Driveways
Epoxy vs resin bound: what's the difference?
A resin bound driveway is stone mixed with a UV-stable polyurethane resin and trowelled smooth. Water drains through it, and it doesn't yellow in the sun. It costs €90 to €250 a m² and lasts 20 to 25 years. Epoxy belongs indoors: on floors, garages and worktops, out of the sun.
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Side by side
Three resins underfoot
| Resin bound | Resin bonded | Epoxy floor coating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Stone mixed into resin, trowelled | Loose stone scattered onto a resin layer | A resin coating on concrete |
| The resin | UV-stable polyurethane | Usually polyurethane | Epoxy |
| Water | Drains through it | Runs off it | Runs off it |
| Feel | Smooth, stone look | Loose, gravelly | Smooth, glossy or matt |
| Where | Driveways, paths, patios | Paths and driveways | Indoors and garages |
| Our price | €90 to €250 | Priced per job | €30 to €130 |
Why not epoxy outside
Why epoxy doesn't go on driveways
Sunlight is the main cause of yellowing in cured epoxy, and outside it also breaks the surface down. A driveway also has to flex with the ground and let water through. UV-stable polyurethane does both. That's why every resin bound driveway uses it.
Cost
What a resin bound driveway costs
€90 to €250 a m², all in. A typical 50 m² driveway in Dublin comes to €7,500 to €12,500, depending on what's underneath: laying over sound tarmac or concrete costs less than digging out and building a new base.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is resin bound the same as epoxy?
No. Resin bound driveways use a UV-stable polyurethane resin. Epoxy yellows in sunlight and is used indoors.
Is resin bound better than resin bonded?
For a driveway, usually: water drains through it and there's no loose stone. Resin bonded is a resin layer with stone scattered on top.
How much is a resin driveway in Ireland?
€90 to €250 a m². A 50 m² driveway in Dublin comes to €7,500 to €12,500.
How long does a resin driveway last?
20 to 25 years with a good base.
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Keep reading
Related guides
- Does epoxy resin turn yellow?Sunlight, white pigments and what slows it.
- How long epoxy resin lastsFloors, garages, worktops and driveways, in years.
- What epoxy resin is used forWhere epoxy resin goes in an Irish home and business.
- Epoxy garage floorsA coating that takes tyres, oil and salt, on a prepared slab.
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