Resin Driveways Vs Tarmac Driveways

Having a driveway installed is a big investment that can often cost anywhere from £1,000 to £12,000 depending on a range of cost factors (including size and type). Therefore, you’ll want to ensure that you go with the right option for you. Are you trying to weigh up the options of resin and tarmac driveways? Let’s look at the costs and pros and cons of each, helping you to get a clearer idea of both types of driveway before opting for one or the other.

What to Know About Resin Driveways

Starting with overall pricing (including labour and supply costs), a small 20m² resin driveway costs, on average, somewhere in the region of £1,600 to £2,000, while a mid-sized 50m² resin drive may set you back between £4,000 and £5,000 and a large 100m² resin drive is probably going to cost around £8,000 to £10,000. 

Looking at the advantages, for starters, resin drives are known for being porous and very permeable, although this is also true of tarmac drives. Both are also durable and long-lasting. They also both have a similar price tag.

However, resin drives with UV-resistant capabilities can better hold off potential sun damage over time when compared with tarmac drives. As a result, UV-resistant resin drives tend to fare better over time in terms of maintaining their colour and overall appearance. If you do not opt for a resin drive with UV-resistant capabilities, however, its colour will generally fade with time.

Resin drives are hard-wearing, generally suitable to deal with temperature extremes and are one of the best suited for dealing with heavy loads (e.g. a fairly heavy car). Resin is also among the more environmentally friendly materials to use for building a drive.

As for the downsides, resin drives are among the more difficult types of drives to repair, clean and maintain. They are also vulnerable to moss growth, unfortunately. Another key downside is that resin drives usually take significantly longer to install than tarmac drives.

Another disadvantage that is important to note is the health risks associated with resin drives. Resin can be a health hazard because of the harmful chemicals and toxins it can release. This means that it’s important not to spend time hanging out on the drive, and this is especially true for pets and children. It’s, therefore, important to enter and exit the driveway promptly.

What to Know About Tarmac Driveways

As for tarmac drives, a small 20m² installation will likely come with a bill of £1,400 to £2,400, with prices reaching approximately £3,500 to £6,000 in the case of a medium 50m² tarmac drive or £7,000 to £13,000 if you’re looking for a large 100m² tarmac driveway.

As you can tell, tarmac drives are fairly similarly priced to resin drives. However, tarmac drives are arguably a bit costlier in a broad sense, especially if you want a large, high-quality tarmac driveway.

Some key advantages of tarmac drives include that they dry relatively quickly and are one of the easier types for professionals to install. As mentioned, tarmac drives are also durable and long-lasting.

One key upside to opting for a tarmac drive over a tarmac driveway is that it should take a lot less time for a company/professional to install one over a resin drive. 

To give the actual time frame estimates, while a tarmac drive may take one to five days to install, a resin drive will probably take anywhere from three days to 3+ weeks to construct. While pricing is fairly similar, if you’re keen to have a swift installation with minimal disruption, this is a point for tarmac in the battle to win you over.

Moving on to the disadvantages, tarmac drives are susceptible to the growth of weeds, algae and moss problems. Also, petrol, diesel and oils can each cause tarmac driveways damage by weakening the tarmac’s binder, which in turn can result in cracks.

Lastly, while designed to deal with the heat well, tarmac drives are susceptible to damage from UV light. 

Summary of the Key Differences

Here is an overview of the key advantages/differences between resin and tarmac drives:

Which of these options will be best for you will depend on your needs and preferences. It’s important to carefully weigh up the pros and cons of each as well as the potential cost. 

If you still can’t decide which one to go with, consider chatting with a professional or driveway installation company for more detailed advice, including that which is tailored to your specific property and proposed project.