Resin Bound Driveways in Manchester
We lay resin bound driveways for homes in Manchester, on a base built to let the rain through.
- Quotes in writing
- 20 areas covered
Manchester Resin Drives lays resin bound driveways for houses across Manchester. Resin bound means we stir the stones into the resin in a mixer first, then smooth the mix out by hand, which gives a smooth, even finish with every stone held in place.
Resin bound or resin bonded?
The two names sound alike, and we treat them as different jobs. With resin bound, we mix every stone into the resin before it goes on the ground. Resin bonded is a job we do not do: a coat of resin goes down first and loose stone is scattered on top.
We only lay resin bound. Whoever quotes you, ask which one they are pricing and get the answer on paper.
What goes under the resin
On every drive we lay, the resin is only the top layer. Under it we build the sub-base, a layer of packed-down stone that carries the weight of the car.
For a drive that drains, government guidance says the sub-base must let water pass through and hold it for a while. Two examples it names are 4/20 and Type 3. It calls these open graded, which means they are only larger pieces of stone, with space between them to store water.
Below the sub-base, the same guidance says to lay a geotextile over the soil. It describes this as a plastic fabric that lets water flow through but holds the soil in place. It helps stop the stone sinking into the soil and helps keep weeds down.
So we dig out the old surface, lay the fabric, then spread and pack the stone before any resin goes down.
Planning permission and your front drive
Leeds City Council lists resin-bound gravel as one of the poured surfaces that let rain soak away into the ground.
Government guidance says a new or replacement drive of any size needs no planning permission if it uses a permeable (or porous) surface, or if the rain runs off onto a lawn or border. A solid surface over 5 square metres, with nowhere for the rain to soak away, does need planning permission.
The Planning Portal says these rules are for houses. They do not cover flats, or places where a planning condition or other local restriction takes away these rights.
Because the base matters as much as the top, we tell you whether your whole drive, not just its surface, will let the rain through.
A new way in from the road
The Planning Portal says you need a dropped kerb, a lowered, sloping part of the pavement, to drive over the pavement onto your property. Manchester City Council's dropped kerb page says all driveways must be put in using permeable material. We plan the drive with that rule in mind.
Choosing a colour
We bring stone samples to your house so you can hold them up against the brickwork and the front door. Each blend we use is a mix of small stones, so the colour of those stones is the colour your drive will be.
What we put in writing
Our written quote sets out:
- That we are laying resin bound, not resin bonded.
- What we use for the sub-base, and how deep we dig.
- Whether we lay a fabric layer over the soil.
- Where we send the rain once it is through the surface.
- The stone blend you chose, by name.
- When we expect you can first walk on it, and first park on it.
Whoever you hire, ask for the same on paper.
Questions about resin bound driveways in Manchester
Will a resin bound drive last?
Government guidance says hard surfaces that let water soak in are hard and durable, with a very long service life, if they are built correctly. That is why we take such care over the base.
Can you lay resin bound on a slope?
We look at the slope on our visit. On a steep drive, we tell you if we think a different surface would suit it better.
Do you lay resin bound around drain covers?
Yes, we can. We cut the edges neatly around manhole and drain covers so you can still lift them.
Can I have a border in a different colour?
Yes, we can lay a border or a pattern in a second stone blend. We show you both blends side by side before we start.
What happens to my old drive?
We dig it out and take it away before we build the new base, and your quote says so.
Do I need to be at home on the day?
Not all day. We need to get in at the start, and we ask you to keep cars, children and pets off the drive until we say it is ready.
Get a quote
Fill in the quote form with your postcode and the size of the drive, if you know it. We will come out, look at the ground, show you the stone samples and give you a written quote. See the rest of what we lay on the Manchester Resin Drives home page.
Ready to talk about your resin driveway job?
Send the quote form with your postcode and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.