Seamless and weed-free
No joints means nothing for weeds or ants to colonise.
Resin Bound DrivewaysWith the Groundwork Done RightCardiff & Newport
A smooth, seamless, weed-free surface that looks finished from the day it cures, laid on a base we have built ourselves, so it does not crack along the joints of whatever was there before.
Fixed-price quotes · 10-year workmanship guarantee · fully insured
15 years
in the trade, trading as MB Construction since 2019
10-year guarantee
workmanship guarantee on completed work
Fully insured
public liability & employer's liability
Fixed-price quotes
free, in writing, never a day rate
24/7 emergencies
emergency roof repairs, day or night
Resin Driveways, What's Involved
A resin bound driveway is natural aggregate mixed with a clear resin binder and trowelled out over a solid base to form a continuous, permeable surface with no joints for weeds to find.
The finish is what sells it, clean, level and easy to sweep, but the reason one resin drive lasts and another crazes is entirely underneath. Resin is a wearing surface, not a structural one: it copies whatever it is laid on.
We build or repair the base first, then lay the resin. Where an existing concrete or tarmac surface is genuinely sound we can overlay it; where it is not, we excavate and build a new base rather than pretend.
- Who it's for
- Homeowners who want a modern, low-maintenance driveway, a smooth surface for prams, bikes and wheelchairs, or a clean finish around a newly rendered house.
- When it's needed
- When replacing broken tarmac or concrete, resurfacing a tired driveway, or finishing a new-build or extension frontage.
- Why a professional job matters
- Resin is mixed and laid to a working time. Wrong ratio, wrong temperature, damp base or a rushed trowel and the surface goes patchy, soft or brittle, and it cannot be fixed by touching it up.
What Happens If It's Left
Nothing outside a house gets cheaper to fix by waiting. Here is how this one escalates.
Cracks telegraph straight through
Laid over a failing base, resin splits along the movement joints and cracks below it within a season or two.
Damp bases ruin the bond
Resin applied to a surface that is not dry loses adhesion and lifts in sheets: a full relay, not a repair.
Trapped water breaks the surface down
Poor drainage under a permeable surface leaves water sitting in the base. Frost then does the rest.
Cheap aggregate and thin coverage
Under-specified depth wears through to the base in the wheel tracks, and the colour goes patchy where it is thinnest.
Common mistakes we're called in to undo
- Laying resin over cracked concrete to avoid the cost of excavation.
- Having it laid in cold or wet conditions because a crew turned up that day.
- Skipping edge detailing, so the surface crumbles at the perimeter.
- Assuming permeable means no drainage design is needed.
- Paying a day rate on a job where the material cost is the biggest variable.
Our Process
The same five steps on every job, so you always know what happens next.
01
Site visit and base assessment
We check what is already there, whether it can be overlaid, and where surface water goes.
02
Fixed price in writing
A free, no-obligation quote covering preparation, base works, edgings, aggregate choice and the resin system.
03
Base preparation
Excavation and a new compacted base where needed, or repair and preparation of a sound existing surface. Edgings set and levels confirmed.
04
Resin laying
Aggregate and resin forced-mixed in controlled batches and trowelled to an even depth in dry conditions, worked continuously so there are no cold joints.
05
Cure, check and completion
The surface is left to cure, inspected for coverage and finish, site cleared and your 10-year workmanship guarantee handed over.
What You Get
Smooth to walk and wheel on
A level surface for prams, bikes, wheelchairs and bins, no rocking blocks or loose stones.
Permeable by design
Water drains through the surface rather than running off towards the house or the pavement.
Low maintenance
An occasional sweep and wash keeps it looking new; there is no sand to top up.
Sharp, modern finish
A clean colour field that lifts the whole frontage, especially alongside fresh render.
Fixed price, guaranteed work
One written figure before we start, backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee.
Resin Driveways in Detail
Materials, methods and the variations we cover across Cardiff, Newport and the wider South Wales area.
Resin bound vs resin bonded
Resin bound is aggregate mixed through the resin and trowelled flat: smooth, permeable and what we fit for driveways. Resin bonded is loose stone scattered onto a resin layer, giving a rougher, non-permeable finish that sheds stone over time.
Base build-up
Over open ground we excavate and build a compacted sub-base with a binding layer to take the resin. Over existing surfaces we only overlay where the concrete or tarmac is sound, dry and correctly fallen, otherwise it comes out.
Aggregate and depth
Aggregate blends are chosen for colour and grading; laid depth is set by use, with driveways specified thicker than paths and patios. Consistent depth is what keeps colour even and stops wear patches.
Weather and curing
Resin needs dry conditions and a workable temperature. We will move a date rather than lay in the wrong weather; a day's delay is better than a surface that never cures properly.
Edges, thresholds and drainage
Perimeter edgings, block or kerb restraints, thresholds kept below the damp-proof course, and channel drainage where the fall demands it.
Domestic and light commercial
Driveways, paths, courtyards and bin stores at home; entrances, walkways and small parking areas for commercial premises where a smooth, clean surface matters.
Where we carry out this work
We work from Crumlin Drive in St Mellons across Cardiff, Newport, St Mellons, Vale of Glamorgan, Caerphilly, Penarth and the surrounding South Wales area. See the areas we cover, browse all of our services or head back to the MB Construction homepage.
Resin Driveways, Common Questions
How much does a resin driveway cost?
It is driven by area, the state of the existing base and the aggregate you choose. We assess the base on site and give you a free fixed price in writing.
How long does it take?
Base preparation takes the bulk of the time; the resin itself is usually laid in a day for a typical driveway. Your quote sets out the full schedule.
When can I drive on it?
The surface needs to cure before traffic. We tell you the exact stand-off time for your job before we leave site.
Is resin slippery in the wet?
No. The aggregate gives the surface texture and water drains through rather than sitting on top.
Can it be laid over my existing drive?
Only if that surface is sound, dry and properly fallen. If it is cracked or moving we build a new base, overlaying a failing surface is the main cause of resin cracking.
How long does a resin driveway last?
Laid at the right depth on a proper base it is a long-life surface. Our workmanship carries a 10-year guarantee.
What maintenance does it need?
Sweep it, and wash it down occasionally. There is no jointing sand to replace, though we can jet wash it for you if it ever needs a lift.
Are your quotes really free?
Yes. We come out, look at the job properly and put a fixed price in writing. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation to go ahead.
Do you charge a day rate?
No. Every job is quoted as a fixed price. The figure you agree is the figure you pay, whether the work runs quicker or slower than we expected.
Is the work guaranteed and are you insured?
All of our work carries a 10-year workmanship guarantee, and we hold both public liability and employer's liability insurance. Ask to see the documents before work starts and you will get them.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based on Crumlin Drive in St Mellons and work across Cardiff, Newport, the Vale of Glamorgan, Caerphilly, Penarth and the surrounding South Wales area.
Related Services
Block Paving
A driveway is 90% the ground you never see. We excavate to depth, compact a proper sub-base and lay blocks that stay flat and level years after a surface-dressed job has rutted and sunk.
View Block Paving →Patios
Turn an unused corner of garden into a space you actually sit in: full groundworks, correct falls, steps and edging finished neatly, priced as one fixed figure.
View Patios →Jet Washing
The cheapest way to transform the front of a house: algae, moss and ingrained dirt stripped off, joints re-sanded, and the surface left looking new, for a fraction of replacing it.
View Jet Washing →Get a fixed price for your resin driveway
We will tell you honestly whether your existing base can be overlaid or needs rebuilding, then price the job in writing, free.
- Free, no-obligation site visit and fixed price in writing
- 10-year workmanship guarantee on completed work
- Public liability & employer's liability insured