Resin Bound Maintenance Guide

A Resin Bound System is a hard-wearing, low-maintenance surface solution that offers a host of great benefits, including design flexibility, strength and ease of upkeep. Low maintenance, of course, does not mean any maintenance. Thankfully, looking after a resin-bound surface is easy and straightforward for your customers.

How a resin bound surface should be used

Resin-bound surfaces are intended to be used for normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic and are not designed to withstand abnormal loads or uses.

Protection should be provided wherever possible against abnormal damage. Heavy goods vehicles should not be permitted to park on, or regularly traverse resin bound surfacing unless it has been allowed for in the overall construction.

Your resin bound driveway will have no problem with parked cars or other regular uses for a driveway; however, you should be careful not to damage it with any of the following abnormal usages.

• Skips: Heavy skips with edges should not be placed directly onto your resin bound driveway. For lighter skips, load bearing planks may be used, but we recommend placing a skip elsewhere if possible.
• Sharp points: Avoid anything that applies a sharp point of pressure onto the surface, such as the stand of a heavy motorcycle.
• Dragging: You should never drag heavy objects across your resin bound driveway.
• Spillage risks: Spillage of solvents should be avoided as these will soften and damage the resin binder.

Resin Bound surfacing is resistant to a wide range of chemicals. The full chemical resistance builds up over time and care should be taken within the first 7 days of installation to not expose the surface to chemicals.

Prevent tyre marks on a resin bound driveway

You can help prevent tyre marks by refraining from turning your steering wheel while your car is stationary on the surface.

Tyre marks are not actually caused by rubber transferring from the tyre to the surface – they are caused by oils in the surface being heated by the friction of tyres, or residual heat resulting from a long journey.

How to clean a resin bound driveway​

A number of potential issues with a resin bound surface may be prevented by regularly sweeping it clean with a stiff broom. This will remove leaves and detritus materials and will prevent moss growth. Hosing down with a standard jet-wash will also help remove any foreign bodies, stains and other potentially damaging elements.

Can you jet wash resin bound driveways​?

The surface must be cleaned periodically using a pressure washer or a sweeper fitted with water jetting and vacuuming equipment.

How to jet wash a resin bound surface

Yes, resin bound driveways can be jet washed. In fact, we encourage customers to use a pressure washer or a sweeper fitted with water jetting and vacuuming equipment on a regular basis.

Jet washing your resin bound driveway is simple. However, in order to carry this task out without damaging the surface, carefully follow the six steps outlined below:

1. If possible, use a jet washer with a flat nozzle option. This will help you to control the flow of the water more precisely.
2. Do not use a jet wash/pressure washer setting above 150 bar. Jet flows higher than this pressure could damage your driveway.
3. Try to ensure cool, moderate water temperature. With this in mind, avoid jet washing your resin bound surface on particularly cold days, as water at very low temperatures could damage your resin surface.
4. Before starting, use a broom or yard brush to sweep away any larger debris, like leaves and twigs. This helps to ensure that any smaller particles are properly cleared away by the water.
5. Keep the nozzle of the jet washer a minimum of 20cm away from the surface of your driveway. Spraying highly pressurised water from a closer distance could damage the surface.
6. As you clean, use a sweeping, back-and-forth motion across the entire area to ensure thorough dirt and debris removal.

Removing chewing gum from a resin bound driveway

Chewing gum can be a real pain. It is unsightly and, once hardened, can be difficult to remove. If you cannot remove through sweeping or jet washing, try using a freezing spray on the gum before carefully removing with a wall scraper or similar tool. Do not try and dig beneath the gum using a hard edge, as you may damage the surface.

How to remove moss from a resin bound driveway​

If moss or algae appear on your resin bound driveway, it is relatively easy to remove. Initially, a proprietary moss or algae killer can be applied to the affected areas. Products like "Algon" are effective and should be used following the manufacturer’s instructions. After the treatment, rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water to remove any remnants of the treatment.

For more persistent moss or ingrained algae, a strong bleach solution can be applied to the affected areas. This should be used carefully, adhering to both the product’s guidelines and any local environmental regulations. Always rinse well after the application to prevent long-term damage from the bleach. Regularly treating the surface will prevent regrowth and restore the driveway's original colour.

Removing weeds from a resin bound driveway

Resin bound surfaces are designed to be resistant to weed growth, but on rare occasions, wind-blown seeds can take root. Fortunately, these weeds are typically easy to remove by hand without damaging the surface, as long as you ensure the entire root is extracted. Simply pulling the weed from the surface should suffice, but care should be taken to avoid breaking the root off within the resin.

For more persistent, deep-rooted weeds, a suitable herbicide or weed killer can be applied. Domestic over-the-counter weed treatments are typically safe to use on resin bound surfaces, but it’s important to follow the product's instructions to prevent any damage. Always remember to clear leaves, twigs, and debris regularly to minimise weed seeding, as leaf litter can lead to stains and organic material buildup that encourages weed growth.

Removing cement or concrete marks from a resin bound driveway

Accidental spills of cement or concrete can leave unsightly marks on your resin bound driveway, but they can be removed with the correct approach. Start by using a diluted hydrochloric acid solution or a proprietary cement remover. These should be applied carefully, ensuring that you rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water afterward to neutralise the acid and prevent further damage.

It's important to note that if your resin bound surface includes lime-based aggregates, the acid may also affect the aggregate itself, so caution is advised. Test any acid-based cleaning products on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure there is no adverse reaction before proceeding to clean larger areas.

Cleaning oil spills on a resin bound driveway

Oil and grease can leave unsightly marks on your resin bound driveway. You should take maximum care to avoid spillages or oil and greasy chemicals. Any spillages should be cleaned immediately and flushed with water.

Any oil spillages can usually be washed away by rainfall; however, this doesn’t always occur regularly. You can also wash away oil or grease using a mixture of warm water and a mild household detergent. This should be allowed to penetrate for 10 minutes, then sprayed down with a jet wash afterwards.

Removing mineral stains

The resin bound system is made up from natural dried aggregates. Whilst every step is taken to minimise its presence, naturally occurring iron pyrites may be present.

If staining occurs, oxalic acid is an effective method of removing the stains from the surface and is readily available. The specialist acid solution should be washed off using cold water immediately after use.

Clearing snow from a resin bound driveway

Throughout Winter months, snow and ice can become a problem with any driveway surface. Unless the surface is sheltered, there is no way of preventing frost and snow completely. Fortunately, it is easy to clear.

Because a resin bound driveway is smooth and flat, you can clear snow with a standard snow shovel without spreading loose aggregates everywhere. This is a common issue with loose gravel driveways where aggregates can get mixed up with the snow.

We do not recommend using a metal shovel as this may damage the surface if not used carefully.

Another benefit of a permeable resin bound driveway is the moisture of melted or clear snow can be absorbed into the ground below, which helps prevent icy patches.

Preventing Ice & Frost Build up on a resin bound driveway

Salt can be used on the surface to help eliminate ice and frost. Once weather conditions return to normal, the salt/grit needs to be washed off thoroughly to remove all salt traces.

Patch Repairs on a Resin Bound Surface

If the surface is damaged, small areas can be repaired. The damaged area should be chiselled out. The same aggregate blend can then be mixed with DALTEX UVR Resin and installed in the area. Care should be taken to ‘feather’ the edges of the repair into the surrounding area, to give a strong, seamless and durable repair.

Other tips for a longer lasting resin driveway

• In the event of any heavy loads being placed onto your resin bound driveway, always use wooden planks beneath to spread the load and prevent the weight from damaging the surface.
• Tackle spills and mess immediately. The quicker you act, the easier they will be to clear.
• Take care with any hard or sharp objects like motorcycle stands, heavy plant pots, gardening machinery, or anything else which may damage the surface if dropped or dragged.

Need any assistance?

If there is anything else you would like to know about resin bound cleaning and maintenance, please feel free to contact us with any questions or issues you may have – even if you haven’t purchased from us before. We’re here and always happy to help if we can. 

Our technical helpline also provides ongoing support and advice for any future, past or current resin bound installations you may be involved in as a trade. Call 01629 636500 if you are looking for assistance.

For more information on resin bound systems and how they can be looked after, please see our comprehensive training notes.