Pavement gets more creative

by Kimberly Hegeman
Created: August 13, 2008

Decorative asphalt is a growing market segment that will continue to be a big part of the paving industry's future.

Stamped asphalt can help increase property values for both residential and commerical customers, says Greg Larson of Thermotrack.
Stamped asphalt can help increase property values for both residential and commerical customers, says Greg Larson of Thermotrack.
Stamping isn't limited to just a brick look. Objects, like this flower, and even company logos can be imprinted into asphalt.
Stamping isn't limited to just a brick look. Objects, like this flower, and even company logos can be imprinted into asphalt.
Colored coatings are another area of the decorative asphalt industry. Colors are now available as epoxies to offer a more durable product and better surface protection.
Colored coatings are another area of the decorative asphalt industry. Colors are now available as epoxies to offer a more durable product and better surface protection.

There's no doubt that decorative asphalt has come a long way over the last 15 years. And despite being in the market for that time span, Oliver says the industry is still in its infancy. "It takes a while for construction products to be recognized," he says. "A 10-year-old construction product is not an old product, it's still relatively new."

And the versatility of decorative asphalt is also helping it grow. Larson points out that stamped asphalt is typically used just for an accent, but as the industry and consumer knowledge grows so do the sizes of projects. Now whole driveways and crosswalks are incorporating stamped or coated asphalt.

"For the first 10 years there were still a lot of skeptical people saying that if you put a pattern in asphalt it's not going to last," Oliver says about decorative asphalt. "That myth has been debunked. Now the paving and construction industries accept stamped asphalt as a viable product."