Resin-bound surfacing FAQ

Natural marble and quartz stone mixed with a clear, UV-stable resin and trowelled by hand into one seamless surface. Every stone is coated and locked to the next, so it's solid underfoot but full of tiny gaps that let water drain through. It's real stone, not stamped or coloured concrete.

No. Resin-bonded means loose stones scattered onto a thin layer of resin. It's grippy, but water can't drain through it and loose stones shed over time. Resin-bound stone is mixed through the resin before it's laid, so the stones are locked in and the surface drains. Vuba Stone is a resin-bound system.

Yes. Rain soaks into the surface instead of sitting on top. In an independent lab test, Vuba's resin-bound surface drained about 19 times faster than block paving.

Where the water goes next depends on what's underneath. On a new VubaMac base the whole build is permeable, so rain soaks back into the ground. Over an existing concrete slab, water drains through the stone and runs off the slab below it. You still don't get puddles on top, but the ground isn't absorbing it. We'll tell you which you're getting on the site visit.

It grips well when wet. The stone gives the surface a fine, natural texture, and around pools and in other wet spots we add Binding Quartz, Vuba's anti-slip additive, for extra grip. Like any outdoor surface, keep shady areas clear of moss and wet leaves.

No. Vuba uses an aliphatic polyurethane resin, which is UV-stable, so it won't yellow the way epoxy and cheaper resins can. The colour comes from natural marble and quartz, which doesn't fade.

The stone surface is 1/2 inch on paths and patios, 5/8 inch where cars drive straight on and off, and 3/4 inch where wheels turn. On a new base, the VubaMac layer underneath adds another 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches, depending on the traffic.

Both are permeable surfaces that can go over old concrete. Rubber paving is made from recycled rubber crumb and feels softer underfoot. Resin-bound is natural marble and quartz, so it looks and feels like stone and comes in 32 blends. We only install Vuba Stone, so take our view with that in mind, and we're happy to talk through both on a site visit.

Usually, yes. If the slab is structurally sound, with no major settling or crumbling, we repair the cracks, clean and prime it, lay a reinforcement mesh and trowel the stone surface over the top. That saves the cost and mess of demolition. If the base is failing, we'll show you on the site visit and price a new base instead.

Not straight onto loose gravel. Where there's gravel or no hard surface, we build a new permeable base. We dig out, lay a geotextile membrane, then compacted free-draining stone and a capping layer, then Vuba's resin-bound VubaMac base and the stone surface on top. The whole build lets water through to the ground.

Most driveways and patios take one to two days on site: prep first, then the install. After that, keep off it for 24 to 48 hours and don't drive on it for 48 to 72 hours, depending on the temperature. It reaches full strength in about 8 to 10 days.

A dry day at 5°C (41°F) or warmer, with no rain, dew or frost while the resin cures. On the island that means most installs happen between spring and early fall, and a wet spell can push a date back a week or two. We'd rather move the day than risk the finish.

Yes, when it's built for it. Driveways get a thicker surface (5/8 inch, or 3/4 inch where wheels turn) over a sound slab or a properly built base. Very heavy vehicles like RVs or delivery trucks need a heavier base, so tell us if you park one.

Yes. Because water drains through rather than across it, slopes and flat spots both work well. Very steep driveways need a look on the site visit, and the stone texture gives tires and shoes good grip.

Well. Water drains through instead of sitting on top, so there's less to freeze, and the resin is made to flex through freeze-thaw rather than crack. For snow, use a plastic shovel, or a plow or snowblower with a plastic blade. Metal blades can scrape stones loose. Vuba doesn't publish guidance on de-icing salt, so ask us before you use any.

Not every year. Vuba's care guide is simple: sweep it, pressure wash it once or twice a year, and give it a light reseal with a UV-stable sealer every five to ten years. There's no re-sanding, re-levelling or yearly seal-coating like pavers and asphalt need.

Yes. Keep the wand at least 12 inches from the surface and point it straight down rather than at an angle, so you don't loosen any stones. A regular home pressure washer with a fan tip is plenty.

Not up through it. There are no joints, and the stone is locked in resin all the way down. Seeds can occasionally sprout in dirt or leaves left sitting on top, mostly along the edges, so a regular sweep keeps it clean.

It's stain-resistant, not stain-proof. Most spills rinse off, and because liquids drain away they don't sit long enough to soak in the way they do on concrete. Clean up fuel and oil quickly, and use a degreaser and a pressure wash for anything stubborn. In shady, damp spots a little moss or algae can grow on the surface; a dilute bleach wash or Vuba's surface cleaner clears it. Try not to turn the steering wheel while parked, which scuffs any driveway.

Vuba says a properly installed and cared-for resin-bound surface lasts for decades. What shortens its life is a poor base or rushed prep, which is why we check what's underneath before we quote and fix it first.

Yes. Vuba's manufacturer's warranty covers the materials for 8 years when Vuba Stone goes over an existing base, and 10 years over a new VubaMac base, which also carries a 3-year no-crack guarantee. It applies when the job is installed to Vuba's specifications by a certified installer, which we are. We'll walk you through the terms with your quote.

Yes. A damaged patch can be cut out and relaid in the same blend. A repair can look slightly fresher at first and blends in as it weathers. Most damage we see on any driveway comes from a failing base or a metal plow blade, and we deal with both before they happen.

It depends on the size, what's there now, edging and the blend. Published installed prices for resin-bound surfacing in the US mostly run about US$10 to US$18 a square foot, and the Canadian quotes we've seen published run about C$14 to C$20. Resurfacing a sound slab sits toward the lower end; a new permeable base adds digging and materials.

That's more than plain concrete or asphalt, and usually less than good interlocking pavers. We measure for free and send a written, all-in quote, with any base repairs spelled out.

Two things. It costs more up front than concrete or asphalt, so if cheapest today is the only goal, it isn't the right product and we'll say so. And it needs a dry day at 5°C (41°F) or warmer to install, which can push a job back a week or two in a wet spell. We'd rather tell you now than surprise you later.

Resurfacing an existing driveway, patio or path usually doesn't need one. Widening a driveway or changing where it meets the street can, so check with your municipality, and we'll point out anything that might apply on the site visit. In the City of Victoria, a permeable driveway may also qualify for the Rainwater Rewards rebate if you apply before work starts.

Yes, anywhere from Sooke to Campbell River. We measure, check what's underneath and bring real stone samples. North of Campbell River we'll still come for the right project and agree any travel cost first.

Treadstone has been coating floors on Vancouver Island since 2021: epoxy and polyaspartic garage, basement and shop floors. Resin-bound outdoor work is newer for us. We trained with Vuba and became certified Vuba Stone installers in 2026. Our Google reviews come from the floor side of the business, so read those to see how we work.