Resin vs block paving: which driveway is right for you?
Both are popular, well-proven driveway surfaces. Here's how they actually compare, so the decision comes down to what suits your house and budget, not just what's trending.
The short version
Resin-bound surfacing gives a smooth, seamless, low-maintenance finish and drains well, but costs more up front and needs a properly prepared sub-base to last. Block paving gives more design flexibility (patterns, borders, mixed colours), is easier to repair section by section, and is usually the cheaper option, but needs occasional re-sanding and can shift slightly over time if the base wasn't laid correctly. Neither is "better" outright: it depends on your budget, the look you want, and how the driveway is used.
Cost
Block paving is generally the more budget-friendly option per square metre, particularly for straightforward, rectangular driveways. Resin-bound surfacing typically costs more, partly due to material cost and partly because a resin finish depends heavily on correct sub-base preparation and drainage to perform well long-term, which adds to the groundworks. For an exact figure for your driveway, see our driveway cost guide or get in touch for a quote based on your actual site.
Durability and maintenance
Both surfaces hold up well when installed correctly. Block paving can develop weeds between joints over time and benefits from occasional re-sanding; individual blocks can be lifted and replaced if damaged or stained, which makes spot repairs straightforward. Resin-bound surfacing has no joints for weeds to grow through and is simple to keep clean, but a full resurface (rather than a patch) is usually needed if the surface is damaged, since it's laid as one continuous layer.
Drainage
Resin-bound surfacing is naturally permeable, which is a genuine advantage under current UK drainage regulations for new or replacement driveways over a certain size. Block paving can also be laid permeably, with permeable jointing and a suitable sub-base, but it needs to be specified and built that way from the outset rather than assumed.
Look and design flexibility
Block paving offers more scope for pattern, colour mixing, borders and detailing, which suits period or characterful properties well. Resin-bound surfacing gives a clean, contemporary, seamless finish that suits modern properties and works well combined with LED edge lighting or contrasting borders.
Our honest recommendation
If you want the lowest-maintenance, most contemporary finish and you're not working to a tight budget, resin-bound is usually the better fit. If you want more design flexibility, easier spot repairs, and a lower upfront cost, block paving is usually the better fit. Either way, the sub-base preparation matters more than the surface material: a resin driveway on a poorly prepared base will fail just as fast as badly laid block paving.