Resin or Blocked Paving Driveway..Thoughts Please

Martin_the_Unjust

EssexExile said:

Nobbie1967 said:

What about stamped concrete? Saw a nice one done near me. Virtually no maintenance and probably less risk of it breaking up like resin can.

I don't understand stamped concrete. It's obviously concrete pretending to be something else, why not use something else and stop pretending?

Because it’s far more robust.

EssexExile

Martin_the_Unjust said:

EssexExile said:

Nobbie1967 said:

What about stamped concrete? Saw a nice one done near me. Virtually no maintenance and probably less risk of it breaking up like resin can.

I don't understand stamped concrete. It's obviously concrete pretending to be something else, why not use something else and stop pretending?

Because it’s far more robust.

I don't understand that either! If it's pretending to be stone or brick, then real stone or brick will move if the earth moves under it whereas stamped concrete will just crack. Drop anything heavy on it and it chips, exposing bare concrete of a different colour to the surface.
You may have gathered that I don't like stamped concrete.

FreeBear

EssexExile said: You may have gathered that I don't like stamped concrete.

You are not alone there.

Concrete, stamped or otherwise, is impervious. So when it rains, the water can't soak in to the ground naturally. Suitable drainage must be installed or the water runs off and (potentially) leads to flooding in the neighbourhood.

stuart45

No fines concrete is pervious.

Eldi_Dos

OP, drainage should be as much a concern as appearance of the driveway, the amount of rain we have had here today and the widespread traffic disruption is another reminder of how important it is not to add to the problem.

I wonder if we will see a time when insurance companies charge more for properties with driveways that are impervious as at the end of the day the insurance industry foots large bills for flooding.

Chickereeeee

Block paving looks great but can require a bit of looking after. Mine could do with a clean after 5 years or so.
Resin needs less maintenance, but looks rubbish.

Apodemus

Eldi_Dos said:

I wonder if we will see a time when insurance companies charge more for properties with driveways that are impervious as at the end of the day the insurance industry foots large bills for flooding.

Nice thought, but sadly the large bills are simply shared across to those of us who haven't concreted over every available inch of green space!

GDB2222

EssexExile said:

Nobbie1967 said:

What about stamped concrete? Saw a nice one done near me. Virtually no maintenance and probably less risk of it breaking up like resin can.

I don't understand stamped concrete. It's obviously concrete pretending to be something else, why not use something else and stop pretending?

We have stamped concrete. It’s been down 30 years or so, and it’s starting to get a patina of age on it. You need to resist any temptation to jet wash it or paint it. 

Water runs off, down the side passage of the house, and disappears in the garden.

Resin looks weirdly out of place, and it shows every speck of dirt. 

Nobbie1967

EssexExile said:

Nobbie1967 said:

What about stamped concrete? Saw a nice one done near me. Virtually no maintenance and probably less risk of it breaking up like resin can.

I don't understand stamped concrete. It's obviously concrete pretending to be something else, why not use something else and stop pretending?

Because the something else it’s pretending to be will be higher maintenance. The one I saw recently was a grey colour and looked very much like slate tiles. Laying any tile or stone means joints which is where the maintenance usually arises. Some of it looks awful, like the cobblestone effect, but I reckon for small areas it’s a good neat option.