Caring for a resin driveway without wrecking it

Resin bound and resin bonded are not the same

Resin bound is aggregate mixed through resin and trowelled out, so the stone is held all the way through and the surface is porous. Resin bonded is a resin layer with stone scattered onto the top, giving a rougher, non-porous finish. Bonded loses stone much more readily and is far less tolerant of pressure. Knowing which you have determines what can safely be done.

This guide sits under our Patios & Driveways work, covering 20-mile radius of Plymouth.

Why high pressure is the enemy

The resin holds each stone at its contact points. Concentrated water pressure works those contacts loose, and once a few stones go the surrounding ones are less supported and follow. The damage is usually not obvious on the day; it shows up as a bald patch or a loose gritty area weeks later. There is no invisible repair, so the only sensible policy is not to cause it.

The correct cleaning method

Sweeping or blowing off loose debris, then washing at low pressure with a wide fan and a suitable detergent, working across the surface rather than dwelling. Stubborn algae is better handled with a treatment left to work than with more force. A stiff brush is often more effective and far safer than turning the pressure up. Finish with a thorough rinse so no residue dries in the pores.

Algae and green film

Porous resin bound surfaces hold moisture, and shaded areas grow the same green film as any other paving. It responds well to a biocidal treatment and gentle washing, and a light annual treatment usually keeps it away entirely. The area beneath a car that is parked in the same spot, and any strip in permanent shadow, will be the first to show it.

Oil, fuel and hot tyre marks

Resin is a polymer and some solvents attack it, so the wrong degreaser can soften or dull the surface. Deal with fresh oil quickly by absorbing it rather than spreading it. Use products suitable for resin, test them somewhere hidden, and accept that a long-standing soaked stain in a porous surface may not fully clear. Hot tyre scuffing from tight turns is largely cosmetic and often eases over time.

Keeping the drainage working

The porosity is the selling point and it can be lost. Fine silt, moss and washed-in soil gradually clog the voids until water sits on the surface instead of soaking through. Regular gentle cleaning maintains permeability. If puddles start appearing where they never used to, that is the surface telling you it needs attention rather than a fault in the installation.

Edges, cracks and UV

Cracks in resin usually mean movement in the base underneath rather than failure of the resin, so patching the crack alone tends to be temporary. Edges are the most vulnerable part, especially where a wheel regularly clips them. Some resins yellow slightly with UV over years, which is a characteristic of the material rather than a cleaning problem.

A sensible maintenance routine

Blow or sweep leaves off in autumn, wash gently once or twice a year, treat for algae annually on shaded sections, deal with spills promptly, and keep the edges from being run over. That is genuinely all it takes, and it avoids the situation where someone eventually decides the drive needs a heavy clean.