Resin bonded driveways. good earners or not?

topgrafter2007 · Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:10 pm

ive been wondering about going on a short course to learn how to do resin bonded gravel drives. does anyone out there do them? and do you find them good earners??

Post: # 34742Post **Tony McC** Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:32 pm

The contractors that do resin-bonded surfacing for driveways seem to think it's a nice easy earner, but the biggest problem I hear is the continuity of work. Most gangs do resin-bonded as a sideline to their main income earner, whether that's blacktop, blocks or PIC

DNgroundworks · Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:42 pm

Can anyone reccomend such courses? And the companies that do them?

Post: # 34747Post **seanandruby** Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:44 am

i think the trend is for you to ring whoever is doing the "course" . they want you to get a resin bonded job, they come out and take charge of it by doing it and teaching you in house. they take the money you get the "experience." ???

DNgroundworks · Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:40 pm

Well ill think ill be giving that a miss then.

topgrafter2007 · Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:13 pm

that sounds a great idea... not! ??? guess i shall buy some gear and have a go at home. seen some drives and done well they do look fantastic and alittle different...

Injured · Post: # 34765Post **Injured** Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:55 pm

It is something I have been looking into too and have drawn a blank for training too but I have spoken to a guy at one of the suppliers and he has emailed me an application guide if you are interested I could email it to you just pm me your email and I will send it for you.

Post: # 34777Post **Tony McC** Sat Feb 21, 2009 4:23 pm

Simeon at Ronacrete provides a decent training course and 'coaching' for that critical first job, as do the Johns at PICS.

As I know only too well, there's training, and then there's training!

topgrafter2007 · Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:46 pm

cheers Tony. just mulling over new ideas all info helps...

simeonronacrete · Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:26 am

As well as training you in our workshop, which to be honest is nothing like a "real life" project where you will make or lose cash, we also encourage resin bonded and resin bound virgins to employ for a day or two a contractor (i.e. a man) who has done it before, suffered the learning curve who can give you an on-the-job-hands-on insight into right and wrong, good and bad practice.

The contractors of whom I speak are few and far between but we know them and they are willing to help us, and you.

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but after some of the mistakes we've seen from some first-timers, I think it's money well spent.

Feel free to contact me.

Good luck and happy laying.

Simeon

worldofpaving · Sat Mar 07, 2009 4:16 am

Simeon is absolutely right and if you are serious about getting involved with resin-bonded then this is the route to take. It is simple enough on the face of it but there are enough things involved to bite the unwary in the ykw...

I would say at this point that you need good trowelling skills - if that's not your forte, you won't get on with this system. If you have ever done screed work, can render or plaster, you'll love it.

The above having been said, yes, it can be a good earner and has a lot of things going for it, not least that it can be a same day start the job to leaving site with payment.

Lastly, it's handy for the recession - having been forced to your knees by the banks, it's where you'll spend most of the day when laying resin-bonded stone.

Best of Luck,
WOP