Resin Bound Kits

At Clearstone, we know that important decisions about your home and garden are never easy. And with many landscapers, builders and providers hoping to win your business, you need to know the facts to ensure you can decide whether a resin bound kit would be suitable for you.

It’s true – there are other installers offering resin-based surfaces – some of whom offer cheaper surfaces than Clearstone. Why is this?

Resin bound vs resin bonded

Firstly, not every surface that involves resin is a true resin bound surface, with the permeability and durability of this technology. Resin bonded surfaces are cheaper, but less durable. They are often less attractive than resin bound, and are never permeable, so they offer none of the environmental drainage benefits.

Even when comparing permeable resin bound surfaces, standards of materials and installation vary widely. To understand why, let us explain a little about the process we use to select, mix and install the ingredients needed to create your surface…

Off-the-shelf kits vs. Clearstone’s custom mix 

A successful resin bound installation is all about attention to detail. So after we’ve spoken to you about your design, your preferred colour scheme and the way your surface will be used, we carefully calculate how to turn your dream into reality: with the right aggregate, the perfect resin formula, and the precise proportions we’ll use to blend these two vital ingredients. This calculation is so important, we even take into account the expected air temperature on installation day. No detail is too small.

Meanwhile, other installers may be using what’s known as ‘resin bound kits’. Kits combine the necessary resin and aggregate, and are easily transported in a general builder’s van. Kits are a quick, easy way to obtain the materials needed to install a simple resin bound surface. They can be fine for small areas, and they cut down on costs for the installer, but they have significant drawbacks.

If you’re speaking to other installers about resin bound, ask how they will fine-tune the mix to create your surfaces. Are they using an off-the-shelf kit for a quick installation, or will they calculate a custom mix just for your home? Then speak to us, to help make a comparison.

Clearstone:

• Resin bound, every time
• Wide range of colours and finishes
• Quality that may cost a little more
• Efficient installation to minimise disruption
• Custom-mixed ingredients every time
• Suitable for any size space
• Trained and experienced specialist installers
• 12 years’ resin bound experience

Other installers:

• May be resin bonded or resin bound
• Limited range of colours
• May be cheaper
• Staff may be untrained in resin installation
• May use resin bound kits
• May be useful for small areas
• May not be resin bound specialists
• Landfill waste created from non-recyclable resin kit buckets