Your driveway isn't just a convenient place to park your car. It is also the first impression for anyone approaching your home. To maximise that kerb appeal, making sure your driveway is aesthetically pleasing is a must. And two of the most popular and attractive driveway options are resin or block paving.
Both will look great but have a reputation for being on the more expensive end of driveway surface options. Overall, however, resin-bound paving does tend to be cheaper than block paving. Let's take a deeper look at why.
Block-paving driveways are an attractive addition to any home. The area is excavated and bricks or blocks are laid to create the driveway. There are a few different material options, including bricks, concrete paving blocks, or composite paving blocks.
Block paving is a popular option because the bricks or blocks have a wide variety of colour options and can be laid in the pattern of your choice. They are also easy to repair if there is any damage because individual bricks or blocks can be replaced without having to take up the entire driveway.
Resin-bound driveways are also an attractive option. Like blocking paving, there is a range of colour and texture options. Although it doesn't have bricks that can be laid in a pattern, it is great for driveways with unusual shapes because it can fill any curves.
The resin-bound surface is created by mixing carefully washed natural stone with clear resin and then laying it on a sub-base. Excavations aren't always needed and resin-bound driveways can be laid on top of an existing driveway surface.
Block paving prices will, of course, depend on a variety of factors. On average, however, you can expect to pay somewhere between £5,000 and £7,000 for an average driveway.
There are a few different factors that will affect how much you will pay for your block paving driveway and the price can vary dramatically when these are taken into account.
The choice of which block pavers will have a large impact on the cost of your driveway. Concrete blocks are the cheapest option but they have versatile design possibilities because they can be made to look like anything from cut stone to cobbles. The downside is that their colour tends to fade over time and they don't last as long as other options.
Clay bricks have vibrant colours that don't fade but they are more expensive. You can expect a difference of around £500 for an average driveway for bricks over concrete blocks. Using recycled bricks can reduce the price.
Composite pavers are made from recycled materials such as plastic and tires so they are a green option and they are a uniform thickness and shape so will be perfectly level when laid correctly. They are more expensive than both brick and concrete, however, with an additional cost of around £1,000 compared to concrete.
The size of your driveway will affect the overall cost of installing block paving. Larger driveways of around 100m² can hit the £10,000 mark whereas a smaller driveway of around 20m² can be less than £4,000.
Resin-bound paving is on average cheaper than a block-paved driveway. For a medium-sized driveway, you can expect to pay £4,000 - £5,000. As with block paving, there are some choices you can make which will impact the cost.
UV-resistant resin is almost twice the price of non-UV stable resin. It can be worth the price, however, as sun damage can cause the colours to fade quickly if the resin isn't fade-resistant. There are also stain-resistant and slip-resistant options that can be added on. For more information, we recommend checking out our post titled "Do Resin Driveways Fade".
The size of the resin-bound surfacing gravel varies from 0.1mm to 10mm. For driveways, you will likely need aggregate that is between 3mm and 8mm. The depth of the sub-base will be determined by the size of the gravel and is very specific to keep the surface permeable. The larger the aggregate, the deeper your installers will need to dig. And the more expensive the driveway will be.
One of the main benefits of resin driveways is that they can often be installed directly over your existing driveway if, for example, you have a tarmac or concrete driveway. If you have grass or stones, then some excavation work may need to be done which can increase the cost. For more learnings, you can also check out our article "Are Resin Driveways Better Than Tarmac?".
The price of resin vs block paving isn't just limited to the installation costs. One of the factors that can make a resin driveway cheaper than block paving is its low maintenance. Because it is laid in one continuous stretch, there is nowhere for weeds to grow through the prepared surface. Block paving, however, will require regular weeding and repair if the plants have loosened the pavers. For more information, you can check out our post "Do Weeds Grow Through Resin Driveways".
A resin driveway will also require less power washing and other general maintenance. But resin driveways are harder to repair. It can be difficult to patch and repair resin-bound surfaces, however, without it being blindingly obvious because it interrupts the smooth surface. If you're wondering if can you repair resin driveways, we suggest checking out our dedicated post on the subject.
Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) refer to materials that are permeable and allow water to drain through them rather than running off into the street. You usually don't need planning permission for a SuDS-compliant driveway but you do for one that isn't compliant. For more information, you can check out our post "Do You Need Planning Permission For A Resin Driveway".
Block paving isn't always SuDS compliant. It depends on the material of the blocks (concrete, for example, is permeable) and how they are laid. Some companies specialise in laying SuDS-compliant block paving, but not all. Permeable block paving can be more expensive per square metre.
There is an important distinction between a resin-bonded and resin-bound surface. The bonded option is when the aggregate is laid directly onto a layer of resin. The bound option is when the resin and aggregate are mixed before being laid.
Bonded is the cheaper option but it isn't SuDS compliant because it doesn't create a permeable material. Resin-bound surfaces are permeable and SuDS compliant but they do cost more.
So is resin cheaper than block paving? Overall, yes, it is cheaper per square metre. It also has fewer ongoing maintenance costs and can be UV and stain resistant as well as slip-resistant if you choose those options. Many homeowners are now choosing resin for their new driveway for these reasons and because of its attractiveness and low maintenance.
If you want a new look for your outside space with a new driveway and you think resin is the best choice, don't hesitate to get in touch. We are experts in laying resin-bound driveways that will last for decades. We will listen to your design choices and personal preference so that we can create the custom-made resin driveway that is perfect for you.
