Frequently Asked Questions about Resin Drives
CLEARSTONE RESIN BOUND SURFACING SYSTEM - WHAT IS IT?
Q. Resin bound and resin bonded – What is the difference?
A. The difference between resin bound and resin bonded systems is simply that one is porous, and the other is not. Bound: Aggregate is mixed with resin in a mixer and then hand-trowelled into place to produce a surface that is smooth and porous. Bonded: A layer of resin is screeded onto a surface and then a fine aggregate is scattered over the top and rolled in. This produces a rough surface that is not porous. Porous resin bound surfaces perform better than non-porous resin bonded ones, allowing drainage of surface water and better environmental compliance.
Q. What makes a resin bound system porous?
A. The process of blending the aggregate with the resin coats all of the stone – sticking it together. This process still allows for gaps between the stones, allowing water to filter through it.
Q. Will the resin surface always be porous?
A. As with all new surfacing, maintenance is key. Resin drives (or any resin bound surface) should be swept regularly of leaves and debris, to avoid a build-up of detritus. And a regular power wash, for instance twice a year, in accordance with our cleaning schedule, should keep your resin bound surface looking splendid, and help maintain its porosity.
Q. Where can I install resin bound surfacing?
A. Resin bound surfacing can be installed almost anywhere, inside or outside, provided that a suitable base has been installed prior to the installation
WHAT DO I NEED TO INSTALL RESIN BOUND SURFACES?
Q. What can resin bound surfacing be laid on?
A. Resin bound surfacing can be laid on either a concrete surface (non permeable) or on a permeable asphalt surface. We can supply full specifications for these two types of base.
Q. Can resin bound surfacing be laid on my existing surface?
A. For your base to have the same lifespan as the new resin bound surfacing, a new base is preferable.
Q. What about laying resin bound surfacing over block paving, crazy paving or concrete slabs?
A. Resin bound surfacing should not be laid over any of these. There will be movement in these types of surface that will potentially cause the resin bound surfacing to prematurely crack.
Q. Can a resin bound surface be laid on a roof terrace?
A. Yes, as long as the substrate is suitable for the weight of the new surfacing.
Q. If I have a concrete base, do you lay the resin bound surfacing over any expansion joints?
A. No, the resin bound surfacing cannot be laid straight over expansion joints in the concrete. If there is any movement of the concrete sections, this will cause reflective cracking in the new resin bound surfacing. In order to install the resin bound surfacing to the concrete we affix an aluminium and rubber expansion bead above the concrete expansion joint. This allows movement of the concrete sections, without cracking the resin bound surfacing.
THE RESIN AND STONE IN RESINDRIVES
Q. Is the resin coloured?
A. No, not with the resin bound system.
Q. Will the resin change colour over time?
A. No, the resins we use at Clearstone are UV-stable, and have been manufactured so that they will not change colour.
Q. Is the stone natural or man made?
A. Natural stone is used for resin bound surfacing. This is to ensure that you get a natural look for your property or project. The main types of stone used are gravel, quartz, flint, granite and bauxite. It is also possible to use stone that has been artificially coloured (pigmented) which can be coloured using the RAL system of colours. This means that logos, emblems, can be replicated to an exact colour match to the original.
Q. Is resin bound surfacing strong enough to take vehicles?
A. Yes. Because of the hardness of the stone used, and the way the mixture is formulated by Clearstone, the surface can be used by vehicles. If the resin bound surfacing is for a path, a softer aggregate can be used, such as marble.
Q. What size of stone is used for the resin bound surfacing?
A. Normally a 3-5mm sized aggregate would be used for a driveway, terrace or path. This ensures that the internal makeup of the surfacing is a tight, well-bound mixture, with the right amount of cavitation for permeability. This would be laid at a nominal 18mm depth for a driveway, and a nominal 15mm for a path or terrace. For a tree surround, a 10mm-sized aggregate is used, to give larger gaps, ensuring that there is adequate water penetration to the tree roots.
Q. What will happen to resin bound surfacing during times of extreme heat or freezing?
A. As the resin bound surfacing has cavitation within the mixture, water will run through the surface and back into the ground. This stops water from pooling on the surface, so causing a freezing problem. During times of extreme heat the resin bound surface will remain cooler than asphalt or concrete, due to the cavitation allowing air to circulate through it.
BEFORE RESIN DRIVE INSTALLATION
Q. Do I need planning permission to alter my driveway or install a new driveway?
A. In most cases, no. You do not need planning permission to install a permeable driveway. However, different councils have different rules regarding this, and you would be wise to contact your local council and seek their advice.
Q. Does Clearstone’s resin bound surfacing system comply with SuDS regulations?
A. Yes, Clearstone’s resin bound surfacing is SuDS (sustainable drainage system) compliant. In 2011 the Environment Agency introduced SuDS regulations to help manage flood risks and water management. Clearstone resin bound surfacing allows water back into the water table, instead of running off into the sewerage system.
Q. What’s my guarantee?
A. Clearstone offers a comprehensive guarantee for a private use driveway, on all installations performed by our in-house team. Clearstone will guarantee against:
- Stone migration
- UV degradation
- Poor workmanship
- Cracking
- Colour change
Note about your pre-existing base. Because the base is such an important part of the system, we can’t extend our guarantee to installations on pre-existing bases, or projects where the base has been installed by other companies. Public use installations incur different guarantee terms, dependent on the terms and conditions of each individual commercial project.