OT: anyone know about pavement?

[vqdriver]

lots of people here know lots of things so i'll toss this out there.
this is a condo complex driveway that's been paved with these smooth pebbles and somehow bound together by what looks like some sort of epoxy. the entire driveway is like this and the directional arrow is not painted but by made by white colored pebbles. it's roughly 8 years old and has stood up well to frequent daily vehicular use.

does anyone know what this is called?

[Louis]

Some info here (http://www.customsurfacesinc.net/poly-pebble.aspx)

[bart998]

That's a coating that goes over concrete or asphalt. Many concrete companies offer this type of coating.

[Louis]

Get something like this and pretend that your driveway is the Appian Way!

(You might have to lower the pressure in your bike tires.)

http://nantucketpools.com/images/mcdermott-driveway4.png

[rwsaunders]

The concrete finish is typically called exposed aggregate. Essentially, the aggregate used in the mix is more uniform and smaller is scale. The finish is then sprayed with a retarder, so that the concrete finisher can powerwash the surface, resulting in...exposed aggregate.

In colder climates, on a steep slope, I wouldn't recommend the finish as it can become slick. I've had the finish or our sidewalks for 15 years and I live in western PA...no issues other than the annual cleaning in the Spring. It does require sealing from time to time as well. Make sure that your concrete finisher is experienced, as the final steps can be a bit hairy for the novice.

[Cat3roadracer]

I'm pretty sure BBD is a "Road Scholar", perhaps he will chime in.

[bewheels]

This looks like what is commonly used in southern FL around pools and for sidewalks. Can be hard on bare feet untill they toughen up...
As others have said, it needs to be cleaned about once a year. Our house got distroyed in hurricane Andrew but that surface was fine.

[ColonelJLloyd]

This looks like what is commonly used in southern FL around pools and for sidewalks. Can be hard on bare feet untill they toughen up...
As others have said, it needs to be cleaned about once a year. Our house got distroyed in hurricane Andrew but that surface was fine.

I think you're probably referring to an exposed aggregate which is very common. What's shown in the OP looks different. Like maybe the aggregate is applied after the surface below (concrete as suggested above) has cured. Looks like maybe the aggregate is in an epoxy or the like.

[ptourkin]

http://youtu.be/r-kHIsPe-Qw

:banana:

[tiretrax]

It's called pea gravel in these parts. It's slick as hell when wet and traps lots of debris, so be careful.

[redir]

NOt sure what was used there but I've been looking into a product called Poly Pavement:

http://www.polypavement.com/

In it's strong formula they land aircraft on it.

It's also non toxic.

I'm looking into hardening up two dirt floor garages with this stuff and a short driveway.

[summilux]

In colder climates, on a steep slope, I wouldn't recommend the finish as it can become slick. I've had the finish or our sidewalks for 15 years and I live in western PA...no issues other than the annual cleaning in the Spring. It does require sealing from time to time as well. Make sure that your concrete finisher is experienced, as the final steps can be a bit hairy for the novice.

Good info. This looks like a good garden path material. The aggregate looks quite a bit smoother/nicer that the ones I have typically seen in concrete. Is there a special grade of aggregate that I should ask for?

[kentileguy]

What you have is colored bits of stone set in epoxy. Great for interior applications, not so great outside. Super slick when wet or icy, doesn't hold up so well in the midwest. I installed it in a few car dealerships many years ago, seemed to hold up well. Did a few exterior pool decks too, didn't last long, moisture got under it, froze..blowed up real good. Some info here:
http://www.rockpave.com/super-stone.html
generally referred to as "stone carpet"

[rwsaunders]

Good info. This looks like a good garden path material. The aggregate looks quite a bit smoother/nicer that the ones I have typically seen in concrete. Is there a special grade of aggregate that I should ask for?

The aggregate material, size, shape and color are all dependent on the source of the local quarries and/or the suppliers to the concrete batch plant. Ask the batch plant to see samples of their exposed aggregate finished product and you can gauge the size, shape and color that appeals to you. This is important as the color of the finish product is driven by the color of the local aggregate.

Locally, the aggregate in our market is essentially river gravel, which is sandstone based. Therefore, the exposed aggregate walks and driveways around here are medium to dark beige. I've been in markets where limestone was quarried for the aggregate, which is on the grey side when exposed in a slab.

[vqdriver]

got it.
thanks for pointing me in the right direction. :banana:

[martl]

Get something like this and pretend that your driveway is the Appian Way!

(You might have to lower the pressure in your bike tires.)

http://nantucketpools.com/images/mcdermott-driveway4.png

http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/25195/via_appia_antica1.jpg

hummm.... close, but no cigar :)

[handsomerob]

The only thing I know about pavement is it tastes bad... really, really bad.