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

Tarmac has surfaced driveways in Lincoln for generations, and it still has its place - it is cheap, quick and familiar. Resin bound is the newer option, and more homeowners are weighing the two against each other before they spend a few thousand pounds. On the face of it they can look similar, a dark, even surface across the front of the house, but they behave very differently once they are down and over the years that follow. Tarmac is a sealed, single-colour surface that water runs off; resin bound is a permeable, made-to-order finish that water soaks through. That one difference drives most of what follows - the drainage, the planning position, the colour choice and how each one ages through a Lincolnshire winter. Here is an honest comparison to help you decide.

Tarmac vs Resin Bound: The Basics

Tarmac, or asphalt, is a mix of stone and bitumen rolled out hot and compacted into a solid, sealed surface. It is almost always black or very dark grey, and it sheds water off its surface to wherever the fall directs it. It is the cheapest of the common driveway surfaces to lay, which is a large part of its appeal.

Resin bound takes natural stone, mixes it through a clear resin, and trowels it out by hand into a smooth surface that water passes through. It comes in dozens of aggregate blends rather than one colour, and it is permeable by design. Both are hard-wearing when laid on a proper base, but the way they drain, look and last sets them apart - and that is where the real decision lies.

Drainage and Lincoln’s Low Ground

This is the big one, and it tips things toward resin for a lot of Lincoln homes. Tarmac is impermeable, so rain runs straight off it. On a flat plot that means the water has to be sent somewhere - often onto the pavement and into the road drains. Resin bound lets the water soak through into the ground below, so it behaves like a sustainable drainage surface and takes pressure off the drains.

That matters more here than in a lot of the country. Parts of Lincoln sit low around the River Witham and clear surface water slowly, so a drive that helps rather than adds to run-off is a genuine plus. It also affects planning, since a permeable surface stays within permitted development while a large impermeable one draining to the road may need permission. The government’s guidance on permeable surfacing and the Planning Portal’s page on paving a front garden both spell that out.

How They Cope With Lincolnshire Weather

Both surfaces have a weak spot, and the local climate finds them. Tarmac softens in strong summer heat - on the hottest days it can scuff and mark, and heavy point loads like a trailer jack or a car on a hot afternoon can leave dents. In winter, water that sits in small surface cracks freezes, expands and opens them up, so tarmac tends to craze and crack over the years, especially where it was not laid thick enough.

Resin bound sidesteps a fair bit of this. It does not soften in heat the way tarmac can, and because it is permeable, water drains through rather than sitting to freeze in the surface. Lincolnshire is a dry county but a frosty one, and that freeze-thaw is what wears sealed surfaces down. Neither surface survives a bad sub-base, mind - the groundwork underneath matters more than the finish on top.

Looks and Colour

Here the gap is wide. Tarmac is black, and it stays black only for a while - it greys and fades as the bitumen weathers, and there is no colour choice to speak of. It is a functional, plain finish, which suits some homes fine but does little for kerb appeal.

Resin bound comes in a broad range of blends, from pale buff and gold to silver, slate and near-black, so it can be matched to the house rather than imposed on it. On Lincoln’s mix of limestone frontages and brick estates, that flexibility counts. If the look of the front of your house matters to you - and it usually matters to buyers - resin gives you far more to work with. A resin bound driveway reads as a considered finish in a way plain tarmac rarely does.

Cost, Lifespan and Upkeep

On the day, tarmac wins on price - it is usually the cheaper surface to lay. But the gap narrows once you look at the whole picture. Tarmac typically lasts around 10 to 15 years and benefits from occasional resealing to keep it sound, while a well-laid resin bound surface runs 15 to 25 years with very little upkeep beyond a sweep and a wash.

Spread the cost across those lifespans and resin often works out competitively, because you are replacing or patching it less often. Tarmac also stains more visibly from oil and fuel, and its cracks tend to spread once they start. The fair way to compare is total cost over twenty years, not just the opening quote - our 2026 guide to resin driveway costs in Lincoln breaks the resin side down in detail.

So Which Should You Choose?

For most Lincoln homeowners who want a drive that drains, avoids the planning question, holds its looks and lasts, resin bound is the stronger long-term choice. Tarmac still makes sense on a tight budget, on very large areas where cost per metre is everything, or as a hard-wearing base you might later overlay with resin.

As with any driveway, the honest answer depends on your plot, your budget and how long you plan to stay. A good installer will look at the ground, the drainage and the style of your house before steering you one way or the other. Whichever surface you land on, use a vetted tradesperson through a scheme like TrustMark, because on both, the quality of the groundwork matters far more than the material on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is resin better than tarmac for a Lincoln driveway?

For most Lincoln homes, resin bound has the edge - it is permeable so it drains the low valley ground and avoids the planning question, it comes in a wide range of colours, and it lasts longer with less upkeep. Tarmac is worth considering mainly on a tight budget or for very large areas where cost per metre is the priority.

Is tarmac cheaper than resin?

Usually, yes, on the day it is laid. Tarmac is generally the cheaper surface to install. But it tends to last 10 to 15 years against 15 to 25 for resin bound, and benefits from occasional resealing, so over twenty years the difference in total cost is often smaller than the opening quotes suggest.

Does tarmac need planning permission in Lincoln?

It can. Tarmac is impermeable, so a tarmac drive over five square metres that drains onto the road may need planning permission. A permeable surface such as resin bound, or one draining to a soakaway within your own boundary, usually avoids an application. Check with City of Lincoln Council if unsure.

Can you lay resin over an existing tarmac driveway?

Often, yes. If the tarmac is solid, level and well-drained, resin bound can be laid straight over it, which saves on excavation. If the tarmac is cracked, crumbling or potholed, it needs lifting first. An installer confirms whether it is suitable on a site visit.

Get a free, no-obligation quote for your Lincoln resin driveway