Resin Maintenance

The following advice has been prepared to allow you to protect and preserve your resin surface for as long as possible.

Every effort has been made to ensure your Graveltech surface is of the highest quality. However, as with any wearing surface the more care that is taken with it, the longer it will last looking its best. While the surface is very hard wearing and durable and has been installed to the highest standards any damage caused to the surface should be dealt with as soon as possible.

Regular Cleaning – as with any surfacing material, resin should be cleaned regularly and as frequently as necessary to maintain its appearance. Cleaning will also aid identification of any areas that require repair. Sweep with a broom to remove leaves, paper, etc. Use water as necessary to wash the surface.

Removing Moss, Algae and Weeds – remove any moss or algae on the surface with a proprietary moss removal solution. Resin surface clearner or diluted household bleach can be used to kill moss within the surface. If using bleach take care to avoid prolonged contact with aggregates such as limestone to avoid discolouring. Wash thoroughly with plenty of clean water afterwards, and abide by local regulations with regard to use of chemicals. Seeds can often embed themselves in the resin surface causing weeds to root and take hold. These are surface growing and are not growing up from beneath the resin bound surface. Using a weed killer will remove the problem; it should be repeated throughout the spring and summer months to prevent weed build-up.

Chewing Gum Removal – chewing gum can be removed by scraping or chipping or using proprietary local “spot” removal solutions, or by larger scale commercial cleaning. Take care not to dislodge aggregate.

Power Washing – if power washing the surface, the maximum pressure should not exceed 125 bar, use cold water only, a fan type jet, maintain at least 300mm between the lance and the surface and spray at such an angle to avoid dislodging the aggregate. Care should be taken however to prevent damage to the surface with excessive water pressure. Excessive cleaning may also lead to fade or damage.

Removing Cement Stains – if the surface is contaminated with any cement or concrete marks these can be removed using dilute hydrochloric acid (follow health and safety guidance), or a proprietary cement remover. In all cases we recommend that a small area is carried out first to ensure no surface damage or discolouration will occur. Oil stains should be removed as soon as possible using a mild detergent as required to prevent possible staining. Always rinse the surface well with clean water after application of any contamination, specialised cleaning products or chemicals.

Using the Surface – resin surfacing is designed to be used by foot/pedestrian traffic and by light domestic vehicle traffic. Protect the surface from high impact loading, for example scaffolding, skips, pneumatic supports on skip lorries, and avoid dragging heavy loads across the surface. Protect the surface from liquids and other materials which may stain, soften or damage the surface, such as engine fluids, petrol, oil, diesel, paints, chewing gum, cement etc. Please note that light coloured blends may show tyre marks, removal by pressure washing as outlined may be required.

Ice or Snow – as the weather becomes colder it is important to know how to look after your resin surfacing in icy or snowy conditions. It is absolutely safe to apply salt to prevent ice build-up and also to dissolve unexpected ice or frost. It is recommended, however, that once temperatures rise above freezing, the surface is thoroughly washed to remove any traces of salt. It is also safe to use a plastic snow shovel to remove snow; if the aggregate is bound, the stones should not become dislodged. However, it is not recommended to use heavy duty snow clearing equipment such as a snow plough as this may cause damage to the Resin Bound Surface. As the melting snow disperses through the porous structure there is little potential for puddles or ice patches to form which is a great safety benefit of resin surfacing.

Localised Repairs – resin surfacing can be repaired using the same combination of resin and aggregate as used during installation. Repairs should be carried out as soon as possible and within the correct weather conditions, to avoid further damage and degradation. Please contact Graveltech on 0800 085 4299 if you need any assistance.