DRIVEWAYS BINLEY WOODS

The difference between the two forms of resin in all in the mix and the bonding resin.

A resin bound mix sees all the small stones mixed thoroughly with the resin in such a fashion that all of the aggregate pieces are fully covered in resin before the mixture is laid out on its base layer. The result, once the resin has set, is a fully connected mix throughout all the layers the stones. This leads to a much stronger floor surface which is better adapted to be UV stable and yet still allows good drainage throughout, even though it has a smooth surface finish.

Resin Bonding is the lower cost option. The process involves the application of resin to the surface of the base layer and then spreading the small stones across the resin to enable as many of them as possible to stick to the resin bottom as closely as possible together. This could be related to when your children, or yourself, use glitter as a decorative finish. The glue acts as the resin and the glitter as the aggregate particles. As you will know, you will find glitter in places it's not supposed to be as bits get knocked off the. It's the same principle but on a larger scale for resin bonding. Since only the bottom of the stone is in contact with the resin the bond is weaker and rougher, so inevitably stones will come loose. The other disadvantage of simply laying a resin base is that it forms an solid film which water cannot easily pass through which means that you may well have drainage issues in heavy rain.

Ideally, where budgets allow you would decide on a resin bound driveway. If it doesn't then resin bonded would still provide you with a very good looking driveway, which is one of, if not the main reason resin driveways have taken off.

As there is a wide, and ever growing, choice of colour options it's highly likely you will find at least one which appeals. The challenge may arise if there are two of you with different opinions on which one you prefer - but we'll leave that decision up to you!

In terms of maintenance, again resin bound trumps resin bonded. The stronger smooth finish makes it much harder for moss or algae to find somewhere to take a hold. This is also helped by the fact that water can drain through a resin bound surface - no formation of stagnant puddles which collect dirt and debris which is then left once the sun dries out the rain. Therefore shaping your drive can follow naturally rather than trying to manufacture in a slope to ensure the water can run off. Resin bound offers great flexibility along with toughness. It also has low maintenance requirements, UV protection and anti-slip qualities so is an excellent all rounder!

As with all driveways the total cost will be influenced most by the total area and the state of the existing ground or existing driveway.

That's why any fixed quotation can only really be done after an inspection of the proposed driveway site. Our teams measure up, inspect the ground condition and will also cover how you will want your resin driveway contained - blocks being one of the most popular edges.

A cost of around £80 per m2 for a driveway of around 40m2 could be considered and average but please do bear in mind this is an 'average' which will be formed by figure below and above this based on specific circumstances and varying sizes - with cost per m2 generally coming down the larger the area. Bearing this latter point in mind, when considering upgrading your driveway it would also be a good time to combine it with updating your side and back garden pathways and patios, rather than waiting to do this at a later date.

If looked after, a resin bound driveway should last 20 years easily. ​Maintenance should simply involve brushing off any debris such as leaves and a jet wash every now and then. This should enable you to have hassle free ownership of a resin driveway. Remember though, resin bound driveways are designed for light vehicle traffic so, if you are intending to park heavy, semi-commercial vehicles and load and unload heavy items which could fall and damage the resin, this may not be the best option for you. Similar to tarmac, chemical spills such as brake fluid, should be removed immediately with warm water. Call us to discuss all the best options for you. Depending on your existing surface commercial resin surfacing may be suitable, especially for commercial resin pathways. If you are a business looking to make a move to a commercial resin stone surfacing in Sheffield please contact us for a no obligation discussion.

There is increasing popularity for resin driveways in commercial premises. Mostly offices rather than industrial or factory environments which are subject to traffic from large trucks loading and unloading. As mentioned earlier the process to repair resin driveways is not as simply as concrete or tarmac, which are much better suited to heavy duty industrial traffic and if repairs are required these are relatively quick and cheap.

Seeing a resin driveway gives a great first impression for staff and visitors. It provides a statement that your business is doing well and is conscientious in terms of brand and wanting to provide a workplace where people want to work. Due to the amount of colour options resin driveways provide there will be a good chance that you can utilise your business brand colours subtly into your drive and block paving edging to provide a fully co-ordinated brand image inside and out of your offices.

Whether a resin pathway running from the driveway in your front garden down you side alley and into a back garden patio is what you've been considering then we can help you with that too. Resin Pathways in Binley Woods have been increasing in numbers as they are a good surface for walking on. They are quite slip resistant when wet and as mentioned a resin bound surface is permeable, which is why many councils are choosing this for parks and pathways running from car parks to their buildings. If you are looking to provide your staff or customers with a safe surface for getting around you business premises by foot then get in touch to arrange for a survey of your premises.

As well as driveways, domestic resin patios in Binley Woods are also growing in popularity too with many more requests for this happening every year. Resin bound is ideal for a patio area as it allows for water drainage, is very resistant to weeds and also provides a good surface underfoot so if you have had a quick shower and are taking things back outside again you can do so safely without worrying to much about slipping, which can sometimes be a risk with certain patio slabs - especially if they have not been kept clean and have a thin layer of algae which can become very slippery when wet.

With a wide range of colour options it is unlikely that you won't be able to find a colour to suit your garden and when edged off with blocks can create a quite stunning setting for outdoor entertaining.

Block paving provides one of the stronger surface finishes. This can vary between the cheapest to more expensive brick choices but even the cheaper bricks will provide a good level of robustness to your pathway. Another plus point which block paving has over most of the other driveway options is that it is made up by lacing adjoining bricks alongside each other, rather than once solid layer of surface material. This means that should there be an incident which causes damage to your driveway if your bricks are not able to withstand the impact it is a relatively straightforward task to remove the broken bricks and replace them with new bricks. Whilst initially it will be obvious which are the new bricks, over a short period of time the new ones will take on the same weathered appearance as the others. If you decide to do your replacement just after a jet wash you will struggle to tell which bricks have been replaced.

The cost of block paving will depend on the total size of the area to be paved, along with the existing base, the state of the ground, slope and also what brick or brick types you will want to select. As a rough guideline for a small area a cost of around £120 a m2 with costs starting to drop when a total area greater than 40m2 is required. As with any cost predictions there are many other factors to look at as every driveway installation is unique so we always recommend getting a site quote.

Since it is important to ensure that bricks do not protrude and create a trip hazard the preparation of the groundwork is key - especially if there is a fairly steep slope to take into consideration. Too steep and block paving may not be a viable option. Obtaining a strong, stable base is vital to ensure that each block remains fixed in place. Sometimes this may require the sub base to be deeper which can also affect overall costs. An initial sealant will help retard the formation of weeds and moss to start with but will also allow water to drain through the gaps between blocks. Unless you have a sizable slope on of the other advantages of block paving is that water will naturally run through the bricks negating the needs for additional soakaways and drainage alterations to be made.

Over time black paving will undergo an natural weathering process, which can't be avoided. Over time you may start to get the urge to freshen up your block paving. When you do it is important to follow a few simple rules to ensure your driveway continues to look and perform well for many years to come. Firstly, it is recommended that for the first few weeks after your block paving has been laid that any cleaning and maintenance is fairly gentle. Sweeping with a brush to collect lose, top debris, leaves or litter is advised to allow the jointing material between the bricks to set properly. The worst thing to do is to jet wash early on, as once the jointing material is dislodged the gaps created provide the perfect environment for seeds to into and moss and weeds to develop in the joints.

Once the jointing material has set then you can use warm soapy water and a stiff brush to give the bricks a gentle scrub. This process should allow you to keep on top of the buildup of dirt on your bricks. If you have left cleaning for a whilst and there is a greater build up of dirt then a pressure washer can be used BUT only if you have your jointing sand on hand to brush into the gaps soon after you have completed your jet wash

Tarmac, full name Tarmacadam is the older of the two and as the name suggests uses tar as its basis. Crushed stones are mixed in with the tar which results in the stones being fully coated with the tar which provides the bonding between stones. In its warm form it is poured out over the area and then finally compacted down and smoothed by a roller to provide a smooth uniformed finish.

This is the more recent innovation for this type of road or driveway. One of the main by products of petroleum production is bitumen. This has similar properties to tar in that it is the coating agent for the individual crushed aggregate pieces and is the bonding agent. Whilst there may be difference between the two upon closer inspection if comparing them side by side you would be able to notice the asphalt being a little smoother than the tarmac. As well as this small visual improvement the asphalt finish is more robust not only in terms of its resistance to knocks and drops but it is also less susceptible to damage from petrol or diesel which can quite often seep from parked cars on a drive. Overall Asphalt is the superior of the two.

Tarmac driveways continue to be popular as they are relatively quick to install depending on what the existing surface is. When compared to concrete for example if has a shorter drying time and will therefore be accessible quicker than a concrete driveway. If you have an existing tarmac driveway there is also the possibility of resurfacing but this will only follow an inspection to access the current state of your driveway and if any cleaning or treatment is required before resurfacing can be done. Again an inspection will indicate whether or not resurfacing your existing tarmac driveway in a different colour will get a result you will be happy with.

As with any driveway whilst a rough cost per meter square can be used there are other factors which may effect costs. Clearly a resurfacing will be cheaper than a full new installation. Also some colours options will be more expensive than black and asphalt will be dearer than tarmac.

Aside from the costs of materials the other factors will be the total surface area, the existing base and what shaping and drainage will be required  which could be effected by the slope of your driveway.

We always prefer to come out and look to give you a final fixed quote and ensure any questions you may have about tarmac driveways are fully addressed.

Keeping your tarmac driveway well maintained shouldn't be a big deal. Brushing will the stiff broom should help keep dirt from settling in and providing an area for moss or algae to take hold. If you have left things a little too long on the maintenance front then tarmac is suitable for power cleaning but care should be taken. Where possible always start on a gentle setting and it is possible to dislodge tarmac with a power wash and once one part comes loose it can start to have a snowball effect as water can then settle in those areas and when winter comes the formation of expanding ice can lead to more of the area becoming dislodged. These areas should be fixed sooner rather than later and to minimise this occurring again it is good practise to regularly seal you tarmac driveway ever 3 years or so. If you follow these few tips you should expect your tarmac driveway to continue to look good for almost 20 years.

As mentioned, you will typically be choosing a concrete driveway if you are intending to have a fully functioning driveway which sees a lot of action. You should expect minimal maintenance from a concrete driveway if it is shown a little TLC in its first few weeks.

The curing of concrete is a very slow process almost exponential but clearly you can't wait forever for it to completely dry out. We would recommend refraining at least for the first week minimum before parking vehicles on the drive. If you do have a heavily laden weight truck, you should add a couple more weeks.

After curing for a couple of months the concrete will be stable enough to seal. This is not mandatory but something we would recommend to protect the concrete from water seeping which in turn could turn to ice which could cause the concrete to crack. To maintain this level of protection you should then consider re-sealing every 5 years or so, to continue to enjoy maintain your drive in tip top shape for many years.

​As a driveway option, concrete is more expensive than asphalt, but as mentioned it's longevity does make it cost effective long term and it is less expensive than paving or stone options. However, the aspect which may not be so appealing is the aesthetics where standard grey can be viewed as quite dull, unless you decide to upgrade to a patterned concrete alternative. Again each individual driveway will have its unique set of consideration but a ball park figure for concrete of around £80 m2 provides and initial start point.

A standard concrete driveway is generally chosen to deal with tough conditions. Typically where many larger vehicles are being used and equipment or machinery is loaded and unloaded regularly. In this sort of environment it is not unusual for an item to damage your concrete driveway causing part of it to break or chip away. Whilst it may be tempting to leave it as these sorts of accidents are likely to happen on a frequent basis by not patch repairing you run the risk of more damage through the weathering process - especially when frost temperatures are upon us. Wherever possible attend to any damage with a concrete patch repair. This will prevent water and debris from getting in and causing more damage and maintenance issues.

There are many different stamp designs along with concrete colourings which allows for such a wide selection of design options. Interestingly some of the most favoured designs are the most traditional. Cobblestones are very popular and provide a great example of where modern innovation in materials and processes can meet modern needs i.e. provide a low maintenance drive which can still seamlessly blend in with older period properties. Tile and brickwork are also popular choices but with many subtle variations including curve or circular patterns you can end up with a final design which is quite bespoke to you.

Whilst Pattern Imprinted Concrete provide some fantastic features and benefits it should also be remembered that these do come at a cost. Also since this is a sealed, solid concrete structure there is nowhere for rainwater to drain through. Therefore drainage and water run off will also need to be taken into account as will the potential for concrete to expand on hot days. So, just a for concrete there is likely to be a requirement for some expansion joints to be included. Whilst every care is made to make these as inconspicuous as possible by colour matching they will be visible to your trained eye, due to the smooth and uniformed appearance of the rest of the driveway.

Also since this primarily a surface treatment process, should any damage occur corrective action is likely to involve a professional rather than an DIY quick fix!

This is one of the more expensive driveway options and when we provide a general cost this is always with the caveat that this is an average with individual quotes ranging above and below to bring this average figure. As always you should expect some economies of scale if you have a large area but individual ground aspects will influence your individual price. So in terms of an average - costs in the region of £150- £170 per m2 for a small 40 m2 driveway would give you a start point. Clearly stamped concrete will be more than standard concrete as there are additional processes and materials involved. The other factor which can add additional costs is the need for adequate drainage or water runaways. Unlike resin and block paving, where water can run through gaps and drain naturally over the whole area, pressed concrete is formed as large solid impermeable blocks of concrete - so when it rains there needs to be somewhere for this water to go as you won't be happy getting out of your car and getting into a large puddle! So depending on the natural slopes of your ground and where this could allow you excess water to go may lead to further work being carried out to deal with this.

That said - you can still see why so many people still decide to pay a little more to install an imprinted concrete driveway. It has a striking kerb appeal and definitely plays a part in the valuation of your property plus since there is so little maintenance - what is there not to like from a prospective buyers perspective?

As already mentioned maintenance of patterned concrete is fairly minimal. Brushing off debris is a relatively easy affair as there are no actual joints between cobbled prints - except for the expansion joints. The expansion joints should be the area you pay most attention to, ensuring that debris does not build up in there to allow weeds and algae to take hold on it . Should you be a little lax in keeping on top of this, cleaning with a pressure washer is fairly straightforward as long as you take a little care over the closeness and pressure settings of the jet spray; especially at the expansion joints.

To maintain that clean bold sheen, we would recommend that every four years you arrange for a reapplication of a solvent-based acrylic sealant. Follow these tips and you will have a fantastic looking driveway for many years.

A cobbled driveway type of road dates back many centuries and can still be found in many UK and European cities with those people who can remember horse drawn carriages being pulled on them making quite a racket. However, with modern suspension and rubber tyres driving over a cobbled driveway can still be felt but in a subtle way, which provides character instead of discomfort.

Whilst new cobbles are most frequently fitted, on occasion customers will be able to get their hands on reclaimed stones and these can be fitted in much the same way. Whilst these stones are likely to be a little more irregular they can be turned and set to provide the best top surface with filler set between gaps to minimise weed and moss growth. As this is not one of the new modern low maintenance driveways you should expect some level of cleaning and weeding between cobbles as that's the natural place for seeds to set themselves. However, as with most cleaning regimes - if you kept a 'little and often' approach to cleaning the net result will be a small amount of time and effort in total.

Indian stone is often referred to as Indian stone paving since the stones are in actual fact more like slabs. However, they are much much visual that standard paving slabs, with much more character. Whilst they are available in a variety of colours the most popular by far are buff and grey Indian stone. What is also growing in popularity is mixing up a number of different coloured paving stone. This creates a great looking mosaic effect and means you can have a very unique looking driveway. A good combination of colours includes dark and light blue grey, a rustic red and golden buff. Since each colour will also come in a few different sizes it provides an opportunity to be creative with your driveway.

As with all driveway types it may also be more cost effective to get your side and rear pathways and patio done too but if your driveway slab stone come in both thicknesses it may be an opportunity to save some cost on the path and patio by selecting the patio strength slabs.

The main attraction of this stone is it's colour - blue grey is a a very traditional shade for a cobbled style driveway and Belgian fits the bill very well. It is a limestone but don't think that because of this is going to be soft and crumble. This pavestone is very dense and as a result it is robust, hardwearing and provides a high level of water resistance. Because of his last feature, the benefit it provides is that since water can ingress into the stone it makes it more ice and frost resistant. Its popular shape has a flat top with rounded edges, which makes it a smoother ride than many other cobblestone options.

Granite is another hard stone, which is also often used for driveways and is quite often made in sett form. rather than a rounded cobble a set is more angular and closer to a block or brick in shape. Granite setts are quite often available as carpet stones. Carpet stones, sometimes called mats, comprise of a number of stone pre-connected together typically with a wire mesh. By pre connecting the 'mat' can be laid straight down with several stones already being pre-spaced by the mesh which will save valuable time - especially when laying a large area. You may well have seen this approach in garden centres for patio or stone areas mostly to form a circular setting of stones. So whilst this does provide the advantage of time it does provide a pre-determined flow of stones. If you do want to run the stone down a particular shape it is possible to combine both set and individual stone to achieve this but the extra time will add to the total cost.

As you can see there are many options and choices which can be quite daunting at first. However, there's no need to panic. We can discuss options with you, pros and cons and which options may or may not be feasible with the budget you set aside for this project.

Patios are where most of the good summer weather is spent outdoors so it makes sense to have a good quality patio installed. Whilst most people will focus on the aesthetics of their patio installation plays an important part too. There would be nothing worse than a guest tripping and falling over by catching their foot on an uneven patio where paving slabs are jutting up and out - ready to claim their next trip hazard victim.

Planning the layout and size and layers is time well spend as you really want to go through the installation process once and don't want to be talking about extensions and steps again in the near future.

There will generally be more to decide if your garden has a slope as you will want your patio area to be flat. This will mean moving earth and whether you want one large flat patio or a stepped two level patio will impact on costs and installation time.

Also consider how you would like your patio edged off. We often enclose or frame a patio with different slabs to create more of a feature and these will butt up to a wall to to grass, or possibly sleepers if you then want to run your patio up to a raised flower bed.

If you take a little bit of time and spend some time discussing your thoughts with us we are confident that you will end up with a very desirable patio in Binley Woods. As a patio is a long term investment make sure that you will be happy with the outcome and not have second thoughts at a later date. Don't simply think in squares or rectangles either. A Patio can be any shape you want it. We have installed many patios which have curves or are a stand alone circular platform from which a pathway leads to other parts of the garden or back to the house. In fact you may want to consider more than one patio area. One near to your home where items can easily be brought from the kitchen area for eating drinking and entertaining and perhaps another area in a sun spot in the garden where you can place a garden bench and enjoy your garden in a more relaxing fashion.

As mentioned we are proficient in fitting all types of paving slabs and stones. Most of the basic principles for building a patio will be the same but there will be some subtle differences based on size and type.

The main difference will be whether or not the slab you choose if porous of not as this will effect what the slab is fixed to as certain adhesive mixtures and compounds are suitable for a porous slab and vice versa.

Here is a quick overview of some of the most popular patio slabs:

Concrete Flagstones

Concrete slabs or flagstones are generally the cheapest type of slab. These are made, on mass, in factories and are simply made by combining cement with sand, small stones and mixing with water and then drying out. They are very robust and hard wearing although not the most aesthetic. More often that not these are used to provide a cheap pathway in an inconspicuous area of a garden or are used to provide a base on which to build an outdoor structure such as a shed which will cover the slabs frombeing seen.

Limestone Paved Patios

Limestone is a natural product but is relatively inexpensive and therefore has been popular for many years for garden paths and patios. They are porous so are more prone to collecting moss and algae unless you apply a suitable sealer to them every few years. They blend in very well if you are looking to create a discreet pathway in your garden and work well for small patio areas in more hidden locations within a garden.

Indian Stone Patios

Indian stone has surged in popularity over the past few years both for patios and for driveways as they are often available in both grades. They come in several interesting colours and shades and as a natural stone they have subtle variations throughout which many people will prefer. Indian stone is robust and a good choice to use to build and natural and interesting patio or driveway.

Slate and Granite Patios

Generally speaking if you are looking to have a darker patio area, slate and granite will be the first slabs which spring to mind. Again they are both natural stone and need very little maintenance but will have a more limited colour range. If you find the colour you are after though either of this will provide a very good looking patio.

Marble Patio Paving

Marble is normally linked to prestigious venues as an internal flooring surface however, for many years it has been an option for patios and paving and is one of the most visually stunning. You will find a limited range of colour options and with a glossy finish will provide a very striking patio especially if you combine both light and dark colours together. The one aspect to be aware of is they due to their very smooth finish they are more prone to be slippery when wet.

Porcelain Patio Paving

Porcelain paving has and is now one of the most popular materials being chosen for new patios. It comes in a good variety or colours and sizes allowing many different designs, layouts and slab combinations to be created. As this is also a popular kitchen floor option those who have a porcelain kitchen will want to continue to have one continuous floor surface running from inside to out. They are very low maintenance slabs so will continue to look like new for many years with minimal effort.

We've demonstrated that you have a broad choice when it comes to both your patio design and the materials you will want your patio constructed with. Whilst this may seem a little overwhelming at first our Binley Woods team have an eye for design and can help guide you down the pest material choice for you design aspirations and budget.

A new patio should be seen as an investment into your property so it is important to get it right. Regardless of the size of your garden a patio area need not be associated as being a lifeless concreted zone. In fact in many small gardens a patio had provide homeowners with a good base to combine garden furniture with pot plants of all sizes and colours to create their own outdoor haven.

For larger gardens don't be afraid to have split patio areas our team can help you with landscaping design as well as all the landscaping aspects beyond just the patio or paving areas. We can help with fencing, artificial grass, retaining walls and raised beds too. Please share your full garden plans to see where we can assist. We look forward to transforming your outdoor space.