How to use colored crushed stone in landscape design

What does “decorative crushed stone” mean?

Decorative colored crushed stone is a granular material that is obtained by crushing and processing rocks. It tolerates frost well, is durable and resistant to ultraviolet radiation.

There are three popular types:

• From gravel particles;
• From granite particles;
• Made of limestone.

They differ from each other in density and particle size.

On the market you can also find colored gravel obtained from construction waste; it is labeled as “recycled”. “Screening” is also used during construction work; these are small particles of crushed stone containing a little sand. This type is fragile and its price is low.

It tolerates frost well, is durable and resistant to ultraviolet radiation.

Production process

Production of colored gravel
For production, it is best to take cube-shaped small pebbles, preferably the fractions are 5-10 mm. The production process is quite simple. The first step is to wash the stone. Then it is poured into the installation. If you need to get a small volume, you can use an ordinary concrete mixer. It must be clean. Then a dye is added to the solution; the color depends on its saturation. Then the concrete mixer is switched to operating mode, the stone is scrolled for 20-60 minutes.

After the time is up, the stone is poured out in an even layer and left to dry. It must be borne in mind that if the concrete mixer is completely filled, this will not allow it to be painted equally. For uniform coloring, it is recommended to fill the container less than halfway. When using high-quality pigment, the color of decorative crushed stone lasts approximately 5 years.

Colored crushed stone in landscape design

Colored crushed stone is widely used for landscape design. In addition to its beautiful appearance, it brings practical benefits. It should be noted that the painted type on sale is not cheap, but it is possible to paint crushed stone yourself, this can even be turned into a business.

Colored crushed stone in the garden looks good and non-standard. For a landscape project to design a site, it is used:

• To create decorative images, inscriptions on flower beds and other objects;
• Creating blind areas around the perimeter of the house, swimming pools, gazebos and more;
• Fountains and waterfalls are designed;
• Paths are being made;
• Placed at the bottom of the reservoir;
• Fire and recreation areas are being created;
• Creation of “dry” streams.

Colored crushed stone in the garden looks good and non-standard.

Staff

Production does not require many workers. For one shift, 3 people are enough, one of whom will become a senior worker. These people will work in production, loading and unloading, and warehousing. Making colored crushed stone is a simple job and does not require highly specialized knowledge.

The shop manager will also receive finished goods and supervise other workers.

Naturally, 3 people are enough only in the first stages. As sales/production increases, more people will be needed.

We need a driver with his own car - he will deliver goods to customers and retail chains.

The reporting will be handled by an accountant, who can be hired part-time or outsourced (remotely).

Advantages and disadvantages of decorating with stone chips

As noted earlier, colored decorative crushed stone has a number of positive properties that make it popular:

• Does not allow moisture to pass through, but at the same time allows it to erode;
• Protects the area from weed germination;
• Variety of colors;
• The ability to move it to different areas if you want to change the design;
• Pleasant appearance and ease of use.

But this material has several negative properties:

• High price for a bag of dyed material on the market;
• Cleaning the landscape where crushed stone is laid is problematic;
• There are species that accumulate radiation, so it is important to purchase high-quality products with a quality certificate.

Crushed stone does not allow moisture to pass through, but at the same time allows it to erode.

Financial calculations: profitability and payback

The amount of initial costs is 1.870 million rubles.

In an 8-hour shift, 1.5 tons of colored crushed stone can be produced. According to the plan, the plant will operate one shift 22 days a month. Under such conditions, it is realistic to produce 33 tons of goods.

The average price for 1 kg of crushed stone is 30-35 rubles. You can promote your product through price dumping, setting the price at 25 rubles/kg. By selling all the products produced in a month, you can get 825 thousand rubles.

The total monthly costs will be 540 thousand rubles.

Net profit will be 285 thousand rubles.

A business on colored crushed stone can pay for itself in 6.5 months. Although it is unlikely that the new enterprise will be able to sell all the goods produced in a month. Seasonality also needs to be taken into account. So the payback period can easily increase to one and a half years.

Table 2. Economic justification for the business idea.

Where does colored crushed stone come from?

The production of such decorative material, which is widely used to decorate various areas on the site, began recently. To give gravel a suitable shade, coloring pigments are used; they must withstand the harmful effects of the environment well. The standard choice is polymer dyes that come in a variety of colors. They are chosen because of their positive properties, which are important for such use: non-toxic, cannot come into contact with the soil, and does not negatively affect plants.

To give gravel a suitable shade, coloring pigments are used; they must withstand the harmful effects of the environment well.

Business risks

An entrepreneur must take into account the risks of this crushed stone business. Colored crushed stone is used mainly for landscaping open areas. Such work is done only in the warm season.

Due to the long winter, the main risk of the crushed stone production business arises - the threat of long “downtime”. In Russia, only 6-7 months are suitable for active construction. The rest of the year is too cold. This affects the demand for crushed stone - it decreases by 10-60% depending on the region.

However, this time can be used usefully, for example, by preparing goods for the beginning of spring and concluding contracts for further deliveries.

A business can be structured in such a way that during the cold season you can acquire connections, fully load your enterprise with work, and carry out sales during the warm season. This will allow you to quickly break even and start making a net profit. Colored crushed stone as a business with a competent approach guarantees a stable income to its owner.

Types of stone chips

The most popular types are granite, limestone and gravel. They differ in the density properties and sizes of the resulting particles. A “secondary” type is also distinguished; it is produced by obtaining it from construction waste.

In addition, for some types of construction work, the so-called “screening” is used. It contains a small amount of sand mixed with small fractions of gravel; the price of this type is low.

The most popular types are granite, limestone and gravel.

Documentation

You can start working as an individual or legal entity. If a businessman intends to produce and sell goods in small quantities, an individual entrepreneur (individual entrepreneur) is suitable for him. If he wants to produce a lot, cooperate with large companies, wholesale and retail chains, it is better to open in the form of a legal entity. entities (for example, LLC). A legal entity company can quickly reach agreements with large counterparties.

The tax system suitable for work is: UNS (15% of profit).

When registering an activity, indicate two OKVED codes: 26.70 “Cutting, processing and finishing of decorative and building stone” and 26.82 “Production of other non-metallic mineral products not included in other groups.”

Where is decorative crushed stone used?

Colored gravel is used for many types of decorations and structures located on its territory. So it is used for laying paths, framing fountains, gazebos, buildings, and swimming pools. Due to its resistance to water, it can be laid at the bottom of artificial reservoirs; designers lay out “dry” streams from it.

Ease of use allows you to create drawings and inscriptions to get an original landscape design.

Due to its resistance to water, it can be laid at the bottom of artificial reservoirs; designers lay out “dry” streams from it.

Advertising and sales

To find the main channels for promoting colored crushed stone, you need to identify potential buyers. Who needs this stone? The following groups of clients can be distinguished:

• design companies (including landscape designers);
• marketing agencies;
• pet stores;
• housing and communal services;
• funeral services;
• private individuals (amateur gardeners).

Make your website with a catalog and good product images. Organize mailings to agencies and services, print business cards and bring them to pet stores. Order advertising in newspapers and magazines. A good way of advertising is to print and post simple advertisements in the private sector of your city, in cottage villages.

Rules for laying decorative crushed stone

Before you start laying the material itself, you should prepare the place where it will lie. To do this, boundaries are marked; approximately 10 centimeters of the soil layer must be removed. Create a fence around the perimeter of the site; it must be securely dug into the ground. Sand is poured onto the prepared soil, the thickness is from five centimeters. This layer is watered and leveled so that it settles well.

If you plan to make a drawing, then you need to mark it in advance, so to limit zones of a certain color, use the same fences as for the entire composition. You can use stencils.

The following actions are performed:

1. Polyethylene with perforations is spread to create an outflow of moisture.
2. About three centimeters of sand are poured onto the polyethylene.
3. Using a stencil, the required pattern is created from crushed stone.
4. Flowerbeds and lawns are covered with a three-centimeter layer of gravel; colored gravel for paths and playgrounds should be poured six centimeters thick.

If you plan to make a drawing, then you need to mark it in advance, so to limit zones of a certain color, use the same fences as for the entire composition.

How to lay crushed stone around trees

Compliance with installation technology will ensure long-term preservation of the decorative characteristics of the material. If preparation is not carried out before the procedure, the gravel will sink into the ground and become overgrown with weeds. The design and color combination are schematically recorded on paper in advance.

In the root circle of the tree, 5-10 cm of the top layer of soil is removed. The soil is leveled, compacted by hand and geotextiles are carefully laid. Agrofibre with a perforated surface will protect against water stagnation under the decor and will not allow weeds to sprout. Sand is evenly distributed over the film, layer thickness is 5 cm.

Decorative crushed stone under large plants Source s30668802513.mirtesen.ru

To prevent the coating from spreading, stones or narrow plastic strips are installed along the edges of the circle. Decorative painted crushed stone is poured onto the prepared area. In the design, the background of the root zone is first decorated, then stencils are used to apply a picture or text. Use your hands or a small rake to carefully distribute the material over the surface. Layer thickness – 3-4 cm.

Designer crushed stone under a tree Source yandex.ua

Methods and ideas for use in landscape design

Owners of dachas and private houses often think about how best to decorate their own plot, because it is necessary not only for harvesting, but also for spending pleasant time in nature. Decorative colored crushed stone is excellent for this purpose. Designers have come up with many options for using it, it is so convenient for styling that anyone can realize the most daring ideas with it.

Designers have come up with many options for using it, it is so convenient for styling that anyone can realize the most daring ideas with it.

Decor for flower beds and ponds

Flowerbeds and ponds can be demarcated using gravel, rainbow stripes can be created, or zones for planting different plants can be demarcated by skillfully combining them. In reservoirs, the use of colored fractions of crushed stone at the bottom will look impressive; you can also add stones to it.

Flowerbeds and ponds can be demarcated using gravel, rainbow stripes can be created, or zones for planting different plants can be demarcated by skillfully combining them.

Dry stream made of marble chips

By creating a dry stream from this material, you can mark the boundaries of important plantings, or mark out zones of the site. Any type of planting or large stones can be used along the edges.

By creating a dry stream from this material, you can mark the boundaries of important plantings, or mark out zones of the site.

Creating paths and paths

Paths and paths are very easily created from crushed stone; the edges can be highlighted in one color, and the main part can be done in another. Or it is poured along the edges in the transition between a path made of another material and the ground.

Paths and paths are very easily created from crushed stone; the edges can be highlighted in one color, and the main part can be done in another.

Use as mulch for plants

Using crushed stone to mulch the plant avoids weed problems. At the same time, he will look good with them. Its ability to not come into contact with the ground, and retain moisture, is well suited for this purpose.

Using crushed stone to mulch the plant avoids weed problems.

Room

To produce colored crushed stone, a room of approximately 150 square meters is required. m. A third of this area will be occupied by a workshop with equipment installed in it. Here you need to equip a good ventilation system. During staining, vapors are formed that should be removed immediately. There should also be good electricity, water and heating.

Warehouses should maintain a dry and warm atmosphere. Low humidity is one of the prerequisites, since raw materials and goods ready for sale are stored here.

Before entering the mini-plant, it is necessary to equip a transport access for unloading raw materials and loading colored crushed stone.

You can look for such premises on the outskirts of the city or in industrial areas where rent is cheaper.

Caring for stone chips in the garden

Caring for the material is quite difficult; it crumbles during use, so periodically you need to put it back in place. Under the influence of wind and other factors, particles fly apart, so if a drawing was created, it will need to be adjusted. Once a year, it is recommended to collect all the gravel, wash it with a hose, and re-lay it after drying.

Once a year, it is recommended to collect all the gravel, wash it with a hose, and re-lay it after drying.

Colored crushed stone is an excellent option to decorate your site; the variety of colors and the ability to create various design ideas from it make its use very popular. But caring for them requires effort and time.

Equipment

If the painting hopper can be replaced with a simple concrete mixer, then the remaining production stages require special equipment.

An entrepreneur needs to buy:

• Bunkers for raw materials and finished products. They must be closed - acrylic paint ideally applies only to a clean and dry surface.
• Separator for sifting crushed stone of the required fraction. The purchase of such equipment is an additional expense, but it is more profitable than buying sifted crushed stone. In addition, the remaining stone of the unsuitable fraction can also be sold.
• Concrete mixer for painting. For small production, a machine with a volume of 0.7 cubic meters is suitable. m.
• Vibrating sieve for drying.
• Bag stitching machine.

It is worth buying additional tools - shovels, paint, the bags themselves.

Colored crushed stone in landscape design can completely change the look of your garden, vegetable plot or even a winter garden in an apartment. What is decorative crushed stone?

Marble chips with a diameter of 5 to 20 millimeters are painted using a special technology. This is decorative crushed stone. It is perfect for decorating various surfaces, and in combination with green plants it is a real design find.

Special paint gives this crushed stone gloss, brightness and unique structure. It looks very nice. And besides, a special production technology allows crushed stone not to lose its bright decorative properties.

After painting, the structure of colored crushed stone remains resistant to atmospheric conditions; it does not lose its aesthetic properties due to the influence of weather conditions, rain, temperature changes, snow. Beautiful patterns and ornaments, which can be laid out using multi-colored crushed stone, delight the eye for a very long time, attracting with their unusualness.

Painted crushed stone is very good for creating accents in the landscape and interior design. It is often used for sprinkling paths in the garden, sprinkling flower beds, decorating flower beds, the bottom of fountains, streams, alpine slides, also in large and small aquariums. Moreover, painted pebbles are absolutely safe for the underwater world of fish and plants.

Vases and flower pots decorated with colored crushed stone look very chic even in a small apartment. At the same time, crushed stone does not require special care, allowing you to realize your wildest fantasies and create uniquely beautiful compositions. You can even successfully lay out logos of organizations of any complexity from it.

The catalog of color solutions, which is usually offered along with lots of painted crushed stone, allows you to choose bright and rich decor combinations. In addition, the pebbles do not lose their attractive appearance for a long time, they do not become overgrown with moss and even protect noble plants from the growth of weeds.

You can buy colored crushed stone of any fraction, color, texture from us, every day from 8 to 22 hours, seven days a week

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