Tarmac and resin are two of the most commonly used driveway materials. As a result, the two are frequently confused with one another. Each surface has a unique set of characteristics that set it apart from the competition:
What is Tarmac?
Tarmac is a substance made of crushed stone and tar. It was first invented in the early twentieth century and has become a popular choice for roads and driveways. Its favoured usage as a road and driveway surface is due to its several advantages:
- Tarmac is incredibly durable, allowing it to endure the stress of regular driving.
- Tarmac provides a relatively level and even surface, allowing cars to drive smoothly and comfortably.
- Tarmac can be installed on nearly any surface. Laying tarmac on top of other strong materials, such as concrete, will increase the tarmac surface’s longevity even further.
- Tarmac serves its purpose admirably while being very inexpensive to install in comparison to other surfaces.
What is Resin?
Resin, unlike tarmac, is an adhesive. This means that resin acts as a “glue” to join other aggregates. While tarmac is the primary aggregate in a tarmac driveway, resin driveways, also known as resin-bound driveways, can be made up of a range of various aggregates. As a result, resin-bound driveways are easy to customise.
This is one of the primary advantages of resin over tarmac. Modern driveways go beyond a plain, sturdy surface to create kerb appeal with a distinctive design. Resin can be used to bind aggregates such as natural gravel, crushed rock, and marble, to name a few.
These aggregates are available in a range of colours, allowing you to personalise your driveway in any way you see fit. Furthermore, resin driveways have the following characteristics:
- They are extremely durable and long-lasting.
- Resin driveways are permeable, which means that water drains through the surface and returns to its original water source as opposed to leaving puddles behind.
- They can be customised with logos and designs, as well as other colours.
Which is the best option for my property?
Tarmac and resin are both excellent choices for driveway surfaces. Tarmac may be the better option if you’re on a tight budget, as it is usually the less expensive of the two. However, if you want to create a statement with your driveway, resin is the way to go; tarmac cannot compete with resin’s capacity to deliver unlimited colours and patterns.
At The SL Group, we provide a variety of surface choices for domestic driveways. Our tarmac and resin bound driveways are both high-quality alternatives that our skilled team install with great accuracy. If you are interested in either of these surfacing alternatives, or if you have any questions about any of the services we provide, give our friendly team a call today.