How to enhance your driveway

With the number of new housing developments on the rise, it can be difficult to have your home stand out from the rest. A coloured bitumen driveway can be a long-lasting and cost-effective way of giving your home a unique and striking look. For asphalt contractors, experimentation with different additives and materials has brought about a wider variety in the number of colours available.

A typical bitumen surface, whether it is a driveway, road or carpark, is prepared in the following way:

• The ground is prepared and compacted to provide a suitably stable surface to support the bitumen.

• A sub-base is laid under the proposed driveway. The sub-base is generally composed of rocks and is engineered to evenly distribute load from the surface and to assist with drainage.

• The bituminous mixture is then poured. This forms the surface of the driveway, which is then compacted and smoothed to provide an even finish.

Although the process may be similar for driveways and carparks, adding colour can create a personalised and striking difference.

Colouring bitumen involves the addition of coloured pigments to the mixture. Rather than the traditional black associated with bitumen, differing pigmentation combinations can be used to create a wide spectrum of colours. For the homeowner, this means that the new driveway can easily fit into their planned or existing colour scheme. Some examples can include green and brown tints to tie in with native plant life, or yellow tints for homes with a coastal theme.

By adding colour to your driveway not only is the appearance of the home enhanced, but certain colours can provide an element of safety by being brighter than a standard black surface. When paired with concrete edging, the driveway is given a bold and striking look with great kerb appeal that can easily add value for a lower cost.