Resin & paving
Getting a new resin or block-paved driveway: what to expect
Having a new drive put in means a few days of noise, a skip or grab wagon outside and no parking on your own drive. Knowing what's coming makes it a lot easier.
Here's roughly how it goes for a resin or block-paved drive. Every job is a bit different, and we'll talk you through yours before we start.
Before we arrive
- Move cars off the drive and find somewhere to park nearby
- Let the neighbours know, as there'll be wagons and some noise
- Clear pots, bins and anything stored on the drive
- Tell us about any pipes, cables or drains you know about
- Check any dropped kerb work has been approved by the council
Digging out
The first day or so is usually the old surface coming out. Concrete, tarmac, flags, soil and roots are dug out to the right depth and taken away. This is the noisiest and messiest part.
Building the base
Then the edging goes in and the sub-base is laid and compacted in layers. Any channel drains go in at this stage. It doesn't look like much yet, but this is the part that decides how long the drive lasts. More on it in our groundwork guide.
Laying block paving
Block paving goes down on a bed of sand, cut in round the edges, compacted with a plate and then kiln-dried sand is brushed into the joints. Once it's finished and compacted, you can normally walk and park on it straight away. Expect to top up the joint sand in the first few weeks as it settles.
Laying resin
Resin is mixed in batches on site and trowelled by hand. It needs dry weather, so if rain is coming we may move the day. That's better than a bad finish. Once laid, it needs time to cure. As a rough guide you can walk on it later the same day or the next morning, and drive on it after a day or two, but it depends on the temperature. We'll tell you exactly when.
How long the whole job takes
A typical front drive takes a few days from start to finish. Bigger drives, lots of digging, steps, walls or drainage add time. We'll give you a realistic idea with your quote.
The first few weeks
- Avoid sharp turns on the spot, especially on resin in warm weather
- Expect a few loose stones on resin at first. Just sweep them up
- On block paving, brush in more sand if the joints drop
- New blocks can show a white bloom for a while. It's normal and fades
For the long run, see our resin care guide or keeping weeds out of block paving.
Ready to get started?
We're a family firm based in Stockport, with over 20 years laying drives across Greater Manchester and a 5-year workmanship guarantee. Call 0161 825 8053 or WhatsApp 07519 945 497 to book a free survey and quote.
