Resin vs. Block Paving: The Truth About Weeds
Block paving sinks. It grows weeds. The ants love it. Here is why Resin Bound wins the battle for low-maintenance driveways in Dorset.
The Driveway Debate
It is the most common choice you have to make.
Block Paving or Resin Bound?
Block paving is the traditional choice. It has been around for decades. Resin Bound is the modern choice. It looks sharper.
But this isn't just about looks. It is about maintenance.
In Dorset, things grow fast. Moss. Weeds. Algae. One of these driveways handles that. The other one becomes a gardening job.
The Trouble with Block Paving
Block paving looks great on day one.
But it has a weakness. Sand.
The bricks sit on sand. The gaps between them are filled with sand. Nature loves sand.
Weeds: Seeds blow into the gaps. They take root in the sand. You end up spraying weedkiller every month.
Ants: They love the sand. They dig it out. You get little piles of dust everywhere.
Moss: In damp Poole winters, the joints turn green.
Then there is the structural issue. Because the bricks are individual, they move. Over time, you get "ruts" where your car tires drive. The driveway sinks in tracks.
The Resin Difference
Resin Bound is different.
It is a continuous surface. The stone and the resin are mixed together and troweled smooth.
There are no gaps. There is no sand.
No Weeds: Weeds cannot grow through the driveway. There are no joints for them to crack open. (Sometimes a tiny seedling lands on top, but you just brush it off).
No Ants: They can't dig through solid resin.
No Sinking: Because it is a solid mat, it spreads the weight of the car. You don't get tire ruts.
The Cleaning Reality
This is what our clients care about most.
To clean block paving, you have to pressure wash it. But the pressure washer blasts the sand out of the joints. So then you have to buy bags of kiln-dried sand and sweep it back in. It is messy. It takes all day.
To clean Resin Bound, you use a hose. Maybe a stiff brush.
That’s it.
The Cost of "Cheap"
Block paving is often cheaper to install than a proper Resin Bound system.
But you pay for it later. You pay in time. You pay in weedkiller. You pay to have it re-leveled when it sinks.
The Verdict
If you want a rustic look and you don't mind the gardening, block paving is fine.
But if you want a driveway you can park on and forget, choose Resin.
We install both. But we know which one stays looking new longer.
Stop by the office at 78 Alma Rd, Bournemouth BH9 1AN, UK, or call 07835 390845.
