A new resin driveway looks great and gives you masses of kerb appeal and one of their biggest selling points, apart from their attractiveness, is that they are extremely low maintenance. Unless there is some serious damage or cracks, you won't see weeds growing through the resin-bound surface but what you might see from time to time is moss and algae growing on top. Thankfully, removing moss and algae is a pretty easy job.
Weeds and other plants can't grow through resin-bound driveways because the surface is completely bound. In contrast to something like block paving or wooden planks where you have small gaps between the slabs or planks, there are no gaps in a resin-bound surface through which weeds can push themselves (unless it has been damaged and there are cracks or holes).
The reason why moss growth can still happen, however, is that it grows on top of the surface, instead of pushing through from the soil below. The roots can't penetrate the resin surface so the moss won't cause any damage but it does look unsightly and can be a slip hazard. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to check our article "Can Resin Driveways Be Repaired".
If you notice moss growing on your resin driveway, there are a few different methods that you can use to remove it without damaging the resin-bound surface.
A quick and easy method for removing moss from a resin-bound driveway is to jet wash the surface. This can be done using a pressure washer or a power washer and it will blast any moss or algae away from your resin-bound paving with ease.
Depending on your jet wash system, you may have the option of cold or hot water. Resin surfaces should only be jet-washed using cold water as hot water can damage them.
You should also use a flat spraying nozzle to prevent too much water pressure from being concentrated on a small area as this could also damage the surface.
Using a jet washing system of up to 150 bar rating will make sure that the pressure isn't so high that it damages the resin surfacing. And you should use sweeping motions when cleaning to ensure good coverage and that the water spray isn't concentrated in one area for too long.
Moss doesn't have a root system so it is easy to manually break up even without jet-washing equipment. An easy hack for killing moss using products that you can find around the house is biological laundry detergent or any degreasing agent. Just sprinkle some on the moss growth and leave it for at least a few hours, or overnight if you can.
Then wash the area with warm soapy water and give it a gentle scrub with a stiff broom to remove the moss. The detergent will have killed the moss leaving the area as good as new once you have given it a sweep and a wash down.
If moss is left for too long on a resin-bound driveway, it can stain the surface. You can remove these stains by bleaching the area. Bleach is also an effective moss killer and can help to prevent it from regrowing. You don't need a strong bleach solution to kill moss and it is often better to err on the side of caution and choose a safer bleach product.
Use an oxygen-based bleach rather than a chlorine-based one as it is better for the environment. Oxygen bleach will contain sodium percarbonate, which is plant-based and a mixture between sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. When it interacts with water, it releases oxygen creating a powerful but environmentally safe bleach and stain remover.
Mix the oxygen bleach with a small amount of water to create a paste and then apply it to the moss growth/stained area. You can use a stiff brush to work it deep into the moss. Leave it for a few minutes and then use a jet wash, hose, or bucket of water to rinse it off. You need to make sure that you thoroughly wash the bleach away to avoid altering the colour of the aggregate.
Afterward, you can go in and remove any detritus materials from the moss with a stiff brush or plastic shovel. Avoid using a metal shovel as metal objects can easily leave unsightly marks and scrapes on your resin surface and could even cause damage.
You might see advice about using freezing spray to kill moss but this doesn't actually work. Moss is surprisingly hardy even in the coldest temperatures as it can essentially turn itself off to wait for warmer weather.
You can always choose a proprietary moss or weed killer to remove moss from your resin-bound surfacing. The most popular and effective moss killers use iron sulphate. This will kill the moss within four days after which it is easy to remove using a stiff brush or a plastic snow shovel and a pressure washer or hose.
As with most maintenance, prevention is better than cure when it comes to moss, algae, and weed growth. And this is pretty easy to achieve for a resin-bound driveway by sticking to simple regular cleaning tasks. You can also check out our post "How Long Does A Resin Driveway Last", for more additional insights.
A regular sweep of resin-bound surfaces helps to clear away debris like leaves but it can also help to prevent moss, weed, and algae growth. This is because it clears away the spores before they have the chance to multiply and grow.
Along with regular sweeping, going over your resin driveway with a jet wash on a semi-regular basis will help to maintain the surface and prevent moss from growing. Like sweeping, it helps to clear away the spores before the moss has a chance to take hold.
Regular pressure washing will also help to remove tyre marks, oil and fuel spillages, chewing gum, and other unsightly marks. You should make sure that you don't use excessive pressure and stick to a cool or moderate temperature when pressure washing as part of your resin-bound driveway routine cleaning schedule to avoid damage.
Moss doesn't grow well in sunlight. If your resin driveway has lots of shaded areas, you will notice that this is where the moss tends to grow. You can either keep your outside space the way it is (if you happen to like the objects or plants that are creating the shade) and just deal with the moss when it grows. Or you could rearrange your space so that your resin-bound driveway is in direct sunlight.
To stop moss from growing on your resin drive, it is a good idea to treat the surface with a moss and algae killer. Once a year is usually enough to be effective at preventing moss and algae growth. It is usually better to treat resin drives in the autumn or spring when the weather isn't too extreme.
Moss will sometimes grow on resin-bound paving but this doesn't mean your driveway is damaged. Moss doesn't have roots that penetrate far down so it can grow on the surface alone. And it is pretty easy to remove.
If you are concerned about plants growing on your resin driveway and want some expert advice about whether your driveway needs repairs, don't hesitate to get in touch. Our highly trained and experienced team at Guardian Resin can check the condition of your driveway and work with you to carry out any repair work that may need to be done.
While you are here why not dive into our blog section and read our article on how much do resin driveways cost.
