[TrickyDick]

So after getting the binder put down for an awful asphalt drive that I mentioned in a previous post about awful pavers the client comes out and says, very apprehensively "Is this the color it's going to be?" Well it's asphalt so I say "yes".

Yelling back into the house "Honey it IS going to be this color!" Back to me "whose idea was this?"

"Its was your mother's. She wanted the cheapest thing."

"Oh...well is there some way to soften it a little? It's just really black."

It's impossible to get any input from these people until things are done and they don't like them. And they wander why nothing get's done fast and why it ends up costing so much.

So is there a way to color asphalt or soften the color? Seems like there should be a way to dust the finish coat or something but I've never heard of it.

[Pelican]

This won't be cheap, but an oil and chip coating will give it a country road look. Depending on your location, there could be a variety of different stone you can use to accomplish this.

In my area we have washed natural stone (earth tones), crushed bluestone, redstone, and white stone available. A latex type oil is sprayed on the asphalt and 3/8 stone chip is spread over it and rolled in. It remains soft for a few days but then hardens up like the asphalt.

[TrickyDick]

Thanks Pelican. Oil and bluestone was actually what I had designed but they didn't want to pay for it. So I'm looking for something cheaper that will soften the look of the black asphalt. If nobody knows of anything than maybe I can stear them back to the chip and seal eventually. It will be a while before the finish coat goes down so maybe they (Mom actually, it's her money) will come to her senses.

[Turtle]

tricky dick I dont know where your from but when I did asphalt in PA there was a few different quarries that ran asphalt mixes with different stones in the mix. While it was black when it first went down about 6 months later to a year when it woulkd wear the stone color would come thru, One quarry had a red stone they used so it would wear reddish brown, another had a slate and that would always stay black. So just a thought to see if any of the asphalt plants had different stone that could be used for the finish

[Pelican]

I think the only thing cheaper will be paint. There's a condo project nearby that stamped brick shapes into the asphalt then painted it red. There are additives that can be used at the plant to tint it, but after the fact paint is about your only option.

[Fine Edge]

Paint and a roller! Have them do it and they will save themselves some money!!
What kind of people have something given to them and then expect far more value from the end result?
Unbelievable ( well, not really ).

[Orchard Ex]

I've never used either of these or even seen the end result, but it is advertised as a way to color seal asphalt.

http://www.streetprint.com/index.php
http://www.asphacolor.com/index_main.html

Not sure of the costs, chip stone may end up being cheaper.
Just remembered seeing these and thought I'd throw it in.

[rosenlof/lucas]

We used very dark maroon tennis court sealant on an asphalt driveway that was part of a tiny urban backyard. We needed to make better use of the space and it gave them the option of using it as a patio or a driveway. You're situation is a little different but, it turned out great and is still holding up perfectly a year later. These pictures aren't great but you'll get the idea. I think the paint, which had a slight rubber additive for texture came in a bunch of great colors too. If you want I can dig up the brand.


Good Luck,
Matt

[GLAN]

That was a great idea Matt......Pictures show how usefull the colored driveway becomes a usefull area for entertaining in an other wise small yard.


This forum is the best........you all have such fabulous ideas.......makes me proud, humble and inspired to be in the same or similar profession.

[Paul]

A couple of cans of yellow center line paint...............

[letsgetstoned]

Hell, in Michigan we want our asphalt as black as possible. In winter on the rare occasion the sun pops out the black driveways melt the snow and ice quickly. Tell her black is the way to go!

[TrickyDick]

Thanks everyone. The colored sealer is not a bad idea. I also like the centerline paint idea as Mom asked me the other day if I could widen the driveway entrance a little (it was 13.5 feet wide) which involves busting out the cobblestone edging and patching the binder. She'll pay for that but an extra couple grand for chip and seal is too much. Nice idea on the snow melting angle but this house will be used for a month in the summer at most so I doubt they care.