Resin vs Block vs Tarmac

Side by side

	Resin bound	Block paving	Tarmac
Look	Smooth, seamless natural stone or decorative aggregate	Individual blocks in patterns and borders	Uniform dark finish, usually black
Drainage	Permeable when laid on a permeable base	Permeable only if a permeable block system is used	Impermeable, unless a porous asphalt is specified
Joints and weeds	No joints, so weeds have little to root in	Joints can collect sand, moss and weeds	No joints
Finish choice	Wide range of aggregate colours and blends, plus borders and designs	Wide range of block styles and colours	Limited, though coloured and dressed finishes exist
Repairs	Patch repairs are possible but can be hard to colour match	Individual blocks can be lifted and relaid	Patch repairs are straightforward but often visible
Day-to-day care	Sweep and occasional wash	Sweep, weed and re-sand joints over time	Sweep, and keep oil and fuel spills off it

Resin bound

Resin bound driveways are made from dried aggregate mixed with resin and hand trowelled into a smooth, level finish. The result is seamless, with a natural stone look that suits modern and traditional homes alike.

• Seamless finish with no joints for weeds to grow through
• Can be permeable, which helps with front garden planning rules
• Huge choice of natural gravels, marble, quartz, glass and other blends
• Can sometimes be laid over a sound existing tarmac or concrete base

Worth knowing: the quality of the base and the installation make all the difference, and a UV-stable resin should be used so lighter colours do not yellow in sunlight. Patch repairs can be harder to blend in than on block paving.

Block paving

Block paving uses individual concrete or clay blocks laid on a sand bed, with sand brushed into the joints. It offers lots of patterns, colours and border options.

• Damaged blocks can be lifted and replaced individually
• Plenty of styles, from tumbled cobbles to crisp modern blocks
• Permeable block systems are available

Worth knowing: the joints can collect moss and weeds and may need re-sanding over the years. Standard blocks are not permeable, so a large area may need drainage or permission if it runs off onto the road.

Tarmac

Tarmac (asphalt) is a long-established, practical driveway surface. It is hard wearing and quick to drive on once laid.

• Practical, hard-wearing finish
• No joints
• Porous asphalt options exist for drainage

Worth knowing: standard tarmac is impermeable. It has a plainer look than resin or block, can soften on very hot days and can be marked by fuel and oil spills.

Which one suits you?

• You want a high-end, seamless look with little upkeep: resin bound is hard to beat.
• You want a traditional pattern or expect to dig up services later: block paving is easy to lift and relay.
• You want a straightforward, functional surface: tarmac does the job.
• Drainage or planning is a concern: resin bound on a permeable base, or a permeable block system, is the safer route.

If you are weighing up resin, measure your driveway with our area calculator and send us a few photos. We will tell you honestly whether resin bound is a good fit for your ground and your budget.

Send photos on WhatsAppSnap the area, add your town and roughly how big it is, and message 07718 087977.