Resin driveway FAQ
Straight answers to the questions Colchester homeowners ask most, including the ones about this website itself.
Do I need planning permission for a resin driveway in Colchester?
Usually not. Under rules in force since October 2008, a front garden surface of any size needs no planning permission if it is permeable or drains to a permeable area within the property. Permission is only needed when more than five square metres of impermeable surfacing is laid with nowhere permeable for the water to go. A permeable resin bound build-up normally stays outside the permission requirement. Listed buildings and some conservation area works have separate rules, so check with Colchester City Council if that applies to you. More detail on the permeable surfacing page.
Is resin bound surfacing actually permeable?
The resin bound layer itself is permeable because water passes between the bound stones. Whether the whole driveway is permeable depends on what is underneath. Over an open-graded stone sub-base the system drains as intended. Over an old sealed concrete slab, water can only follow the falls of the slab, so drainage must be designed to a border, gulley or soakaway instead.
What is the difference between resin bound and resin bonded?
Resin bound mixes the aggregate through the resin before laying, giving a smooth, permeable surface with stone all the way through. Resin bonded scatters loose stone onto a film of resin, giving a rougher, non-permeable surface that can shed stones over time. They are different products at different prices, and quotes should say which one is being offered.
Will a resin driveway crack on Colchester's clay ground?
The resin layer is slightly flexible and copes with minor movement, but it takes its stability from the base beneath it. Clay-rich ground in the Colchester area shrinks and swells with the seasons, so a driveway is only as good as its sub-base. A properly compacted, adequately deep base on a surveyed formation is the protection; laying resin over a cracked, moving slab is how failures happen. The driveways page covers this in depth.
How long before I can walk or drive on a new resin surface?
As a general guide, foot traffic is possible after roughly a day and vehicles after two to three days, though timings depend on the resin system, temperature and humidity. The installer will confirm exact timings for the product they use when they quote.
How is a resin driveway maintained?
Routine care is sweeping and an occasional wash down; a light pressure wash from a sensible distance is fine. Moss can be treated where the surface stays shaded and damp. In winter, clear snow with a plastic shovel rather than a metal blade, and note that some grit and de-icing products can mark surfaces, so follow the guidance the installer gives for their system.
How much does a resin driveway cost in Colchester?
This site does not publish prices, because honest resin pricing depends on area, the condition of the existing base, access, edging and the blend chosen. Two driveways of identical size can be very different jobs if one base is sound and the other needs excavation. The vetted local installer quotes in writing after a survey, and the quote states what is included.
Who actually does the work if I enquire through this site?
This website is an introduction service, not a contractor. Your enquiry is passed to one vetted independent resin surfacing specialist covering Colchester and the surrounding villages. They contact you, survey, quote and carry out any work you agree with them directly. The introduction is free to you, and any contract for work is between you and the installer. The about page explains the model in full.