When it comes to your home driveway, there is no perfect answer. That is because a driveway is meant to suit the homeowner’s taste and goals. It can be hard to choose which is best for your home, given all of the options. Resin driveways, for instance, offer many benefits.
Not least amongst them is their style for the home driveway. Often, they can be compared to tarmac driveways. With similar smoothness from a single material, it can be hard to choose between them. Harder than picking between most options.
So, in this blog, we intend to go into detail about these types of driveways and the benefits of each.
What are Resin Driveways?
Resin driveways have become increasingly popular in the UK over the last decade. This is in part because they have become more affordable and because the sleek, modern style is very appealing.
The material used is made by mixing aggregate material with a UV-stable polyurethane resin, which can then be cold-applied during landscaping. Thanks to the flexibility of the resin-bound material, this driveway style can be installed in a variety of landscapes.
Whether on a curved surface, in separate sections or in areas with uneven terrain. This versatility is often very appealing to anyone looking to have landscaping done and live in areas with many hills.
What are Tarmac Driveways?
Tarmac driveways are constructed of compacted aggregates, such as sand or small stones, mixed with a bituminous binder. Previously, tarmac used tar instead of a bituminous binder, hence the name, but this has since been replaced for a variety of reasons.
This material is poured onto an area after being mixed, then smoothed to a silky finish with a steam roller. The resulting tarmac driveways are durable and easier to walk on.
What Works Best for Driveways
What works can depend greatly on taste, area, house design and weather conditions. Let us discuss them.
Durability and Enduring Strength
Tarmac remains one of the strongest materials on the market. In terms of resisting the regular stress of cars and varying weather conditions, tarmac driveways can withstand significant punishment.
As a landscaping option, it’s a good choice if your driveway is prone to weeds or other invasive plants.
Resin driveways are similarly resistant to damage and are also durable. The key difference here is that resin driveways are more resistant to high temperatures.
As the UK experiences increasingly hotter weather, tarmac surfaces are at greater risk. This is because the materials within the tarmac are more likely to crack or melt due to the heat.
This makes resin the better material for ensuring your new driveway will stand the test of time.
On a similar note, tarmac can be extremely hot during the summer, putting those walking on it at risk of burns. Thus, if you live in an area without shade and a high degree of hot weather, it is far less suitable.
Maintenance
Tarmac driveways can often require more maintenance due to their tendency to stain with substances such as oil and to crack during extreme weather. For landscaping work, it can also be difficult to repair because it requires mixing and pouring more tarmac to replace any damaged pieces cut from it.
Resin can have similar issues, as it is also poured, but it is less prone to cracking. Thus, it can survive for longer without needing additional work.
In addition, tarmac is only semi-permeable, making it prone to flooding. Resin driveways are permeable, reducing the likelihood of them flooding. Thus, maintaining resin driveways requires less work than tarmac driveways, since you won’t have to clear off rainwater that has gathered on the surface as often.
Cost of Tarmac and Resin Driveways
Tarmac driveways have low up-front costs. As a cheaper material, tarmac can cover large areas at a much lower cost.
However, the long-term costs of this option can quickly ramp up. With cracks and weathering needing frequent repair, the overall price can rise sharply.
Resin driveways typically cost more due to the price of materials. Larger landscapes can cost quite a bit to cover, the more volume there is. In contrast to tarmac, resin driveways tend to cost less in the long term.
As they are more durable, they require less maintenance and thus incur fewer repeat costs.
So, Which Is Better?
Tarmac still offers a landscaping option that can cover a wide area for a relatively low price. However, its well-known durability has lessened over time, and the wider availability of resin materials has made it less desirable.
Making resin driveways not just a competitive option, but an oftentimes better one.
Need a Landscaping and Driveways Business?
J Lowther & Sons are experts in landscaping who can create your perfect driveway design!
We offer driveways, block paving, landscaping, patios and driveway restoration services as part of our range of work.
Get in touch today by telephone on 01925394813, by email at mailto:jack.lowther@warringtondrivewaysandlandscapes.com, or through our contact form.
We bring your dream driveways to life.
