Variations in Colour of Paving

Variations in Colour of Paving

Variations in colour in paving – either man-made or natural stone, are to be expected due to
various factors, including age of the product (length of time exposed to the elements, especially
sunlight) and slight differences in the manufacturing processes that cannot be avoided.

Concrete products, even those manufactured using only ‘ordinary’ cement i.e. with no added
colourants, are susceptible to loss of colour to some degree during the drying and curing
process. Slabs that have been left in the yard, even vacuum wrapped, will lose some of their
original hue. Those that have added colourants will also become less bright over a short
period of time in the pack, and certainly once they have been laid for a few months.

Concrete block paving will lose its colour relatively rapidly, and any patching or extension to
a driveway may be noticeable, even using the same named product and manufacturer.

Porcelain paving, dense and hard as it is, may have some colour variations even between
packs and batches fired on the same day, due to minor changes in the manufacturing process.
These may be barely discernable until after an area has been laid in situ, when very slight
changes may be detected.

Natural stones, especially sandstones, may display marked differences in shade, even from
the same quarry, harvested the same day. This is perfectly natural, and is part and parcel of
opting for a natural material.

As with all paving products, colour variations may be mitigated if units are selected from
multiple packs (if possible) and minimise the likelihood of mis-matched batching of the
materials delivered to site.

Always look at products both when wet and dry, as the colours may be radically different.
Samples shown and selected for use should be signed for by all Parties as being acceptable
before laying.

It must be accepted that any paving material, in any situation, is going to be subject to
variations in colour at some stage, even during the initial laying project. It is one of the most
important factors to consider when choosing products. If colour variation is critical to
the success of a project, avoid buying ‘end of the line’ or ‘last year’s stock’, as you will
never be able to come close to matching the shades if you need additional materials to
complete the job.