Are you looking to give your home that final touch with an attractive driveway? Do you find yourself wondering why your neighbor next door seems to spend little or close to nothing at all in maintaining their driveway? Well, resin-bound paving might be the perfect solution to your "driveway dilemma."

When it comes to obtaining planning permission, it is interesting to note that governments and local authorities favor resin-bound surfaces because the material's porous nature allows for easy rainwater drainage. This prevents flooding, thereby reducing environmental impact. Due to this advantage, it is generally not a requirement for you to obtain planning permission for your resin-bound driveway installation. These properties of resin material also make it a suitable means of paving your driveway or homes.

But hold on, don't be too excited yet; as durable and beautiful as they are, resin-bound driveways have their shortcomings. However, you can take extra precautions to avoid common problems associated with resin-bound driveways and have an attractive driveway all year round.

Before we delve into the problems of resin-bound paving, let's first consider our options. When it comes to resin driveways, there are two options you can choose from. These are resin-bound and resin-bonded pathways. Although these two terminologies are commonly used interchangeably, it is essential to note that they have significant differences. In a resin-bonded system, loose gravel is spread on a surface covered with resin.

Conversely, resin and stones are mixed in a suitable proportion for resin-bound installation before applying it to the surface. A resin-bound driveway comes with many advantages. One advantage worth mentioning is its permeability. But just like any other system, a resin-bound system has its challenges. Let's look at the challenges one might face with a resin driveaway and some solutions that might be handy when they present themselves. 

Problems With Resin-Bound Driveways And How To Avoid Them

Choose Your installer Carefully.

The moment you set your heart on having that beautifully designed resin driveway, don't forget that the root cause of most problems you're likely to face emanates from workmanship. Resin installation is a craft that requires adequate protective measures as well as specialized equipment and skill. Without proper training, you can watch all the Do-It-Yourself videos and still end up with unsightly and uneven surfaces. The chances of messing it up are very high, and this would mean starting from scratch. For this reason, it's best to have an experienced contractor or installer lay your driveway. Another point to note is that materials for resin-bound systems aren't cheap, so the best way to get value for your money and avoid this problem is to choose an expert. (Link to client's website or contact page) 

Unexpected rains.

Most problems associated with resin driveways are a result of improper installation. The common cause of this is unexpected rain when a surface is being applied. Did you know that the smallest amount of moisture or water in the aggregates can result in blooming and stone loss? It is important to note that water and resin do not mix well. Therefore, when your resin mixture gets wet at any stage of the installation process, it can affect the finished work's outcome, such as your driveway's durability and aesthetic appeal. This problem is a considerable challenge as it can be difficult to avoid rains, given its unpredictable nature.

Furthermore, you cannot immediately tell when moisture has affected the finished surface application until it's too late to do anything about it. However, you can safeguard your resin from unfavorable weather by downloading an authentic weather app on your phone to help you decide on a suitable day for your resin installation. In an event where the weather prediction fails and you still experience rain during the installation process, you could secure your resin under a makeshift shelter.

Driveway cracks

Another problem worth mentioning is cracks on the resin drive. Whenever inferior resin materials or the wrong amount of aggregate (stone) is used during the mixing process, your driveway might crack up. Manufacturers of aggregate and resin usually specify the right proportions of aggregates for mixing resin. For example, you may find that a supply recommends each of their resin kits are to be combined with 100kg of stone. They may even go further and say that of the 100 kg of aggregate used, 75 kilograms should be of 2-5mm sized stone and 25kg of 1-3mm. To avoid this problem on your resin-bound paving, you must carefully read and comply with the manufacturer's directions on the packaging.

Driveway discoloring

Discoloring on your resin driveway is a common problem that affects the appeal of your driveway. The color change is typically dependent on the type of resin used. There are mainly two types of resins you can use to install a resin-bound surface—aliphatic and aromatic, commonly referred to as UV stable and Non-UV stable. When Non-UV stable resins are combined with golden colored stones, they will change to an amber color after installation. To avoid any color change, especially when your driveway is without shade and is exposed to direct sunlight, you must use a UV stable resin whenever you choose to use beige, silver, or black colored aggregate.

Loose stones

A loose stone on the surface of your resin-bonded driveway is another problem that you are likely to encounter. Having loose aggregates on your driveway compromises on the expected smooth and appealing finish of your driveway. This problem occurs when stone aggregates fail to bond with the resin material. Usually, this is due to an insufficient amount of resin used with stones. In other words, when the quantity of stone aggregates used is not proportional to that of the resin, loose stones can develop, which become empty patches over time. If that happens, you will have to add more aggregates and resin to make them stick. In so doing, you should be mindful of using stones that have the same color as those used in the first installation process. You can avoid this problem entirely by following the supplier's guidelines or having a skilled installer do the work for you. 

How heat impacts driveways

High temperatures can lead to rapid curing of the resin-bound paving. The term curing generally refers to the drying of your installation. The duration of curing for a resin-bound surface depends on the ambient air temperature. Before installing your resin driveway, ensure that the sub-base has a temperature of at least three degrees Celsius above the dew point. This allows you to avoid delamination, where the coated surface becomes a separated surface on top of the sub-base caused by condensation. To avoid the problems associated with high temperatures, you have to begin installing as early as possible before the day gets warm and keep your aggregates out of direct sunlight since they can heat up and increase your mixture's temperature.

White patches

Furthermore, white patches on your resin driveway can be a problem. They develop as a result of the presence of moisture during the time of curing. Resin setting time can differ based on whether it is winter or summer. As you prepare to install your resin, you have to ensure that the surface you are laying the resin on, be it a grid, tarmac, or concrete, is dry to prevent delamination. Make sure that the aggregates you have chosen to work with are also dry. Further, be sure to cover the stones if they are outside before the installation. Winter is perhaps the worst time to install your resin-bound paving.

Depth application

Low depth application is another problem you might have to deal with. This is because the resin-bound surface's overall functionality is significantly affected by the surface application's depth. Generally, there are several conventional depths for installing most resin-bound driveways. The advisable minimum depth is pegged at 15mm. However, application depth is driven by cost, so most installers stick with the minimum depth or sometimes even less. But, when the resin is laid below the minimum depth, it can break up. 

To choose the appropriate application depth for your installation, know that the absolute minimum depth needs to be three times the largest aggregate particle. Let's say you are working with a 3mm by 6mm aggregate; this means your absolute minimum application depth will be 18mm.

After you are sure of the surface application's depth, you should take extra precaution in working with the correct resin to aggregate ratio during installation, as an incorrect ratio may be detrimental to the resin-bound system. The balance of resin quantity to aggregate varies; however, depending on the stone size, desired strength, and depth of the layer, a 7-15% resin by weight is commonly used. Since surface resins are expensive, installers are often tempted to use little amount, which can cause stone loss or even make the surface appear chewy. To avoid this problem, you need to get the ratio of resin to aggregate correctly.

Movement of the sub-base

Furthermore, you want to avoid the movement of the sub-base. Installing on a concrete surface or block paving can usually result in motion in the sub-base due to temperature changes. Therefore, if your resin is laid on concrete and it moves, so will the resin surface. This usually results in the appearance of cracks or an uneven surface. Avoiding this problem largely depends on the experience of the installer.

Surface detachment

Next, we will look at the surface detachment, which occurs when the resin-bound surface detaches itself from the sub-base. It can happen when the resin-aggregate mixture is laid over an unsuitable sub-base. Also, if the driveway is not sealed correctly, moisture can cause surface detachment. It is better to avoid this problem at all costs since repairing it will leave marks at places where the resin-bound surface was replaced.

Rust spots on driveway

Rust spots may also appear on resin-bound paving. Usually, this occurs when metal objects come into contact with rainwater, causing them to rust. Rust spots may also occur because some of the gravels contain iron, a naturally occurring element that also reacts with water to leave marks on your driveway.

Tampering with the surface before it's cured

One other problem you have to guard against is walking on the resin-bound paving (by people or animals) when it is not fully cured. When this occurs, it drastically compromises the ability of your driveway to withstand pressure. During installation, you need to mark the area clearly with cones and tape to deter people and animals from walking on the surface before fully cured.

Less resin during installation.

When installing your resin-bound surface, one situation you have to prevent from happening is running out of resin-bound stock. This can cause a delay in your installation and ultimately affect the outcome. In other to avoid this, there are several steps you can take, such as:

1. You should calculate the quantity of resin you need for the surface.
2. It would help if you carried at least 20% more of the resin quantity you have calculated.
3. You can mark out 10 square meters on the surface with a marker painter to serve as a check against over-usage.

Lines on paved driveways 

Keep an eye out for joints on your resin-bound driveway during installation. Joints occur when temperatures are high and your installer is not working quickly enough. The lines form when a batch of resin sets before connecting the next batch to it. The only way you can rectify this would be to relay the entire driveway. However, this problem is rare in areas where the temperatures barely reach 25°C, the temperature at which the resin's setting time reduces.

Holes on the surface

Aside from joints, holes may also appear on the surface. Many reasons can cause this. Usually, cracks that form as a result of the sub-base movement expand further to create holes. Another common cause is when your installer uses more gravel with the resin kit or low-quality resins, which weakens the final surface. To avoid this problem, mix the resin and stone material in a forced action mixer and not a cement mixer. The latter leaves dry spots resulting in an uneven mixture of resin-aggregate, leading to a surface break up and eventually developing into holes.

With all these potential problems that come with installing a resin-bound driveway, the saying "prevention is better than cure" resounds the need to be extra cautious during resin-bound installation to ensure its sustainability. Remember that all these issues can be avoided from the get-go when you choose an experienced contractor. (Link to client's website or contact page)