Resin vs Block Paving Driveways in Lincoln: Which Is Right for Your Home?

Block paving has been the default driveway choice in Lincoln for decades, and you can see it outside thousands of homes from the estates in Birchwood to the older streets downhill. Resin bound is the newer arrival, and more homeowners are weighing the two up before they commit several thousand pounds. They are not the same thing, and the right answer depends on your plot as much as your taste. The headline difference is simple: block paving is lots of separate blocks laid on sand with joints between them, while a resin bound driveway is one continuous, permeable surface with no joints at all. That single difference drives most of what follows - how each one drains, how much weeding you are signing up for, and how they age on Lincoln’s clay-influenced ground. Here is an honest side-by-side to help you decide.

Resin vs Block Paving: The Basics

Block paving is made up of individual concrete or clay blocks laid in a pattern over a compacted sub-base and a bed of sand, with kiln-dried sand brushed into the joints to lock them together. It is a proven system with a huge range of colours and laying patterns, which is a big part of why it became so popular.

A resin bound driveway takes natural aggregate, mixes it with a clear resin, and trowels it down as one smooth, continuous layer. There are no joints, no sand, and nothing loose. Both are hard-wearing when laid well, but they behave very differently once they are down - and that is where the real decision lies.

Drainage and Lincoln’s Low-Lying Ground

Drainage is where resin pulls ahead for a lot of Lincoln homes. A resin bound surface is permeable, so rainwater soaks straight through it into the ground below. Standard block paving is not - water runs off the surface to wherever you have directed it, which means you need proper drainage and, for more than five square metres draining to the road, planning permission.

This matters here because parts of the city sit low around the River Witham and can be slow to clear surface water after heavy rain. A permeable resin drive helps rather than adds to that, and it usually stays within permitted development. If you go for block paving, you can buy permeable block systems that do a similar job, but they cost more and still need laying correctly over a permeable base. The government’s guidance on permeable surfacing of front gardens and the Planning Portal’s advice on paving a front garden both spell out where the planning line falls.

Weeds and Maintenance: The Block Paving Headache

Ask anyone in Lincoln with an older block paved drive what they would change, and weeds usually come up first. The jointing sand between blocks is the perfect home for windblown seeds, and in a damp climate moss takes hold in the gaps too. You end up weeding, re-sanding, and sometimes treating the surface every year to keep it tidy.

Resin bound has no joints, so there is nowhere for weeds to root through the surface. An occasional sweep and an annual wash is usually all it needs. That is not to say block paving is high-drama - plenty of people live with it happily - but if low maintenance is high on your list, a joint-free resin bound driveway is the easier life. It is one of the most common reasons homeowners switch when their block paving gets tired.

Durability: Sinking, Settling and Frost

Both surfaces last a long time when the groundwork is right, and both fail early when it is not. The difference is in how they fail. Block paving relies on a stable sand bed, and over the years individual blocks can sink, lift or rut - especially where cars turn and brake, or on the softer, clay-influenced ground you find in parts of the Witham valley. Frost can nudge blocks out of line too. The upside is that a sunken block can be lifted and relaid.

A resin bound surface moves as one piece, so you do not get individual blocks working loose. As long as the sub-base is sound, it holds a flat, even finish for 15 to 25 years. If the base beneath either surface is poor, though, no finish will save it - which is why the excavation and sub-base stage is the part never to skimp on.

Looks and Design Options

This one is closer, and a lot of it comes down to taste. Block paving offers herringbone and basketweave patterns, contrasting borders and a very traditional look that suits a lot of Lincoln homes, particularly more classic properties. Resin bound gives a cleaner, more contemporary finish in a wide range of natural gravel blends, from pale buffs to dark slate greys, and it can be laid around trees and curves without cutting blocks.

If you like a defined, patterned look, block paving has the edge. If you want a smooth, modern surface that sits well against render and newer brick, resin wins. Many drives actually combine the two - a resin bound main surface with a block paving border - which gives you the tidy edge without the weeding across the whole drive.

Cost Compared in Lincoln

On price, standard block paving is often a little cheaper to install than resin bound, which generally runs around £99 to £199 per square metre fully fitted in the Lincoln area. But the gap narrows once you factor in a few things. Permeable block paving, which you may need to avoid a planning application, costs more than standard blocks. And over twenty years, the weeding, re-sanding and occasional relaying of a block drive add up in time and money, while resin asks very little of you.

The fairest way to compare is total cost of ownership, not just the day-one quote. A cheaper surface you maintain every year is not always cheaper in the long run. It is worth getting quotes for both and reading exactly what each includes underneath, since two prices that look alike can hide very different groundwork.

So Which Should You Choose?

For most Lincoln homeowners who want a low-maintenance, free-draining drive that avoids the planning question, resin bound is the stronger pick. Block paving still makes sense if you love a traditional patterned look, want the lowest possible upfront price, or like the idea of being able to lift and replace sections yourself.

The genuinely right answer depends on your plot, your budget and how much upkeep you are willing to do. A good installer will look at the ground, your drainage and the style of your house on a free site visit before pointing you one way or the other. Whichever you choose, use a vetted tradesperson through a scheme like TrustMark, because on both surfaces the quality of the work matters far more than the material.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is resin better than block paving for a Lincoln driveway?

For most Lincoln homes, resin bound has the edge - it is permeable, needs little maintenance, and has no joints for weeds to grow through. Block paving is worth considering if you prefer a traditional patterned look or want the lowest upfront cost. The best choice depends on your plot and how much upkeep you want.

Do resin driveways get weeds like block paving?

Far less. Block paving has sand-filled joints where weeds and moss take root, which is a common gripe in Lincoln’s damp climate. A resin bound driveway is one unbroken surface with no joints, so weeds cannot grow up through it - an occasional wash keeps it clean.

Is block paving cheaper than resin in Lincoln?

Standard block paving is often a little cheaper to install than resin bound, which runs around £99 to £199 per square metre. But permeable block paving costs more, and block drives need ongoing weeding, re-sanding and occasional relaying, so the long-term cost can be closer than the initial quote suggests.

Do I need planning permission for block paving or resin in Lincoln?

A permeable resin bound driveway usually falls within permitted development. Standard, non-permeable block paving over five square metres that drains to the road generally needs planning permission. Permeable block paving or draining to your own soakaway can avoid it. Check with City of Lincoln Council if unsure.

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