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Resin bound and resin bonded

Resin Driveways Norwich
Resin bound stone being laid over an old tarmac driveway, with a finishing trowel, mixer and boards on the tarmac half

Resin over existing surfaces

Resin Driveways Norwich lays resin over existing tarmac and concrete driveways in Norwich and across Norfolk, where the surface underneath is sound enough to carry it.

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What laying resin over an existing surface means

If your driveway is tarmac or concrete and still in good structural condition, it can often be used as the base for a new resin surface. Rather than digging the whole drive out, the old surface is cleaned, repaired and primed, and the resin is laid on top. That means less digging, less waste and less disruption.

Whether an overlay will work depends entirely on what is there. A drive that is level, firm and draining properly is a good candidate. A drive that is breaking up, sinking, or cracked right through will pass those problems on to the new surface, and is better taken up and rebuilt.

Laying resin over an existing surface also raises the level slightly, so thresholds, door sills, drains and the meeting point with the pavement all need checking before the work goes ahead.

What is included

  • A survey of the existing surface

    We check the drive for cracks, movement, sinking and drainage problems, and tell you plainly whether it can be overlaid.

  • Repairs to the base

    Cracks are filled and damaged patches repaired so the base is sound.

  • Cleaning and priming

    The surface is cleaned of oil, moss and dirt and primed so the resin bonds to it.

  • Edging and thresholds

    Edging fitted and the levels at doors, drains and the pavement edge worked out.

  • The resin layer

    Your chosen stone mixed with resin and trowelled over the prepared surface.

What to plan before you book

  • Your drive's condition

    Overlays only work on a sound base. Expect us to point out problems we find, even if the answer is that the drive needs rebuilding.

  • Door and garage thresholds

    The new layer adds height. If there is little room under a door or garage threshold, plan how that will be handled.

  • Drainage stays as it is

    Over a sealed tarmac or concrete base, water still cannot soak away. It drains across the resin to the existing falls and drains, so those need to work.

  • Planning rules for front gardens

    Replacing a front surface over 5 square metres with one that is not permeable needs planning permission in England unless the water drains onto the garden. Check how your drive drains.

Good to know

  • Cracks can come back

    A crack in the base that keeps moving can show through the resin. Stable, filled cracks are fine; active movement is not.

  • Oil stains need treating

    Oil and fuel stains stop resin bonding, so they are cleaned or treated as part of the preparation.

  • It is often less disruptive

    With no full dig-out, there is less waste to take away and the job can be quicker to prepare.

From first message to finished drive

How the job runs

  1. 1

    Your enquiry

    Tell us about the drive and send a photo of the current surface if you can.

  2. 2

    Survey

    We inspect the surface, the drainage and the thresholds, and tell you whether an overlay suits it.

  3. 3

    Written price

    You get a written price for the repairs, preparation and resin.

  4. 4

    Repairs and priming

    We repair, clean and prime the existing surface and fit edging.

  5. 5

    Laying and curing

    On a dry day we lay the resin and leave it to cure before use.

  6. 6

    Handover

    We clear up and explain how to look after the new surface.

Questions people ask

Something else you want to know? Ask it with your enquiry and we'll answer it when we reply.

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Can resin go over any tarmac drive?

Only over tarmac that is sound, firm and level. Tarmac that is breaking up, rutted or sinking needs repairing or replacing first.

Can resin go over concrete?

Yes, if the concrete is stable. Expansion joints and cracks need treating so they do not show through.

Will the overlay make my drive higher?

Yes, a little. We check doors, garage thresholds, drains and the pavement edge before the work goes ahead.

Is an overlay cheaper than a new drive?

It usually involves less digging and less waste, but every drive is different. We price the work once we have seen the surface.

Will an overlay be permeable?

The resin layer is porous, but over a sealed base the water still runs to the existing drains. For a permeable drive, the base itself has to be permeable.

Other resin work we do

Tell us about your surface

Send a few details and a photo if you have one, and we will come back to you to talk it through and give you a price.

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