Business on Colored Gravel: How to Set Up a Profitable Production

Colored gravel is a material consisting of small, naturally occurring stones that are tinted through a specialized coloring process. Unlike regular gravel, which is primarily used in construction mixtures, colored gravel is popular for landscaping and decorative finishes, both indoors and outdoors.

The primary raw materials for colored gravel production are small granite and marble fractions. These are coated with a layer of paint, giving them a smooth and polished appearance. This coating retains its vibrant look even under exposure to moisture, temperature changes, and ultraviolet rays.

Considering that one ton of standard gravel costs around $30, while a 25 kg bag of colored gravel sells for $5, it’s clear that profits can be made even from packaging alone. If you establish production of colored gravel, profitability can multiply significantly. Let’s dive into the process.

Production Features, Required Equipment, and Materials

As mentioned, the primary raw material for producing colored gravel is standard gravel. After being coated with special paints, the gravel is dried, bagged into 20-25 kg packages, and shipped for sale. Acrylic-based dyes are ideal for coloring, though alternative options can be considered. The necessary equipment and materials include:

• Vibrating screen - $1,500
• Cement mixer (for coloring) - $150
• A well-ventilated space (or an open area)
• Several tons of gravel
• 100 kg of dye

Initially, you can skip the vibrating screen to minimize costs, manually sieving gravel with mesh screens. Even with the purchase of a screen, startup expenses won’t exceed $2,000, making this a low-investment business.

The workforce needed for this operation includes just two unskilled workers. This allows you to keep labor costs low by hiring affordable help.

Production Process

• Sorting: Use a vibrating screen or mesh to separate gravel into desired sizes (10 mm or larger) while removing dirt and debris.
• Mixing: Add 4 parts gravel to 1 part dye into a cement mixer.
  
  
• Coating: Mix for approximately one hour until the gravel is evenly coated.
• Draining: Pour the coated gravel over a screen to recover excess dye for reuse.
  
  
• Drying: Initially, drying can be done in open air, but larger operations may require a drying chamber for efficiency.
• Packaging: Bag the dried gravel into 20-25 kg packages.
  
  

Expected Profit

The cost of materials for one ton of colored gravel is approximately $100, including $30 for the raw gravel and $60 for 20 kg of dye (at $3/kg). Retail prices for colored gravel range from $300 to $330 per ton, yielding a gross margin of over 50%. This calculation excludes labor, transportation, and packaging costs but still showcases impressive profitability for such a simple and fast process.

The main challenge in this business, as in many others, is finding buyers. To address this, conduct market research in your area before investing in equipment. Offer your products to construction retailers and landscaping companies. Additionally, invest in local advertising, online promotions, and social media campaigns to boost awareness and sales.

Do you think this business idea could benefit your friends? Share this article with them!