VubaMac Resin Driveway Base
VubaMac is a patented, permeable and environmentally sound base system that's designed specifically for Vuba's resin bound surfaces. The aggregate and binder system makes a stable base layer that forms a monolithic bond with the Vuba resin bound surface above it.
If it's installed properly, we offer a five-year no-crack guarantee on a VubaMac base. If it's installed as part of a full Vuba system, you get an incredible 25-year guarantee. That's the Vuba single-supplier advantage - you can get everything you need, and know for sure it will work perfectly together.
Why choose VubaMac?
VubaMac is the only choice when you're installing a Vuba resin bound surface. Here's why.
Permeability
When it's installed as part of a full VubaMac system, VubaMac is the most flood-resistant paving solution in the world, according to The Flood Innovation Centre. If it's installed with the recommended Vuba Foundation or an MOT Type 3 base, it's fully SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System) compliant, and doesn't need planning permission.
Reduced dig
There's no need for heat-applied excavated bases with VubaMac. Total depth for both base and resin bound surface can be as low as 177 mm, including a Vuba Foundation or MOT Type 3 base. This means less excavation, needing less machinery.
Long lasting
Our 25-year guarantee for a full-system install probably says enough about VubaMac's longevity. But in our crush test, VubaMac's flexure strength was 57% stronger than asphalt. That means you get close to the strength of concrete, with the added benefit of great permeability.
Recycled base
VubaMac is made from repurposed recycled aggregate. It's screened to remove any debris, leaving a high quality aggregate that's perfect for our binder layer.
Easy to apply
Because it needs shallower excavation than traditional bases, VubaMac is easy to install. Most projects can be completed in a day. Plus, if you use the full Vuba system for the best possible quality and longevity, you only need to deal with one supplier.
Patent approved
We've put a lot of work into making VubaMac the best it can be, and that's why we've patented it. It's not just a rehash of an existing technology - it's something genuinely new, and it's here to stay.
How does VubaMac compare to traditional base build-ups?
| MOT + Tarmac | MOT + Concrete | VubaMac | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dig depth | Neutral: Typically 200 mm - 250 mm including suitable MOT Type 3 | Poor: 250 mm including suitable MOT Type 3 | Neutral: From around 201 mm including suitable MOT Type 3 |
| Flexibility | Neutral: Flexible, low risk of reflective cracking | Poor: Rigid, high risk of reflective cracking | Good: Flexible, minimal risk of cracking with Vuba resin surface |
| Permeability | Neutral: Impermeable unless open-graded | Poor: Impermeable | Good: Fully permeable |
| SuDS compliance | Neutral: Requires open-graded variant | Neutral: Requires specialist concrete type | Good: As standard with either Vuba Foundation or a suitable MOT Type 3 base |
| Monolithic bond with Vuba surface | Poor: No chemical bond | Poor: No chemical bond | Good: Creates one unified system |
| Crack guarantee | Neutral: Supplier dependent | Neutral: Supplier dependent | Good: 5 years for the base and topping when using VubaMac |
| Supplier | Neutral: Separate supplier for sub-base and surface | Neutral: Separate supplier for sub-base and surface | Good: Single-supplier system |
| Use on existing bases | Neutral: Depends on surface | Neutral: Depends on surface | Neutral: Possible but not recommended |
Swipe sideways to see the full table →
Why is your base so important?
The base is - literally - the foundation that every surface is built on. Doesn't matter whether it's resin-bound, tarmac, block paved or something else. They all have bases.
So if that base isn't quite right - if it moves or cracks - it will affect the surface. It's known as reflective cracking, and it's one of the biggest problems with installed surfaces. If the ground isn't compacted properly under the sub base, the whole thing can sink. And if the base is rigid, like standard concrete, it can crack as the ground moves and transfer those cracks up to the surface.
Then there's the drainage problem. If you're installing on an impermeable surface, you'll need planning permission under SuDS regulations. If you use a permeable system like VubaMac, you don't need planning permission. Front driveway installations can often trigger this legislation.
VubaMac was specifically designed to solve these problems. Installed correctly and paired with a Vuba resin bound surface, it's guaranteed crack-free and more than 19 times as permeable as block paving.
VubaMac base build-ups
The base is important, but what's underneath it matters too. VubaMac has different requirements depending on how the surface will be used.
Occasional foot traffic
Total dig depth: 177 - 277 mm
- 25 mm Vuba surface
- 1 mm SRM base layer to spread the load and allow fast overlay
- 25 mm capping layer, well compacted
- Vuba Foundation, MOT Type 3 or similar. 125 mm as standard, up to 225 mm if required
- 1 mm geotextile membrane
Patios and paths
Total dig depth: 182 - 282 mm
- 15 mm Vuba surface
- 15 mm VubaMac, doesn't need compacting
- 1 mm SRM base layer
- 25 mm capping layer, well compacted
- Vuba Foundation, MOT Type 3 or similar. 125 mm as standard, up to 225 mm if required
- 1 mm geotextile membrane
Vehicle traffic
Total dig depth: 201 - 301 mm
- 18 mm BBA approved Vuba surface blend
- 1 mm SRM mid layer
- 30 mm VubaMac, well compacted
- 1 mm SRM base layer
- 25 mm capping layer, well compacted
- Vuba Foundation, MOT Type 3 or similar. 125 mm as standard, up to 225 mm if required
- 1 mm geotextile membrane
Heavy vehicle traffic
Total dig depth: 208 - 308 mm
- 20 mm BBA approved Vuba surface blend with binding quartz
- 1 mm SRM mid layer
- 35 mm VubaMac, well compacted
- 1 mm SRM base layer
- 25 mm capping layer, well compacted
- Vuba Foundation, MOT Type 3 or similar. 125 mm as standard, up to 225 mm if required
- 1 mm geotextile membrane
What's in the VubaMac system?
VubaMac is a system; the components are designed to work perfectly together.
VubaMac base aggregate
The angular aggregate that forms the bulk of the structural layer. It consists of four bags of VubaMac aggregate, plus one bag of recycled MacMix.
VubaMac binder
The resin binder that locks the aggregate and bonds with the Vuba surface above.
Can I use VubaMac for my project?
A VubaMac base can be used for a wide range of projects. Here are a few common examples.
Residential driveways
Resin bound driveways are one of the most common uses for VubaMac, and they're one of the primary use cases it was designed for.
A resin driveway installed with VubaMac is suitable for standard car and light van use. It's fully permeable so you won't need planning permission. And it has a five year no-crack guarantee, backed up with a 25 year product warranty as long as it's installed properly as part of a Vuba surface system.
Patios and garden paths
VubaMac is perfectly suited to pedestrian-only installations. It has a shallower build-up spec here, too. Reduced dig depth makes it a great option for patios, and its permeability means no pooling or standing water.
What is VubaMac not suitable for?
VubaMac is an excellent solution within its design parameters. But there are some projects it's not appropriate for.
Loose surfaces
VubaMac won't work with loose gravel or other unbound aggregate surfaces. There's no stable substrate for compaction.
Flat block paving or flags
Blocks can settle individually, causing uneven surfacing.
Cracked, unstable or poorly drained bases
If the base isn't up to scratch, it will need to be fixed before VubaMac can be installed.
DIY installation without appropriate equipment
The VubaMac system isn't suitable for DIY installation. It requires professional tools and expertise to install correctly.
How do I find a VubaMac installer?
For the best results, and for a valid guarantee, any Vuba surface or base should always be installed by a trained Vuba installer. They'll know the build up specifications, compaction requirements and intercoat window, and they'll have the tools to install it properly.
We have a network of approved installers all over the country, ready to take on jobs of any size.
Frequently asked questions
What is a resin bound base?
The base is the structural foundation layer that sits beneath a resin bound surface. It provides the stability, load distribution and drainage the surface layer needs.
Without a base, no matter how well the resin bound surface is applied, it will be prone to cracking, settling and drainage failure.
Why can't I just use an MOT layer as a base for my resin bound surface?
MOT Type 1 is an unbound, granular material. While it compacts well, it has no binder to hold it together, so over time it will shift, wash out and settle.
MOT Type 3 is an open-graded permeable base layer used in SuDS compliant build ups. But the same applies - it needs a bound layer above it or the resin surface will fail.
Does VubaMac comply with SuDS regulations?
Yes it does. As long as it's installed to the correct specifications, VubaMac is a fully permeable system. This means water drains through the surface and base rather than pooling and running off.
SuDS regulations require that new or replacement driveways over a certain size do not increase surface water runoff. This means that a standard concrete or tarmac surface will probably need planning permission. VubaMac, installed with a Vuba resin bound system, doesn't.
How deep does the VubaMac base need to be?
The exact base depth depends on how the surface will be used and what the existing ground is like. As a minimum, including MOT Type 3 base, a Vuba surface for occasional foot traffic starts from 177 mm. An installation for heavy vehicle traffic could be between 208 mm and 308 mm.
That's significantly shallower than most traditional tarmac or concrete plus MOT base systems.
How quickly can the resin surface go on after VubaMac?
Usually 1-2 hours, but it can vary with the installation and the weather. The resin surface must be laid within what we call the intercoat window to make sure the monolithic bond between the two layers works properly.