The Paving Blog

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.

The modern - and necessary - urge to reclaim so much of what we build and package with has supplied us with many avenues to recycle.  Now, paving itself offers much the same process at an ever-widening rate.  Lets face it, the logic behind recycling has always been perfect.  It has just been easier to dig another gravel pit.

Nowadays, we have all seen those huge machines that scrape the top layers off asphalt and even concrete road ways and city streets.  These behemoths send all the “scrapings” behind itself in a neat row, easy for the machinery to pick up and transfer to a waiting truck.  What many don’t realize is that this material makes a fabulous base material. Many highways are now utilizing this recycled cement and asphalt by using them under the newer constructions, as their basic, compact able material.

In fact, there are now companies opening up everywhere reselling this “found” material which was oince relegated to landfills.  It is a great step in re usability and recycling.  The necessity for utilizing these materials goes without saying.  As we approach a finite end to the bountiful Nature we inherit, fewer local gravel pits will emerge and those that will, will open farther and farther from their intended place of use. These newer companies grind up the concrete and asphalt into separate areas, making it small enough to meet compaction specifications and producing the “fines” which allow these aggregates to bind together so tightly.

Look for these places when either shopping for base material for a driveway or look as well when you are dismantling one.  These guys are becoming important and they represent a great movement in conscientious recycling.

Going back to the same topic as the last post - I found a good shot of this product by Amazon, so thought I’d throw in a few more words about this fantastic kit. This one happens to be a box of 10 Kerr Lighting Cambridge Paver Lights sized 6″ x 9″.

This is an excellent article of lighting. A deep glass look of translucent beauty, even without the lights on, it provides a striking contrast to the solidity and opaque impermeability of the pavers alongside it. But its most important virtue, naturally, remains its nighttime properties.

Soft, muted lighting has the effect of providing an ambient lighting from the refraction from air particles and reflective surfaces of leaves, flowers and other surfaces nearby. The up lighting effect glows from underneath those higher elements, bringing them into more relief and highlighting effects like color and texture. Naturally, shadows are also included in the menagerie of cool effects brought on by lighting, as they shine on walls and up light adjoining plants and trees.

The security aspects of having a driveway which is navigable and clear ion even the darkest nights is an abundantly clear ‘plus’ in the addition of lights in a roadway. driveway or sidewalk. Aside from the muted beauty of the lighting and its effects, the very nature of well-lit byways provides a warm and very secure sensation. It is also a very welcoming and elegant presentation for visitors and neighbors. The value-added dimension of having this relatively inexpensive and easily-installed feature at one;s home not only causes increased value owing to its normal beautifying qualities, but also provides a rare and precious curb appeal.

Special effects in paving are a chance for someone to show off his slight bit of weird and wonderful genius in an interesting and designer-pleasing way. Bridges, curved effects, cantilevered pool edges all show a special bit of pizazz and out-of-the-ordinary imagination that translates magnificently to the landscape fancier’s eye. These features are an overall part of any exterior landscape and they can thereby enhance not just the experience of those who live there, but they can also simply delight the sense of any visitors. For pure curb appeal and value enhancement, few items in the exterior can produce as much intense interest in a home.

The suspended bridge shown here was poured concrete which was then stamped and colored to produce an arresting and most interesting entry to this once-model home. Indeed, bridges over water features are a sort of Holy Grail to many homeowners. We thought this one performed that function perfectly.

The other picture is of what is commonly referred to as an “Infinity Pool Edge”. Water consistently flows over the front edge, collected and dispersed below. What is most interesting here is that the pavers shown in the foreground are atop a cantilevered 3 foot ledge over the water. Not only does the cantilever aspect form an interesting shadow over the water mere inches below it, but at night a bright light underneath the suspended slab shines brightly and outstandingly, hidden well below the edge.

Addressing a question I received via email today, so here goes -

Pavement cracks come from a small variety of sources.  Typically, both in asphalt paving and concrete paving, the sub grade below the roadway itself determines pretty much everything dealing with the heaving and contraction issues which severe weather induces.  Asphalt is nowhere as rigid as cement, but it can also crack under stress.  Naturally, no crack ever improves, after that point.  It is a matter of widening and becoming yer more glaring and severe, separated more so by continuing the same stresses and now even factoring in the presence of pockets of trapped water which will further erode the integrity by freezing itself and causing flaking or absolute separation.

Concrete, as a rigid monolithic piece, will always crack.  Even the best professionals understand this.  What typical highway construction specifications insist on is the presence of re bar, or rods of connecting metal, imbedded inside the cement itself, which will take the cracking and do not allow it to separate in any gross manner. Naturally, severe cracking will need repairing, but re bar gives the surface a chance to last longer as a viable road or driveway surface.

Typically, expansion joints are placed in concrete literally “inviting” it to crack along predetermined lines.  Once this is done, if it happens, then the preset position has been accounted for and dealt with.  Further damage would necessitate replacement of the concrete however, if the cracks appear elsewhere.

It is not a comfortable or productive feeling seeing a crack form in concrete.  As I stated above, cracks don’t “get better”. But they can be filled, reducing if caught on time, further damage.  Once weather and water are allowed inside the cracks, a surface is not long for this productive world.  Improper placement of the expansion joints is a very common reason for cracking.