Resin vs block paving vs tarmac: which driveway suits a Teesside home?
For most Teesside homes: block paving if you want traditional looks and easy repairs (£70–£120/m², 20–30 years); resin bound if you want a modern finish, zero weeds and no planning issues (£70–£120/m², 15–25 years); tarmac if budget or size leads (£45–£85/m², 15–25 years). The full trade-offs are below.
Last updated: August 2026.
The short version
All three are proven on Teesside ground when the sub-base is done properly. The real decision is what you value: looks (block paving's pattern range), convenience (resin's no-weeds, no-planning package), or value (tarmac, especially over 60m²). Everything else is detail — but the detail below is where money is saved and mistakes are avoided.
Cost: tarmac wins, the other two tie
Tarmac is 30–40% cheaper per metre than the paved options, and its advantage grows with area — on an 80m² drive the saving against resin can reach £2,000–£3,000. Resin and block paving cost about the same per metre installed, though permeable block systems (which you may need for the planning rule) push blocks higher.
Drainage and planning: resin's free pass
Resin bound is permeable, so it's exempt from the rule that paving over 5m² of a front garden needs planning permission. Standard block paving and tarmac are not — they need either consent or drainage to a lawn, border or soakaway, which on Teesside's slow-draining clay adds cost. Permeable block paving closes the gap but at £90–£140/m². If your front garden has nowhere obvious to drain to, resin is often the cheapest compliant option even where block paving looks cheaper on paper.
Longevity and repairs: blocks are forever (if based right)
Block paving is the only surface you can truly repair invisibly — lift the units, fix what's beneath, relay. Resin and tarmac patch, but patches show. In exchange, blocks need the most routine care: jointing sand topped up, the odd weed pulled. Resin asks almost nothing but punishes the one big mistake — non-UV-stable resin, which yellows within a couple of summers. Tarmac's weak points are edges and oil spills; a block edging course solves the first.
On Teesside's boulder clay, all three live or die by the sub-base: 150–200mm of compacted Type 1 is non-negotiable whichever surface you choose.
Which suits your house?
- 1930s brick semis (Acklam, Hartburn, Fairfield): block paving in brindle or charcoal herringbone with a contrast border — the classic for a reason.
- Modern estates (Ingleby Barwick, Wynyard, The Ings): resin bound — the seamless finish matches the architecture and skips planning questions on big frontages.
- Terraces and tight frontages (central Middlesbrough, Redcar): tarmac or a compact block bay — small areas don't repay intricate work; spend it on the dropped kerb instead.
- Long or shared drives: tarmac, possibly with block edging — the per-metre economics dominate.
- Coastal exposure (Redcar, Seaton Carew, Hartlepool marina): UV-stable resin or block paving; keep any printed concrete sealed.
Still torn?
You don't have to choose from an article. Request quotes for both options and let contractors price them against your actual drive — the quote form has space for "advise me", and seeing real numbers for your plot settles most debates in a day.
| Factor | Resin bound | Block paving | Tarmac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per m² | £70–£120 | £70–£120 (permeable £90–£140) | £45–£85 |
| Lifespan | 15–25 yrs | 20–30 yrs | 15–25 yrs |
| Permeable? | Yes — no planning needed | Only permeable systems | No — drainage or permission needed |
| Weeds & maintenance | Almost none | Joint sanding, occasional weeds | Almost none |
| Repairs | Patchable but visible | Lift & relay — invisible | Patchable, ages visibly |
| Look | Smooth, modern, seamless | Traditional, patterned | Plain (improved with block edging) |
| Install time (50m²) | 2–3 days | 3–5 days | 2–3 days |
| Watch out for | Non-UV resin yellowing | Skimped sub-base sinking | Unsupported edges crumbling |