An alternative paving system to blocks, resin bound paving is known for its permeability and can be used for many exterior applications. PHPD recently visited manufacturer SureSet, which is reporting increased levels of interest in its resin bound solutions.
The exterior aspects of any new home are a vital part of any new development. The appearance and performance of areas such as driveways, patios and pathways important elements that can have a strong influence on buyers of new homes.
Whilst block paving remains the most specified solution for these spaces, there is also a growing trend in the use of resin bound paving, according to a leading manufacturer, Warminster-based manufacturer SureSet.
Hardwearing finish
Known for its permeability, resin bound paving is created via the combination of kiln dried stone and a clear resin which is mixed on site, before being applied to a base to give a durable and smooth finish. The system allows for a wide variety of appearances and textures, has no joints and its interconnected voids allow water to easily drain through making it ideal for use on sustainable urban drainage schemes (SUDs).
SureSet’s CEO, Kevin Weston, has been involved with the organisation from its formation, in 1997, bringing with him technical experience of the product, gained whilst working on the development of both asphalt, and hot and cold lay resin paving solutions. This technical know-how remains at the heart of SureSet’s operation. Kevin noted: “Our forte is to take the different sizes and types of aggregate and blend them up to make a very aesthetically pleasing material, but also giving it all the properties of good drainage and good durability, and the most critical bit is to get the optimal resin content.”
He continued: “Our design methodology is to make sure we have the right blend and types of aggregate and then the right resin, strong enough and flexible enough, but also enough of it; not too much, but certainly not too little, to give us the durability. Almost uniquely in the industry we also chose to only use the higher quality non-yellowing resins to ensure that we met our customers’ expectations. “
Strong guarantee
Last year, SureSet celebrated its 21st anniversary. In what has now become a tradition within the business, it marked the occasion by raising the length of its guarantee to match the number of years the company has been in business. Consequently its guarantee is now 21 years.
The idea for this stems from its formation, when the business used the establishment of a long guarantee as way to build confidence around its resin bound paving solution. Kevin explained: “At the time, in the asphalt business, a standard guarantee would be around one or two years. So we decided that to give people confidence, we would have a long standard guarantee. We started off rather tentatively, at five years, and we have tended to increase the guarantee to shadow the amount of time we have been in business.”
Route to market
At the outset, in the late 1990s, the company adopted a supply and fit model, through which it could control the entire manufacture, supply and installation process. While this was popular, it soon also realised many trade customers were keen on buying the material and laying it themselves.
Kevin continued: “…but we really wanted to build a brand that was synonymous with quality, so we set up an approved installer network.” Established in 2003, the network has been growing ever since. Today it has 42 approved installers, which provide coverage throughout the UK. SureSet is looking to grow this network to 50 by the end of 2019. In recent years it has also expanded the concept into Europe and the UAE and reports growing levels of interest from the export market.
Commercial Director Ben Shave explained how the approved installer network works with the company’s highly valued guarantee: “If we supply and fit, we guarantee the product and the workmanship – everything on the SureSet surface. If the installation is through the approved installer network, we guarantee the product and the approved installer guarantees the workmanship.”
Self-install
Alongside the supply and lay offer, and the company’s approved installer network, SureSet also offers a range of products directly to the market through a series of ‘packs’. These feature carefully selected blended aggregate, resin and full laying instructions, and can be supplied in tubs or on pallets depending on the size of the installation. In this way customers can buy the same level of materials at the same quality, and lay them directly – although SureSet does not offer the same level of guarantee when this approach is taken.
“We also sell a range of geocell grids that form a structural base,” explained Kevin. The SureCell grids, which are manufactured from post-consumer recycled polypropylene, are filled with stone, to ballast them out, and the SureSet is applied on top. “That can be a good solution for a relatively small area, although they can be used on large areas as well,” noted Kevin. When used in this way the overall depth of the installation is 76mm.
Last year, SureSet also began supplying resin-only into the market under their ‘ProResin’ brand, allowing experienced installers to source aggregate themselves, to be combined on site with the company’s resin, before being laid.
Growing market
Kevin believes the popularity of resin bound paving is on the increase. The solution is durable and hard wearing, easy to install and colour stable. The fact that is also permeable is another attribute increasingly recognised by specifiers and housebuilders conscious of drainage requirements.
Additionally, a huge number of designs can be facilitated, and should a customer want a broader range of colours that cannot be found within aggregate, SureSet has a solution using recycled coloured glass to allow designers to be more creative.
With over 21 years of experience and knowledge, SureSet is well placed to assist housebuilders looking to use resin bound paving on any developments.
