What Is Resin Bound and Why Does It Drain So Well?
In resin-bound surfacing, every aggregate stone is coated in binder before being laid flat. The stones lock together as the binder cures, producing a smooth, stable surface you can walk or drive on with no loose material. The drainage comes from the 20% void space between the locked stones — water flows straight through to the ground below. At 850 litres per minute per square metre, resin bound drains standing water faster than even a heavy Saudi rain event can deposit it. No other hard surface option — tarmac, concrete, or block paving — comes close to this drainage rate.
The binder choice is where Saudi installations differ from every European specification. UK polyurethane binders work correctly because British surface temperatures peak at 35°C in summer. Saudi surfaces in direct sunlight reach 70°C. At that temperature, polyurethane softens to a Shore D hardness of 35–40 — soft enough for tyres to pull stones from the matrix. The surface looks fine in winter. By Year 3 of Saudi summers, bare patches appear and the permeable surface becomes a maintenance problem. Aliphatic binder, tested at 70°C sustained temperature, maintains Shore D above 75 and holds slip resistance above the safety threshold at actual Saudi operating temperatures. This is not a premium upgrade — it is the correct specification for this climate.
Price range: SAR 70–200/m² is a wide range because it covers quartzite on a sound base at the low end and imported glass aggregate on a prepared base at the top. Four variables move a project through this range: stone type, aggregate size, depth specification, and base condition. Every variable is identified at the site visit and itemised in the written quote — you understand exactly where your project sits before any work is authorised.
The Numbers That Matter
850
L/min/m² Drainage
Measured on your installed surface with a permeameter at handover — not a manufacturer spec
70°C
Binder Heat-Tested
At Saudi surface operating temperature, not room temperature. Shore D stays above 75
SAR 70–200
Per m²
Stone type and depth determine your position in the range — all itemised before work starts
Zero
Loose Stones
Every particle fully coated and locked — no loose aggregate from Day 1 to Year 20
SAR 70 to SAR 200 — What Changes the Price
Four variables move a project through this range. Every one of them is identified at the site visit and written into the fixed quote before any work begins.
SAR 70–95/m²
per m²
Quartzite Aggregate — Residential
16–18mm depth on a sound compacted base. Quartzite is the hardest and most durable stone for Saudi vehicle traffic — low abrasion, regionally sourced, available in multiple natural colours. The correct standard residential specification.
- ✓16–18mm compacted depth standard residential
- ✓Quartzite: hard, low-abrasion, locally sourced
- ✓Multiple natural colours — blend options available
- ✓Aliphatic binder heat-tested at 70°C
- ✓Permeameter drainage test at handover
SAR 90–140/m²
per m²
Heavy Load or Multi-Colour Blend
20–25mm depth for vehicle-heavy surfaces, multi-colour aggregate blends, or projects where the base requires preparation. Covers most commercial driveways and feature residential entrance areas.
- ✓20–25mm depth for higher load applications
- ✓Multi-stone colour blends designed per project
- ✓Base preparation included if required
- ✓Suitable for commercial car parks and heavy-access driveways
SAR 160–200/m²
per m²
Imported Glass or Marble Aggregate
Glass aggregate sourced from Europe per project consignment — this is the primary driver of the upper ceiling. Marble aggregate is softer and requires periodic resealing in sustained Saudi UV. Used for pool surrounds, garden feature areas, and luxury entrance forecourts.
- ✓Imported aggregate sourced per consignment
- ✓Glass aggregate: consistent colour, suitable for wet zones
- ✓Marble aggregate with UV-protective sealant recoat schedule
- ✓Visually distinctive — suitable for design-led projects
Permeameter drainage test included at handover — you receive the actual measured discharge rate from your installed surface, not a manufacturer's data sheet figure.
Pricing and Performance Questions
Four things move a project through that range. Stone type: quartzite is regionally sourced and sits at SAR 70–95/m²; imported glass or marble aggregate from Europe is SAR 160–200/m² because of per-consignment shipping. Depth: 16–18mm standard residential versus 20–25mm heavy-load specification adds SAR 8–15/m². Aggregate size: larger stones require more binder per m² to coat fully. Base condition: a sound base costs nothing extra; a deteriorated base requiring removal and replacement is separate and identified at the site visit. Every variable is itemised in the written quote.
UK polyurethane binders are the correct specification for temperate climates where surfaces peak at 35°C. Saudi resin-bound surfaces in direct sunlight reach 70°C. At that temperature, polyurethane softens to Shore D hardness of 35–40 — soft enough for vehicle tyres to pull stones from the matrix. The wet slip reading that measures 0.47 at room temperature falls below 0.35 at 70°C — below the commercial safety threshold. Aliphatic binder maintains Shore D above 75 at 70°C and holds slip resistance above 0.43. Every binder supplier we use is tested at Saudi operating temperature before authorisation.
Resin-bound: every stone is fully coated in binder before laying. The locked matrix is stable and the drainage comes from the interparticle voids. Resin-bonded: binder is spread on the base surface and dry aggregate is scattered on top. Stones not fully embedded are loose from Day 1. Both surfaces look similar initially. A resin-bonded surface loses aggregate within 18–36 months and the drainage figures are unverifiable because the void structure is inconsistent. Resin-bonded is essentially a temporary decorative surface presented at a similar price point to a permanent system.
Most residential installations of 60–100m² complete in one day. Commercial projects of 400–600m² take two to three days. Cure time before vehicle access: 24 hours standard, 18–20 hours in Saudi summer when the aliphatic binder cures faster at elevated ambient temperature. A permeameter drainage test is completed before vehicle access is authorised — the surface enters service with its actual measured drainage rate documented.
Over sound tarmac or concrete: yes, provided the base has no soft spots, significant cracking, or drainage failures beneath. We inspect the base condition at the site visit — soft zones are removed and replaced before the resin system is applied. Over block paving: yes, if blocks are stable and joints are compacted. All base preparation costs are identified at the site visit and included in the written quote before work starts.
Tell Us the Stone You Like. We Will Quote Everything Else.
Send us your site dimensions, existing surface type, and stone preference if you have one. We will return a written quote itemising every variable — stone, depth, base condition, drainage specification — before any work is authorised. The site visit is free. The price is fixed after it.