If you're weighing up a resin driveway vs block paving, the short answer is this. Resin gives you a smooth, seamless, low-maintenance finish that drains straight through, while block paving costs a little less on average, lasts a little longer and is far easier to repair one patch at a time. Neither is the "better" driveway in every case. The right choice comes down to your budget, how you use the drive, what's underneath it now and how much upkeep you're happy to do.
At P&L Building and Groundworks we lay both, along with tarmac, across Eastbourne and East Sussex. So rather than pushing one product, this guide sets out the honest trade-offs we talk through with homeowners before they commit.
Resin driveway vs block paving at a glance
Typical installed cost: resin roughly £80 to £140 per m², block paving roughly £70 to £130 per m²
Expected lifespan: resin around 15 to 25 years, block paving around 20 to 30 years
Look: resin is one continuous textured surface; block paving is a pattern of individual blocks with visible joints
Drainage: resin bound is porous by design; block paving is only permeable if you choose a permeable system
Weeds: resin resists them well; standard block paving gets weeds and moss in the joints
Repairs: resin patches can be hard to blend; damaged blocks can be lifted and swapped
Good for: resin suits modern homes and sloped or awkward shapes; block paving suits heavy use, busy family drives and traditional properties
The cost and lifespan ranges above come from a UK comparison of resin and block paving driveways, which also stresses that installation quality matters more than the material itself. We'd agree with that completely.
What is a resin bound driveway?
A resin bound driveway is made by mixing natural aggregate (small stones or gravel) with a clear resin and trowelling it flat over a prepared base. The stones are fully coated, so the surface feels firm underfoot with no loose gravel. Because there are tiny gaps between the stones, rainwater soaks straight through.
It's easy to confuse with resin bonded, which is a different thing. Resin bonded means stones are scattered onto a layer of resin, leaving a rougher, slightly loose finish that isn't porous. If a quote just says "resin driveway", ask which one it is.
What is block paving?
Block paving uses individual concrete or clay blocks laid in a pattern (herringbone is the classic for driveways) on a compacted sub-base and a bed of sand, with jointing sand brushed between them. It's been the default UK driveway for decades because it's tough, flexible and comes in a huge range of colours and styles.
There's also permeable block paving, where the blocks are laid with wider joints filled with fine aggregate so water can drain through the joints into a specially built sub-base. According to Interpave, the UK trade body for precast concrete paving, permeable block paving has decades of proven use as a sustainable drainage technique with little maintenance needed.
Cost: which is cheaper?
On average, block paving comes in slightly cheaper per square metre, though premium blocks can easily match resin. For a sense of scale, one block paving cost guide puts a 60m² driveway at around £4,500 to £7,500 installed, depending on the blocks chosen.
The headline rate per m² rarely tells the full story, though. The biggest swing factor on most driveways we price is the groundwork underneath. If the existing drive is sound, level and suitable, some of it may be reusable. If it's cracked, sunken or built on poor ground, it all needs digging out and a new sub-base laying before either surface goes down. That's why two quotes for the same size drive can be thousands of pounds apart.
Things that push the price up for both options:
Removing an old drive and disposing of the waste
A new sub-base, especially on clay or soft ground
Drainage channels or a soakaway
Edging, steps, kerbs and borders
Awkward shapes, slopes or poor access for machinery
Appearance and design
Resin gives a clean, modern, seamless look. It flows neatly around curves, manhole covers and odd shapes, which makes it a favourite for contemporary homes and smaller front gardens where you don't want lots of visible joints.
Block paving has a more traditional, structured look. You can mix colours, add borders and banding, and pick a block that matches the brickwork of your house. On period properties it often just looks right.
Drainage and planning permission
This is the part most comparison articles skim over, and it matters.
If you're surfacing a front garden of more than 5 square metres, the Planning Portal confirms you'll need planning permission for a traditional impermeable surface unless the rainwater runs off to a lawn or border to soak away. Use a permeable surface and you generally don't need permission. Bear in mind those permitted development rules apply to houses, not flats or maisonettes.
The government's own guidance on permeable surfacing of front gardens explains that permeable options work by letting water soak through gaps in the surface or around the edges of blocks, and that they need a knowledgeable contractor to build correctly.
What that means in practice:
Resin bound is porous, but only works as a permeable driveway if the base beneath it lets water through too. Lay it over solid, non-porous concrete with no drainage and the water simply sits on the base. A proper installer will design the base accordingly.
Standard block paving with sand joints isn't classed as permeable, so on a front drive over 5m² you'd need to direct water to a soakaway, drain or planted area, or opt for permeable blocks instead.
If you need a new or wider entrance from the road, remember a dropped kerb is a separate application to your local council and isn't covered by planning permission.
Durability and everyday wear
Both surfaces handle cars without a problem when they're built on the right sub-base. Block paving is particularly forgiving under heavy loads and turning wheels, which is why it's so common on busy family drives and where vans or larger vehicles park.
With resin, the type of resin matters. Some cheaper systems use non-UV-stable resin, which can darken in sunlight in as little as two weeks and leave pale patches where cars or pots have shaded the surface. Always ask for a UV-stable (aliphatic) resin, especially with light-coloured stone.
Maintenance
Resin is generally the lower-maintenance option. A regular sweep and an occasional cold-water pressure wash keep it looking fresh. One manufacturer's resin bound aftercare guide recommends dealing with oil stains quickly using a mild detergent, and keeping solvents off the surface altogether as they can damage the resin.
Block paving needs a bit more attention. Weeds and moss work their way into the joints, so expect to clean it, treat it and top up the jointing sand every so often. The upside is that a tired block drive can usually be brought back to life with a deep clean and re-sand.
Repairs: the difference people forget
If a block cracks, gets stained by oil or a section sinks, it can be lifted, the bed relaid and the same blocks (or matching ones) put back. That's a real long-term advantage, especially if utility companies ever need to dig up part of your drive.
Resin can be patched, but new resin and stone rarely blend in perfectly with a surface that's weathered for a few years. Small repairs tend to show.
So which should you choose?
Resin is probably the better fit if you want:
A sleek, modern finish with no joints
Low maintenance and very few weeds
Built-in drainage for a front garden driveway
A surface that wraps neatly around curves, steps and covers
Block paving is probably the better fit if you want:
The lowest cost per m² for a traditional finish
The longest lifespan and easy spot repairs
A drive that copes well with heavy vehicles and lots of turning
A pattern or colour that matches an older property
On older properties around Lewes or Seaford, block paving often sits more naturally with the house. On a newer home with a small or awkwardly shaped front garden, resin can make the space look bigger and tidier.
Get honest advice before you commit
The best driveway is one built on a properly prepared base by people who'll tell you what's underneath before they quote. P&L Building and Groundworks is a family-run team with over 20 years' experience laying driveways, groundworks and landscaping across Eastbourne and East Sussex. You can see the full range of driveway and groundworks services we offer, or get in touch for a free quote and we'll come out, look at your drive and talk you through both options.
FAQs
Is a resin driveway better than block paving?
Not always. Resin is lower maintenance, looks seamless and drains naturally, while block paving is usually a little cheaper, can last longer and is much easier to repair. The better option depends on your budget, how your drive is used and the style of your home.
Which lasts longer, resin or block paving?
Block paving typically lasts around 20 to 30 years and resin around 15 to 25 years, according to UK cost comparisons. In both cases, the quality of the sub-base and installation has a bigger effect on lifespan than the surface material.
Do you need planning permission for a resin or block paved driveway?
For a house, you don't need planning permission for a permeable front driveway of any size. If the surface is impermeable, covers more than 5 square metres and doesn't drain to a lawn or border, you'll need permission. Flats and maisonettes follow different rules.
Can you put resin over existing block paving?
It isn't usually recommended. Blocks can move slightly over time and that movement can crack the resin layer above. Most installers will lift the blocks and lay a suitable base first, so it's worth having the existing drive assessed before you get prices.
Is block paving cheaper than a resin driveway?
On average, yes, though only slightly. UK guides put block paving at roughly £70 to £130 per m² installed and resin at roughly £80 to £140 per m². Groundwork, drainage and access often make a bigger difference to the final price than the surface itself.