Resin bonded - long term test - Is resin bonded living up to its promise

[nick777vvv]

I'm in the market for a new driveway and have been considering the pros and cons of the usual options.

I love the idea of resin bonded. It looks great and I've seen some nice work to get a feel for what can be done. However, I'm also hearing stories of how it's untried over the long term and could be liable to crack or break up. I've also had questions raised about UV stability - looks great when laid but will fade in time.

I know there are cowboys out there but this is less about how it's been applied and more about how well correctly laid resin bond has held up to 10+ years of British winters.

How do I sort the facts from the horror stories? Are there many examples of long term (i.e. 10-20 year) installations across the country that can prove its longevity? Or would laying resin bond end up being a gamble to which no-one yet has the answers?

Would be interested in getting feedback from anyone that had resin bonded installed many years ago and could report back on how its fared over the years...

[lutonlagerlout]

we did a 350m public car park in around 2002

firstly a regulating layer of bitmac was applied (around 40mm)

then 2 days later the resin bonded gravel with parking bays mapped out in different colour

I havent looked at it for 3-4 years but it was good last time considering the number of vehicle movements a day

it would be a lot more popular if it were a bit cheaper

we used addagrip but I believe ronafix do a similar system

bear in mind though its only new on the day its laid

LLL

[Dave_L]

Use a decent quality UV-stablised resin product, applied properly over a properly prepared base and resin is very good, with good longevity & durability.

There are always going to be bad apples in the cart, stick to the big names and you'll not go far wrong

[nick777vvv]

It's not so much the quality of the work or the quality of the product.

The bit I'd like to find out more about is the long term durability of resin bond.

Anyone know how long the first resin bond jobs have been down? I presume the main manufacturers must undergo long term stability tests but I've not found anything that backs this up...

[lutonlagerlout]

try emailing ronafix or addagrip
LLL

[nick777vvv]

OK, thanks.

In the meanwhile, if anyone on the board is familiar with long term durability or knows of RB jobs laid 10+ years ago I'd be interested to know.

[lutonlagerlout]

here is the street view from 2012

http://goo.gl/maps/yM37O

may I ask Nick have you had some installed that has NOT lasted?

it was definitely 2002 this was done as we watched the world cup in the saracens head up the road

thing is CBP bitmac concrete PIC and pretty much every drive type covering is going to weather after 10 years

if you want summat to last forever use gravel

and buy a rake!! :;):

LLL

[nick777vvv]

No, I've never had it laid.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a complete amateur as far as this is concerned which is why I came on the board.

However, having spoken to contractors who have cast doubt on its longevity, I thought I'd find out for myself.

But I guess if it's too new to have had any long term weathering then no-one really knows the answer for definite.

[lutonlagerlout]

Its the added cost over and above the tarmac that puts people off
it gets used in high end developments and in some civic jobs
probably like yourself I was suspicious when we had it Laid but it has lasted well
personally i think well laid bitmac is best on a drive for long good looks
LLL