Resin-bound driveways are usually a little cheaper than block paving in the West Midlands. Laid new, resin costs £75–£115 per m² and block paving £90–£140 per m². On a typical two-car drive of about 30m² that is roughly £3,100–£4,980 for resin against £3,550–£5,730 for block paving, once digging out and edgings are included. Resin can also go over a sound tarmac or concrete drive for £55–£80 per m², which block paving cannot.
The figures are the ones our quote form uses for resin driveways and block paving. They are indicative, supply and fit, with waste taken away.
Side by side
| Resin-bound | Block paving | |
|---|---|---|
| New drive, per m² | £75–£115 | £90–£140 |
| Laid over sound tarmac or concrete, per m² | £55–£80 | Not possible |
| Two cars on an old lawn (30m²) | £3,100–£4,980 | £3,550–£5,730 |
| Two cars replacing concrete (30m²) | £3,400–£5,490 | £3,850–£6,240 |
| Permeable as laid | Yes, on a permeable base | Only if laid as permeable paving |
| Typical life with care | 15–25 years | 20–30 years |
| Repairs | Patches can show | Lift and relay single blocks |
| Weeds | Few, if laid correctly | Grow in joints unless re-sanded |
| Staining | Oil can mark light aggregates | Oil can mark, blocks can be swapped |
How the figures are worked out
Both surfaces need the old surface dug out and a compacted sub-base, and both need edgings to hold them in. For a 30m² drive the edge length is about 22m.
Resin-bound, two cars on an old lawn
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Resin, 30m² × £75 / £115 | £2,250 | £3,450 |
| Digging out lawn, 30m² × £10 / £18 | £300 | £540 |
| Edgings, about 22m × £25 / £45 | £550 | £990 |
| Total | about £3,100 | about £4,980 |
Block paving, two cars on an old lawn
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Block paving, 30m² × £90 / £140 | £2,700 | £4,200 |
| Digging out lawn, 30m² × £10 / £18 | £300 | £540 |
| Edgings, about 22m × £25 / £45 | £550 | £990 |
| Total | about £3,550 | about £5,730 |
Replacing an old concrete drive instead costs more for both, because breaking out concrete is £20–£35 per m² rather than £10–£18. That lifts resin to about £3,400–£5,490 and block paving to about £3,850–£6,240.
The resin overlay option
If you already have a tarmac or concrete drive that is level, well drained and not cracking or sinking, resin can be laid straight over it. There is no digging out, so the price drops to £55–£80 per m² plus new edgings where needed.
For a 30m² drive: 30m² × £55 = £1,650 and 30m² × £80 = £2,400, plus about 22m of edging at £25–£45 per metre. That comes to about £2,200–£3,390, well below either surface laid new. A one-car overlay usually hits the £1,500 minimum for a new surface.
The catch is that resin shows every fault in what it sits on. If the old base is cracked, has sunk, or holds puddles, the cracks come through within a year or two. A good installer will tell you if your base is not suitable. Be wary of anyone who offers an overlay without looking closely at the existing drive: see why cheap driveways fail.
Also check whether the old base is permeable. Resin laid over sealed tarmac or concrete is not permeable, however porous the resin itself is. On a front drive over 5m² that can mean you need a drainage channel and soakaway, or planning permission.
Lifespan and maintenance
Resin-bound needs little upkeep: a sweep and a jet wash with a low-pressure setting once or twice a year. UV-stable resin should not yellow; cheaper non-stable resin can darken in sunlight within a few years. Repairs are possible but a patch rarely matches exactly.
Block paving needs the joints topped up with kilned sand now and then, and weeds and moss dealt with. Many owners have it cleaned and re-sanded every few years at about £4–£8 per m² to clean and £6–£12 per m² to re-sand and seal. See driveway cleaning. The advantage is that a sunken or stained area can be lifted and relaid with the same blocks.
Permeability and the 5m² rule
In England, a new front-garden hard surface over 5m² must let water through or drain onto a permeable area in the garden, or it needs planning permission.
- Resin-bound on a permeable sub-base lets water drain through, so it normally meets the rule on its own.
- Resin-bonded (stones scattered onto a resin coat) is not the same thing and is not permeable.
- Block paving can be laid as permeable paving with open joints and a permeable base, or on a normal base with a channel drain and a soakaway at £600–£1,200.
See the 5m² rule for front gardens for the detail.
What pushes the price up or down
- Aggregate choice. Some coloured or natural resin aggregates cost more than standard blends.
- Block type and pattern. Tumbled and natural-look blocks cost more than standard concrete blocks, and herringbone takes more cutting.
- Weather. Resin cannot be laid in rain or cold, so winter jobs may be delayed.
- Access and levels. No room for a digger adds about 20%; steep drives go to a survey.
- Size. Both get cheaper per m² on larger drives.
What is included
For either surface, the fixed price should include digging out and taking away spoil, a membrane, a compacted sub-base of a stated depth, edgings, the surface and making good at the edges. For resin, ask which resin is used and whether it is UV-stable. For block paving, ask about the sand bedding and joint sand.
How to get a fixed price
- Measure the drive and note what is there now.
- Use the quote form and choose resin, block paving or "not sure".
- Add photos of the existing surface close up, especially any cracks.
- We pass your enquiry to one local specialist, who confirms a fixed price or visits.
For every surface compared, see the driveway cost per m² guide.
Questions
Is resin cheaper than block paving?
Usually, by about £15–£25 per m² on a new drive. Over a sound tarmac or concrete base resin is much cheaper, because there is no digging out.
Which lasts longer?
Block paving tends to last longer, 20–30 years against 15–25 for resin, and can be repaired more invisibly. Both depend far more on the sub-base than the surface.
Can resin go over block paving?
Not usually. Block paving moves slightly under load, which cracks resin laid on top. The blocks are normally taken up first.
Is resin a good choice for a front garden?
It is often the simplest way to meet the permeable surface rule, provided it is resin-bound on a permeable base.
Does block paving need sealing?
It does not have to be sealed. Sealing can help with oil stains and keep sand in the joints, but it needs redoing every few years.