, such as brick walls, front doorsteps, extra levelling of the ground etc. This will add to the cost as I haven’t included them in the prices below:

Resin Driveway Price 2: 100 Sq Mtrs

The next batch of prices I requested was for a 100 square metre driveway.

As with the first project, this is a standard installation using resin gravel, edgings etc.

Resin Driveway Overlay Cost

An alternative to resin-bound driveways is an overlay.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t always feasible as the existing driveway should be solid, sound and not showing signs of movement. I’ve seen resin driveways fail because they were laid over a cracked driveway and the cracks quickly transferred through to the new resin.

While resin can be laid onto concrete and tarmac, some additional work may be needed, such as new edgings, new aprons at the threshold, the raising of drains etc.

Resin gravel should not be laid onto soil, grass or weak, thin or heavily cracked surfaces.

The figures below are per square metre but the price varies depending on how big the driveway is. The larger the driveway, the lower the cost per square metre.

Other Costs to Consider

The prices displayed are for a standard resin gravel installation and do not include any of the following:

Kerb dropping/lowering – if you want an entirely new driveway constructed, or an existing one extended, you may need to lower the kerbs along the public pavement. As the land belongs to the council, you’ll require their permission, and they don’t always grant it. Based on my experience, reasons for refusal are almost always related to health and safety. You’ll also need to pay application fees, use council-approved contractors and cover the entire cost yourself. I researched the costs of lowering a kerb, and the results surprised me, with many of the councils charging over £2000, although some were much cheaper.

Driveway Drainage – since 2008 and as a result of repeated flash floods in the UK, all new driveways, including refurbishments, must not allow rainwater to discharge onto the public footpath or highway. The good news is that resin gravel is porous and if laid over a properly constructed sub-base, rainwater will soak directly into the ground. Put simply, you won’t need to pay for soakaways or drainage channels.

Edgings and Threshold – edgings and thresholds keep the resin gravel on the driveway, but your choice of edging/threshold material and how much is needed will affect the price.

Levelling – if you want a driveway replaced on a like-for-like basis, the ground probably won’t need much levelling. However, if you wish to lay an entirely new driveway or extend an existing one, you’ll need to level the ground, which may create a lot of waste, or you may need to pay extra material to be delivered and laid. Either way, extensive ground excavation and levelling isn’t cheap, but the cost will depend on the specifics of the driveway project.

Any extra work required such as raising flowerbeds, tree removal, brick walls, large doorsteps or relocating underground pipes or cables etc. can add to the cost of the resin driveway.

Popular Resin Colours

Resin finishes have come a long way in recent years and you have a choice of colours:

How Does Resin Compare to Other Driveway Materials?

Resin is a popular, if costly, choice of material for driveways; it’s by far my favourite surface and I’ve seen some stunning installations over the years. It’s water permeable, strong and long-lasting, but there are other options, some much cheaper:

Driveway blocks – more costly than gravel but cheaper than resin, blocks are the most popular choice for driveways in the UK.  You can get creative with patterns and the type of blocks you choose; cobbles look beautiful, but bland bricks are the most common. Block drives are easy to repair, wash and maintain. Rainwater management will be required for non-permeable blocks so extra cost might be incurred.

Tarmac – traditional and popular but can look bland, especially after a few years when the colour dulls from the effects of sunlight. It’s obvious when a repair has been carried out, and tarmac often cracks, leading to weed penetration. The price is slightly cheaper than a block driveway and much cheaper than resin. Rainwater management will be required for non-permeable tarmac.

Gravel  -the cheapest material you can use as a driveway surface but gravel shift/migration can be an issue on some drives. If constructed to a high standard, gravel drives can be both stunning and practical although cleaning can be troublesome, especially if you have trees nearby.

Stamped concrete  – patterns and coloured dyes are pressed or “stamped” onto the concrete as it dries meaning you can choose from lots of different colours and designs. Drainage management will be required for concrete driveways, and they can also be slippery if constructed on a slope. Repairs or alterations can be complicated once the concrete has hardened. The concrete may need to be re-sealed periodically to retain its colour, adding to the cost.

Get Your Custom Resin Driveway Quote Today

I hope you found my insights into the cost of resin gravel driveways helpful.

As no two driveway projects are the same, it’s challenging, if not impossible, to provide a realistic price without first seeing the property.

By choosing a tradesperson or firm from our preferred trader network, you can be assured of:

• Getting an accurate custom price based on the specifics of your property.
• A prompt service, get a price often in hours, not days.
• Verified reviews and feedback from past customers.
• The ability to compare prices from up to three local driveway specialists.

Resin Driveway FAQs

Why You Can Trust This Guide: Our Experience

This guide to resin driveways was created by Daniel Woodley who has 18 years of experience in the construction and landscaping industry.

The advice, hints and tips are based on his experience and knowledge.

To ensure accuracy, Daniel sourced quotes from several driveway installers and on this page, you’ll see a published figure which is an average of the prices supplied. We aim to update the price once per year.

We also asked Paul Farley to review and fact-check our content before we published this guide.

Gravel Driveways

Loose gravel is a cheaper alternative to resin and there are ways to stop the gravel from shifting. See how much a gravel driveway costs here.