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getting gravel to match tarmac drive

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  • 11-06-2024 3:01pm
    #1
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,794 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi all looking for suggestions to try and match this lighter coloured gravel stones/chipping with the black already tarmac drive - i cannot afford to get it tarmac'ed so looking for cheap solutions, and its purely for cosmetic/aesthetic reasons.

    I have 2 ideas, get some of that black road gravel they chuck on the road when its icy or in summer when tar starts melting for grip and just rake it over the top. - but then again I am thinking that could be a fair ol price getting that delivered and the amount I would need.

    My second Idea, and I know it sounds like a crazy one but as i say i am on a low budget, is to get one of these knapsack weed sprayer things you pump up and just spray black masonry paint all over the gravel thats already there to try and match it in (colourwise) to the existing tarmac drive - maybe even water down/dilute the paint first so that it dont block up the nozzle of the sprayer -would it work?


    image.png





    (Yes I know I will have to remove them dead weeds one day before I do anything , I will be doing that. )

    any ideas what to do with it apart from getting it done with tarmac?

    thanks.

    image.png

    Tagged:


Comments

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    #2
    10-10-20
    Registered Users Posts: 7,023 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    Hi Andy.

    Dont use paint, it will just come off and become a pollutant. Tarmac restorer or even tarmac edging and jointing spray would be better lasting.

    https://www.smartseal.ie/coatings/tarmac-sealer-restorer/tarmac-restorer_1.htm



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    #3
    Rows Grower
    Registered Users Posts: 7,987 ✭✭✭Rows Grower


    Get a ton of slack for delivered for £255 from Coal Warehose and rake it out nice and level.

    "Very soon we are going to Mars. You wouldn't have been going to Mars if my opponent won, that I can tell you. You wouldn't even be thinking about it."

    Donald Trump, March 13th 2018.



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    #4
    HazeDoll
    Registered Users Posts: 504 ✭✭✭HazeDoll


    You'll never get the colours to look right, you'll always have that two-tone effect. I think the best thing to do is to extend the lawn out to the tarmac, or at least close to the edge of the tarmac. If you raked topsoil over the gravel that's there and kept it watered until the grass takes hold you'd have a decent lawn in no time. Of course, if you wanted you could take up the gravel before spreading topsoil but I don't think that's absolutely necessary.



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    #5
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,794 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122249495#Comment_122249495

    yes, i know it will more than likely would never match up, but if its pretty close or closer than it is it will look so much better I think.
    The thing is the grass was there , it was removed originally to make more room on the drive to turn around. So I wont be putting grass back there.



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    #6
    GreeBo
    Registered Users Posts: 27,161 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    I would probably try the darkest oil based wood stain I could find and use the sprayer from your OP.

    Avoid Paint, it will just chip and look crap.



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    #7
    HazeDoll
    Registered Users Posts: 504 ✭✭✭HazeDoll


    If you need the space and tarmac isn't an option I think I'd go in the opposite direction completely. I would emphasis the difference in texture and colour and make a feature of it. I think I'd look for nice gravel or woodchip mulch or something to spread on the area that isn't tarmac. Trying to hide the difference in the surfaces might be a bit like a bald man with a combover; it's unconvincing and a little comical.



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    #8
    GreeBo
    Registered Users Posts: 27,161 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122254978#Comment_122254978

    Each to their own, but loose stone/gravel on the driveway beside grass would drive me insane :)



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    #9
    GreeBo
    Registered Users Posts: 27,161 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    OP, Sealcoating tarmac/asphalt is a big thing in the US, not so sure about over here, but if you reseal the whole thing, using the stuff that 10-10-20 said you will probably get the "best" result.



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    #10
    HazeDoll
    Registered Users Posts: 504 ✭✭✭HazeDoll


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122255383#Comment_122255383

    Maybe I've misunderstood the OP but there are currently loose stones there and he's looking at colouring or disguising what's there, so whatever he does there is going to be a loose surface there.



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    #11
    Gen.Zhukov
    Registered Users Posts: 1,940 ✭✭✭Gen.Zhukov


    This is the nearest I can find to what you're looking for - Dunno anything about this crowd personally

    https://stonedirect.ie/product/kilkenny-black-chip-14mm/

    Or this lot

    https://ardcroney.ie/product/black-chip/



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    #12
    shane b
    Registered Users Posts: 584 ✭✭✭shane b


    Road planings may be another option. I dont know if its for sale to the general public. Maybe ring some quarries and find out.



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    #13
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,794 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122255761#Comment_122255761

    yes that stone looks good, looks like the existing stone used for the tarmac part



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    #14
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,794 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    i might try some of this. what do you reckon? 25Kg bag

    image.png



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    #15
    alias no.9
    Registered Users Posts: 6,307 ✭✭✭alias no.9


    Even if you could make them match for a day, they will weather differently and look more and more different over time, it might be better to create a bigger contrast between them and make them look deliberately different.



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    #16
    Gen.Zhukov
    Registered Users Posts: 1,940 ✭✭✭Gen.Zhukov


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122284552#Comment_122284552

    I'd say no, it's not aimed for what you want to do - and even on the maths alone, 25kg for €20/25 -v- a ton for €60 is mad

    Stick with something out of the links I posted would be my rec



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    #17
    The Continental Op
    Registered Users Posts: 6,628 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    The other very messy option is to cold tar spray the lot and then spread chippings of your choice on that. A bit like the really cheap way CoCo's do our back roads.

    Wake me up when it's all over.



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