Just Starting Out? Here’s A Few Do’s And Don’ts Of How To Survive Your First Resin Install

Mark Wright

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September 19th 2023

USE ONLY THE HIGHEST QUALITY RESIN DRIVE MATERIALS FOR YOUR RESIN INSTALL

1. Aggregates

Although aggregates are a natural product, for resin a resin install, they must be bone dry and carry as little dust as possible. If there is dust on the resin bound aggregates, there is a smaller surface area to cover in resin and therefore the adhesion of the resin stone is weaker. Fines in the stones however, will create stronger bond in the first place. It is all a balancing act and testing the strength of the aggregates with the resin in order to assure the right levels.

Suppliers who multi-source their aggregate supply from different quarries, have strength and wear tested the aggregates and resin in order to create resin bound surfacing that has optimum performance.

Amalfi - Resin Mill
Amalfi Stone Mix 1-5mm 100kg Bring sophisticated glamour to any hard-landscaped surface, this Mediterranean blend... Sale price

£34.76

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Anthracite - Resin Mill
Anthracite Stone Mix 1-5mm 100kg A unique blend of dark grey, silver and black makes... Sale price

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Aspen - Resin Mill
Aspen Stone Mix 1-5mm 100kg Aspen is an excellent choice for those looking to add... Sale price

£33.72

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Binding Quartz - Resin Mill
Binding Quartz 5kg Add sand, otherwise known as ‘fines’ to each of your... Sale price

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1. Resin

The resin is one of the most important factors when determining a good quality resin bound drive installation. It is important to use aliphatic UV stable resin. This is because over time aromatic (non-UV stable) resins can lose their colour, allowing the surface to become patchy due to the UV rays from the sun. Aliphatic resin is the recommend choice because it has strong yet flexible chemical bonds allowing it to be durable and last much longer.

Some resin bound companies state that their resin is 100% UV stable but this isn’t always true. Be sure to check with your supplier and the substances in the resin mixture.

It is important to use resin that is specially formulated for the sole purpose of resin driveways and resin surfacing. A lot of resins for resin bound surfacing have solvents in which can be caused by a “processing aid”. It is imperative that you use only high quality resin for resin bound drives, that hasn’t been manufactured using solvents.

It is also imperative that the individual resin tubs themselves are filled with nitrogen.

Do… GET TRAINED!

Installing resin bound surfacing may look easy, especially for those who are a dab hand at DIY or from a hard landscaping background, but don’t be fooled. Laying resin is a skill and a science and is driven predominantly by chemistry. There are many things that can go wrong during the install that you might not see straight away and the repercussions can be expensive.

The best advice is to get signed up to a good quality resin driveway training course.

But beware – If the course is free, ask yourself why it is free? If the course is at a new company, do they have the expertise to be training you? Are the company you are looking to train with well known? Do they sit on the technical committee at any governing bodies of the resin industry? If they do, the chances are they know a thing or two about resin and are in a strong position to advise and train people how to lay resin drives. Do you actually get to lay and practice with the resin on surfacing that replicates the curvatures and installation issues that you may face in real practice? – These are all the questions you need to be looking for when reading through the various resin bound training courses on the market.

Do… CLEAN YOUR RESIN BOUND TOOLS AND USE A PLASTIC COVER FOR YOUR WHEELBARROW

Covering the wheelbarrow is something that contractors forget to do from time to time as they don’t remember to include the plastic cover with the rest of their supplies in the van – easy mistake. Plastic wheelbarrow covers will however save you time and money trying to get the cured resin off your wheelbarrow at the end of the install.

Make sure you clean your trowel regularly with white spirit. It will otherwise build up with resin. This can lead to over trowelling, causing the resin bound surface to look patchy.

It is important that your forced action baron mixer is cleaned during the install. It is extra important it is cleaned after, every single time, without fail.

Find Out More On Cleaning Your Resin Mixers.

Do… ASK FOR HELP!

A good supplier will be available on hand at any time so that you can call them or even get them to come and help you. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone if you are the slightest bit unsure. It is best to be safe than sorry.

GET IN TOUCH

DON’T… FORGET TO ORDER 10% EXTRA MATERIAL FROM YOUR RESIN SUPPLIER

A lot of installers learn this the hard way. If you are coming towards the end of the installation and you look to be running out of materials at least one of or all of the below points will occur:

1. You will have to continue the install another day. In which case the chances are the colour of where you started on one day and continued on another will be different.

2. There will be a highly visible line where you started on one day and finished on another.

3. You will spread the material too thinly, especially the last few batches as you run out. This will allow for a weaken the surface and make it crumble.

Most contractors actually end up using the spare 10% they order for the job. This is because it compensates for any undulations in the ground level. It’s never a waste if not either as you can always use your stock towards the next job.

LET WATER IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, NEAR YOUR RESIN INSTALLATION

Water reacts with the hydrogen in the isocyanate part of the resin. The reaction causes a chemical reaction and carbon dioxide is released as a foam. The foam will be white and cloudy and will cause ghastly patches across what should be a beautiful resin drive surface.

It can be recommended that it can be handy to carry a tarpaulin in case there is any unexpected rain. We however, strongly advise against not installing resin bound surfacing. This is even if there is the slightest chance of rain at all. We recommend that installations should be carried out on a dry day, as the weather should be dry for a minimum of 4 hours after the installation. Installations should not take place if it is humid or if the surface temperature is not at least 3°c above the dew point.

The aggregates should also be bone dry and should have stored in dry conditions prior to the install. If there is any milky substance in the part B of your resin, it has been exposed to moisture and so should not be used.

Water and resin do not mix. The only way to do any repairs on it, is to relay it at your own expense.

DON’T… FORGET TO TAPE AROUND YOUR RESIN DRIVE INSTALL WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED

It is also important that you inform your client of the implications of any pressure being applied to resin bound aggregates before they have been allowed to cure sufficiently. Any footsteps, either from your client or your clients cat, will leave marks in the resin. The area should therefore be clearly marked to warn postmen, neighbours and animals alike, away from the setting surface. Ensure your client is aware there should be no foot traffic for at least 8 hours post installation. There should be no cars allowed on a resin driveway for at least 24 hours after the install.

DON'T... FORGET TO HAVE SOMEONE THERE FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR RESIN BOUND SUPPLIES

This is to ensure your resin bound supplies arrive on time. It also gives you enough time to set up and put your driveway materials in the right place. The last thing you want on the first day of your project is for something to go wrong. And that’s even before you have even started your install.

BECOME AN ELITE INSTALLER

Our cutting-edge training facility redefines learning, offering an immersive experience in resin bound and spray granite installations. Guided by industry experts, you'll access state-of-the-art equipment, honing your skills in a dynamic environment. From intricate techniques to innovative methodologies, this programme equips you with expertise unmatched in the industry. Become part of the elite installer programme, shaping the future of resin-bound surfaces with precision and innovation.

RESIN DRIVEWAY COURSES

The Resin Mill have a purpose built resin bound training academy, Resin Training Academy, which delivers our market leading resin driveway courses. It is the first of its kind in the UK, devoting itself to educating and benchmarking high performance standards in the industry. The Resin Bound Academy trains individuals and organisations the right way. Following the correct guidelines and procedures as outlined by FeRFA, we are committed to excellence. We have a full life size driveway where contractors can practice laying resin bound on to concrete. We do not install on to plywood in our resin driveway training because it does not replicate a real life situation. Resin bound surfacing is the fastest growing sector of the construction industry. It is therefore important to choose resin training that will give you a competitive advantage and a platform to be the best you can be. We have trained some of the most successful resin installation companies in the country. Click to find out more on market-leading resin drive courses at The Resin Academy. Or alternatively, browse through our frequently asked questions in the education centre.

Find an elite installer

By selecting a Resin Mill approved installer, you can be assured your project is in the hands of an expert! Fill out the form and we will match you up with your nearest member of our Elite Contractor Programme. We don’t sell leads to installers, we pass them on based purely on their level of expertise, meaning you are guaranteed to get the best service available from an installer we trust