How to lay a resin garden path using Vuba resin-bound gravel DIY kits

I’m going to jump straight in and say that I love these Vuba resin-bound DIY kits and am absolutely over the moon with my new resin garden path. I was able to totally transform my garden path, the final part of my budget garden makeover. Before we get into the details of the DIY, I wanted to make a note that this project was part of a collaboration with Vuba Resin Products. They supplied the DIY kits for me to test out. I bought all the tools and other materials myself and completed all the work (with the help of Mr D on the mixer!).

This review and guide is all my own work and is a explanation of how we completed the project with a few hints and tips thrown in from lessons we learnt along the way. If you decide to complete a similar project, please read all the installation info provided by Vuba and check that your space and sub-base is suitable before starting. Be sure that you are happy to undertake a DIY project of this nature and have all the required tools etc. 

Why choose a resin-bound path?

In recent years, DIY resin-bound surfaces have become a popular choice for homeowners seeking to enhance their outdoor spaces with attractive, durable, and low-maintenance surfaces. Resin paths and driveways offer a seamless finish, combining the aesthetic appeal of natural aggregate with the practical benefits of hard-wearing, permeable surfaces. Previously requiring trade installers, the associated costs were high, making them a good fit for the rich and famous but possibly not the most relatable home improvement project—until now, that is!

What are resin-bound DIY kits?

DIY 1m2 resin-bound kits from Vuba include the 2-part resin mix and 25kg bag of aggregate to create your own resin-bound gravel surface; they utilize clear resin and local stone in various colour blends and sizes, resulting in smooth surfaces resembling loose gravel without its associated upkeep. For trade installs, the installation process typically involves a forced action mixer, but the smaller 1m2 kits can be installed using an electric paddle mixer (I bought mine from Amazon for around £30 because I plan to use it lots in the future; you can hire them, or use a paint paddle drill attachment to keep set-up costs down). 

Before you start…

It’s really important to measure up carefully, as you need to order the correct amount of kits, which need to be laid at the same time, so you don’t want to run out part of the way through the installation process. It’s also a good idea to order extra so you have a buffer in case you accidentally undermeasure or lay the kits too deep. Having two people really helps, especially as lugging the bags about is quite tiring after a while!

You will need

Below are the tools and materials I used for the project (*contains some affiliate links)

• Vuba 1m2 DIY resin bound kits – I used the Coshel Quartz kits available on Amazon
• Two clean buckets – one for the resin & one for mixing the stones. I opted for the flexible buckets for ease of pouring and plumped for a huge one like this to prevent any spillages during the mixing process.
• Paddle mixer – I used two: A drill attachment for mixing the resin parts together and a more heavy-duty electric paddle mixer for the aggregate and resin mix. 
• Plastering trowel – I bought the cheapest one I could find on Amazon and it was perfect. 
• Bucket of soapy water to wash tools in periodically
• Gloves recommended and face mask optional
• Power source/extension leads to the use of the tools in situ.
• Barriers to stop people walking on the resin while it’s curing. 
• Something to scrape the resin out with.
• Ruler is useful to measure the depth of the resin-bound gravel.
• A hard surface to lay onto 
• Edging of some kind to contain the sides of the path while the resin is setting – I used this one from Amazon
• A timer to make sure you mix for the same amount of time. 

Step 1 – base prep

Vuba recommend starting with a solid base. You can lay over concrete, tarmac, asphalt, compacted gravel, gravel mats, and even slabs. My project was slightly different from a brand-new install as I was laying over an old concrete path, so there were extra drainage considerations. As with any DIY project, the quality of your prep work will directly impact the final finish. Therefore, if you have cracks or weak points in your base then you’d be well worth spending some time getting them sorted before laying the resin-bound pathway. This could be as simple as repairing any cracks with a suitable external joint repair treatment. It’s also advisable to fill in any cracks or joints to prevent weeds from being able to grow up through the sub-base. 
Although Vuba’s patented resin-bound surface is extremely durable and resilient, you want to reduce the potential for movement below in the sub-base as this can lead to cracking over a prolonged period of time.
You’ll want to create boundaries/edges for the resin-bound gravel mix to set against as it is quite viscous and needs a proper barrier. I was laying on top of an existing path, so bought some flexible edging from Amazon and pegged it into the ground each side of the path making sure that the height of the edging extended higher than the old slabs by at least 15mm (the depth you’ll lay the resin at) to create a firm edge. Because the old path was not permeable, I left a very small gap at the base, between the edging and the old slabs (not wide enough for stones to fall in) for water to drain through. 
Once the base is ready, it’s time to line up all your tools and materials and check that you have everything you need to hand. Time is of the essence on this project, so you don’t want to go on a random side quest to find something once you’re underway! 

Step 2 – Mixing the resin-bound DIY kit

Mix until creamy (approx 90 secs). I used a paint paddle attachment on my drill to ensure the mixing was done thoroughly and efficiently. Using a timer of some kind will ensure you are consistent with your mixing but I don’t recommend using your phone as you’ll have to keep taking your gloves on and off to set the timer!

 

Step 3 – pouring the resin-bound mixture

Once evenly coated, pour the stones onto the base ready to spread evenly with a trowel.
It pays to mark out the square meters so you know you’ve covered the correct size area with each kit – you don’t want to run out (or lay it too thin). 
The air temperature will affect how long the resin takes to go hard so on warmer days you don’t want to faff about too much. I got Mr D on mixing duty so he’d be prepping the next batch while I was spreading the last one. 

Step 4 – spreading the resin-bound mixture

This really was the fun bit for me. I found the process so therapeutic as you kind of switch off from everything else and focus on creating a beautiful smooth pathway.

I bought a super cheap flat plastering trowel for the smoothing and found using two hands pushing away then pulling back towards you the best method to start with (kind of like those ab roller machines that were all the rage a few years back!) while you roughly spread the newly-poured pile over your 1m area. 
Once you’ve spread the gravel mix over the rough area, it’s time to make it smooth, level, and compact using the trowel. I found sweeping motions useful here, applying firm pressure to push the stones down and up to the boundary of the path edging. 
To start with, I measured the depth with a ruler, but after the first section, I did it by eye as I knew each kit was going to cover four slabs of the old path so I had a kind of grid to work from. If you don’t have slabs to measure against you’ll want to create another way of marking the areas out. 
To ensure seamless joins between the kits, mix them for exactly the same amount of time and keep a wet edge (don’t let the resin start to go off) so you can blend them into each other. 

Step 5 – Leave to set

Whilst this is the easy bit in terms of effort, you do need to make sure that the area of your newly laid, smooth, permeable finish surface is protected from people and animals who could walk on it before it’s set and spoils the surface. We had a neighbour’s kid jump over our barrier and past our ‘do not walk on the path’ sign to come and knock on the door for their ball back – arghh! Luckily, they only got one foot down before we noticed, and it was soon enough after the installation that we could nip out and flatten the area with the footmark, making it almost unnoticeable, but you do need to have a plan.

The key benefits of resin-bound pathways
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Ease of install

What would usually require a trade install can now be tackled as an achievable DIY project for two people. The kits are super convenient and easy to use. The instructions were clear and I loved being able to look on Vuba’s YouTube for tips when I was researching the project.

Low maintenance

Once cured, the resin-bound  permeable surface requires very little in the way of ongoing maintenance. You can sweep leaves and debris off the surface and wash away mud or dirt with the hose or a bucket of water.  You can also pressure wash resin-bound surfaces, but must take care not to hold the nozzle of the pressure washer too close to the pathway (not closer than 300mm) to avoid dislodging any stones. 

Range of colours of stone

I was impressed by the range of colours available although it was almost too much choice for someone bad at making decisions as I changed my mind about three times! We settled for the Coshel Quartz aggregate and it’s beautiful. 

Pre-measured and weighed

Vuba have taken the stress (& maths) out of the project as you only need to make sure you use all the contents of both bottles in the kit (the resin and the hardener) and combine with a whole 25kg bag of aggregate.

Permeability

In a time when there is talk about driveway taxes becoming a thing for homes that have paved over their gardens making them impermeable and adding to the increasing flood risk, Vuba’s resin-bound kits are fully permeable and have even been tested in conjunction with The Flood Innovation Centre who determined that Vuba’s resinbound was 19 times more permeable than block paving showcasing “Resin Bound’s ability to channel rainfall directly into the ground, eliminating surface runoff and mitigating the risk of flooding and water pollution”.

Vuba resin-bound systems comply with sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) regulations, making them ideal for resin garden paths, pool surrounds, and even large-scale projects. The UV stability of these surfaces ensures that their aesthetic appeal remains intact over time, regardless of weather conditions. With a wide range of colours and stone types available, these bound materials offer endless possibilities for enhancing any outdoor space, from garden paths to patios and steps.  

How long does a resin-bound path take to set?

Our resin-bound path took longer than the instructions advised (I was a bit worried initially that I’d done something wrong!) and it was a good few hours (maybe 8-10) before it was hard to touch. We finished mid-afternoon, and by the next morning, it was set hard, but we kept the area fenced off for as close to 24 hours as we could to give it the best chance to cure uninterrupted with a smooth surface.  

Is resin-bound gravel permeable?

Yes, the Vuba resin-bound surface is 100% permeable and water flows through the gaps between the stones. If you install onto an impermeable surface that flooded previously then water could back up in heavy rain unless you add drainage at the sides like we did. Our path is also on a slight slope so drains freely without any puddles or flooding. 

Tips for a successful resin-bound project

• Plan the step-by-step process through beforehand so you know exactly what you’ll need for each step 
• Measure and mark your 1m sections so you know how much area to cover with each kit – this keeps the depth consistent and saves you running out.
• Work with someone as this is so so much easier as a 2-person team. (I got Mr D doing the mixing so a new batch was ready the minute I’d finished smoothing the last one out and it worked like a well-oiled machine after the first couple of kits!)
• Don’t mess about with the quantities as they have been pre-measured and need to be kept in that ratio for optimal performance. 
• Keep a bucket of soapy water nearby to wash tools in periodically. 

Feedback from this project

I was blown away by how well this project was received on my Instagram. The reels I shared have collectively been viewed over 2 million times, and I received so many positive messages from people saying that they were going to give it a go. As is always the case when content goes viral, you get a few nasty comments from people (always men, weirdly!) with a lack of manners and an embarrassingly limited vocabulary. The same thing happened when I skimmed over my textured ceilings and taught myself to microcement.

I love helping the people who don’t have thousands spare for professionals and would otherwise be limited in their options, often being forced to put up with ugly or undesirable home and garden features. The people who love building and shaping elements of their own home and enjoy learning new skills and putting their creative stamp on a space. Where’s the harm in inspiring these people with achievable and affordable DIY project ideas? Are they expecting their efforts to produce the same quality of finish or guarantees offered by the trade installers? Of course not. Would they rather have a job that’s 70% as good but also 70% cheaper – I think so. 

Let me know if you give this one a try and how you get on!

I’ve recently completed another DIY pathway (pictured below) which you can read about here…