Resin Bound Driveway glossary of terms & specifications
14 technical terms, material grades and Irish standards explained in plain English so you know exactly what is on a written quote.
Sorted A to Z for quick reference when comparing specifications.
Free, no obligation. One vetted installer covering your county replies, not five.
Key resin bound driveway terms explained
Aliphatic Polyurethane Resin (UV-Stable)
A clear two-part polyurethane binder whose chemical structure resists ultraviolet light, ensuring your resin bound driveway never turns yellow or leaves dark shadow marks under parked cars or wheelie bins.
Anti-Slip Crushed Glass Grit
Fine 0.2–0.5mm kiln-dried crushed glass broadcast lightly across the wet trowelled resin surface before it cures to boost wet pendulum slip resistance on sloped driveways and steps.
Aromatic Polyurethane Resin (Non-UV)
A cheaper polyurethane binder that discolours to amber or brown when exposed to sunlight; unsuitable for pale silver granite or golden quartz driveways.
Class 6 Front Garden Planning Exemption
The Irish planning rule under the Planning and Development Regulations that exempts surfacing a front garden over 5 m² from planning permission provided the surface is porous or drains within the property curtilage.
Clause 804 Granular Sub-Base
Transport Infrastructure Ireland's standard graded crushed rock sub-base compacted in layers beneath driveways; for full SuDS permeability, a reduced-fines Type 3 stone is used.
Day Joint
A planned stop line along a narrow part of the driveway or against an aluminium dividing strip when a very large resin bound area is laid across two separate sessions.
Epoxy Tack Coat & Broadcast Sand
A solvent-free two-part primer rolled onto existing poured concrete and blinded with kiln-dried quartz sand to create a mechanical key before trowelling an 18mm resin bound overlay.
Forced-Action Mixer
A heavy-duty rotating pan mixer with contra-rotating paddles that coats every single grain of kiln-dried stone evenly in clear resin; ordinary cement drum mixers cannot be used for resin bound.
Kiln-Dried Graded Aggregate
Washed natural marble, quartz or granite dried in a kiln to remove all moisture and dust, blending 2–5mm stone for structural strength with 1–3mm stone to fill gaps smoothly.
Open-Graded Asphalt Binder Course
A porous 50mm–70mm tarmacadam base course laid with 14mm–20mm aggregate and reduced fines so rainwater passing through the 18mm resin bound layer drains freely into the stone sub-base below.
Recessed Manhole Tray
A galvanised steel or aluminium inset frame fitted over an inspection chamber and filled with the exact same resin bound stone blend so ugly cast-iron drain covers disappear.
Resin Bonded (Scatter-Coat)
A non-permeable thin film of resin rolled onto tarmac or concrete with loose stone scattered on top; unlike trowelled resin bound, it sheds loose gravel and does not let rainwater drain through.
Resin Bound (Trowelled System)
A 15mm–18mm structural wearing course where dried aggregate and clear UV-stable resin are mixed together in a forced-action mixer and hand-trowelled to a flat, smooth, porous finish with no loose stones.
SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System)
Drainage design that lets rainwater soak straight through porous surfacing into the ground at up to 850 litres per m² per minute instead of overloading street storm drains.
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Questions homeowners ask
How much does a resin bound driveway cost in Ireland?
An 18mm UV-stable resin bound overlay laid over a sound existing tarmac or concrete driveway costs €65 to €95 per m² (€3,250 to €4,750 for a typical 50 m² 2-car driveway). If your current surface is gravel, grass or sinking cobblelock and needs a full dig-out with a compacted Clause 804 sub-base and open-graded tarmac binder course, the full installation costs €95 to €140 per m² (€4,750 to €7,000 for 50 m²).
What is the difference between resin bound and resin bonded?
In a resin bound driveway, kiln-dried natural stones and clear polyurethane resin are mixed thoroughly in a forced-action mixer and hand-trowelled to a smooth, flat 18mm layer with tiny microscopic voids that let rainwater drain straight through. In resin bonded, resin is simply rolled onto the ground and loose gravel scattered on top — leaving a rough, non-permeable surface that sheds loose stones.
Can resin bound be laid over my existing concrete or tarmac driveway?
Yes, provided the tarmac or concrete is structurally sound with no sinking or rocking slabs. Monolithic concrete is pressure-washed, any cracks are chased and stitched with epoxy mesh, and an epoxy primer with broadcast sand is applied before trowelling 18mm of resin bound stone (€65 to €95/m²). Never lay resin bound directly over block paving (cobblelock), as the individual bricks move and crack the resin.
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