Look beneath the finish
Resin bound is a finishing layer, not a replacement for a structural base. Movement or settlement beneath it can affect the surface above, so the existing construction needs assessing alongside the chosen materials and installation conditions.
The most common causes of cracking
- Resin laid over old tarmac or concrete that was already cracked — the old cracks reflect straight through.
- A sub-base that was too thin or poorly compacted, so it settles under the weight of cars.
- Weak or missing edge restraint, so the edges break away.
- Mixing or laying in the wrong weather, or the wrong layer thickness for the aggregate.
- Soft ground left in place instead of dug out and replaced.
Why weeds appear
A joint-free finish does not mean maintenance-free. Windblown seeds can establish in dirt or organic matter on the surface and around edges; moss may develop in damp or shaded areas. Regular cleaning and suitable drainage help manage these conditions.
Why 'laid over your existing drive in a day' can go wrong
Laying over an existing surface can be the right route — but only when that surface has been checked and is genuinely sound, level and draining. When it is chosen because it is quicker and cheaper, the old surface's faults become the new surface's faults.
How we build to prevent it — Structure First. Surface Second.
- We assess the existing surface, base, levels and drainage on site before recommending a route.
- We only recommend an overlay where the existing base is confirmed suitable; otherwise we rebuild.
- Excavation and compacted sub-base built to suit your ground and how the drive is used.
- Firm edge restraint around the whole surface.
- A written proposal naming the construction route, what's included and what's priced separately — so if anything is ever questioned, the specification is on record.
Questions to ask any installer
- Will you excavate, or lay over what's there? Why?
- What sub-base, and how deep once compacted?
- How will the edges be restrained?
- Where will the water go?
- Who is responsible if it cracks — and is that in writing?