Block Paving vs Resin Bound Driveways: Which is Better?

Both block paving and resin bound are excellent driveway surfaces, and the right choice depends on your priorities. Block paving is more traditional, highly durable, and individually repairable. Resin bound offers a seamless contemporary look, is lower maintenance, and has no loose stones or weeds.

If you want a classic look and easy individual repairs, choose block paving. If you want a premium, modern, zero-maintenance surface, choose resin bound.

Block paving is available in a huge range of colours, shapes and patterns — from classic herringbone in charcoal to tumbled buff with granite sett borders. It suits both traditional and contemporary properties.

Resin bound has a smooth, seamless, almost liquid appearance. The surface shows the individual aggregate stones (gravel, quartz, mixed stone) through a clear resin binder, creating a natural yet refined look. Resin is particularly popular for contemporary and premium properties where a clean finish is preferred.

Both surfaces are highly durable when properly installed. Block paving typically lasts 20–30 years before significant remedial work is needed. Resin bound typically lasts 15–25 years depending on the quality of the resin system and the base.

Block paving's key advantage is individual repairability — if a block is damaged or a utility requires access, individual blocks can be lifted and replaced without visible repair. Resin bound repairs are more visible and complex, though a good contractor can achieve excellent results.

Resin bound is more prone to damage from point loads (e.g. car jacks, heavy wheeled equipment) than block paving.

Block paving requires more maintenance over time. Weeds can establish in the joints (though this is minimised with polymeric jointing compound), efflorescence (white salt deposits) can appear in the first few years, and the surface may need occasional re-pointing after many years.

Resin bound is very low maintenance. The hard, dense surface resists weed growth almost completely, there are no joints to clean or re-point, and it can be jet-washed clean quickly. Most resin bound driveways need nothing more than an annual jet wash to look their best for 15–20 years.

Both surfaces can be SUDS compliant and typically don't require planning permission.

Block paving drains through the joints between blocks. When laid on a free-draining sub-base, it's fully compliant with SUDS requirements. Over time, fine particles can begin to block the joint drainage and a rinse-down helps keep this in check.

Resin bound drains through the body of the surface itself — water passes between the aggregate stones and through to the base below. It's arguably more reliably permeable over the long term than block paving as there are no joints to potentially block.

For a typical 40m² driveway in Manchester:

• •Block paving: £5,000–£9,000 fully installed
• •Resin bound: £5,500–£10,000 fully installed

Resin bound is typically 10–20% more expensive than an equivalent block paving installation, reflecting the higher material costs of the resin system. However, over the long term, the reduced maintenance costs of resin bound may offset this initial premium.