The Paving Blog

An interesting new technology being developed and actually making a small splash is a process known as “Resin Bound Paving”.  It is primarily a surfacing technique, adapted to apply color, texture, depth and artistic applications on an existing hard surface. Crumbling or flaking driveways, sidewalks and patios suffering from too much sun or weather, or from the salts and chemicals used to get rid of snow and ice, can be freshened up and made to last longer with this resurfacing.  The fact is, it even offers a bit more longevity by providing a layer of protection.

This technique takes typically 4-6mm pieces of almost any natural gravel, crushed stone, imported marble and recycled materials and binds them in a mass, held together by the most durable adhesives now being developed, polymer resins. This clear adhesive is amazingly strong and works exceptionally well out doors.  It can stand up to weather and to traffic.

The epoxies and resins used act as the binding agent for the actual stones or pieces composing the overall surface look. The color comes with the materials themselves and they can be applied in any wild number of ways.  I have seen many of these last quite a while, still as pretty as ever, still composed of fascinating bits of gravel, glass or what have you.  The surfaces possible are absolutely mind-b;lowing in their wide variety and nearly unlimited imaginative scope.

While on the subject of concrete…

Stamped concrete is a new and most powerful aesthetic development in paving technology. Whereas, the appearance of almost all cement work in the past has revolved around the top finish with hand tools, there has developed in the last 15-20 years a burgeoning practice called “Stamped Concrete”. Using the very same concrete as in the past, this new development takes that cement and adds color and texture to the original grey and comparatively boring original.

I have included just a couple of pictures here which give some idea of the creative scope available with this exciting new phase of outdoor decorative concreting. The color range is actually pretty phenomenal and the colors are very long-lasting, if not utterly permanent. Naturally, a sealing coat can insure a longer and mote protected color existence.

Stamped concrete uses a textural template, usually of soft rubber or malleable plastic where the pattern desired if place on about a 3 foot wide platform. This platform is laid onto the cement at the proper time, then is embedded in a process where the applier steps on or otherwise presses the mold onto the wet cement. Picking it up, the corners are matched and the pressure application repeats itself until an entire swath of poured cement is done. The colors can be put on prior (even in the mixer to provide a base) or applied in powder or liquid form, as an extremely penetrating dye. Thus rendered, what can also be arrived at is some variations in tone and color that act as shadows or even as an apparently mineral-rich substance.

In any event, the look can vary from totally stone-like and primitive to geometrically-complex. Inasmuch as the application of these process occurs at a time the cement is wet and still-drying, one can also take some license and apply things such as the gears and machine parts shown in one of these pictures. Obviously, the result is a most interesting artistic success, which can actually be said about the entire stamped concrete process..

Concrete driveways were once the state of the art and still remain are a more than adequate driveway material. Hard, durable, light in color - even able now to take a dye - thus potentially colorful - concrete’s durability and strength achieve a high mark for an enduring and serviceable driveway surface. While concrete has disadvantages I will address below, it remains a high-value surface, sought by many homeowners and builders interested in a mid- to high-quality product. The durability issue tends to be it’s major strength, certainly more so than asphalt.

Artistically, concrete serves one major function as being light colored and generally neutral regarding color. Thus, a house or garden, if somewhat colorful itself, will positively glow in contrast. Another feature in concrete can be its finished top. There are methods of producing somewhat arresting finishes by the handwork almost always applied to a concrete still-wet surface. Whereas most concrete driveways receive a “broom finish”, where the bristles from a broom makes tiny channels, somewhat roughened and therefore non slip, they can also receive a “swirl and shine” finish, whereby the finisher swirls his trowel in small circles, resulting in a massive series of the same swirls permanently embedded in the finished top layer. Hundreds of small swirls, all similar make a satisfyingly complex top finish, easy in the eye and quite complex.

Colors can also be applied to concrete, either in the form of dyes sprayed on after the fact or in the cement mixing truck itself prior to the pour. “Stamped concrete” has rich and abundant colors thrown on as a dust which penetrates the drying cement just prior or following the actual stamping and embedding process. This results in a mineralized look, matching rock colors in nature. And, needless to say, concrete can be painted. There are now thick acrylics that easily cover concrete with a durable finish and which can result in come very interesting effects.