All About Permeable Pavers

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Have you heard the phrase “permeable pavers” thrown around, but you’ve never really known what it’s meant? It’s just another kind of paver, right? A permeable paver has a bigger job than merely being “another paver.” So, what makes these pavers different from the rest? They’re porous, meaning their design is to let water drain into the ground. Permeable pavers are also just as durable as concrete, compacted gravel, and even asphalt.
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How does it work?

Each paver has open cells that are full of either grass or gravel. Either one of these materials allows water to get trapped in the rock base of the pavers. This system lets the water absorb into the ground at a steady pace instead of flooding. Other pavers do not allow water to pass through, forcing it to run off the paver, or they’ll cause pooling water.

What are the benefits of having permeable pavers?

The most significant benefit of a permeable paver is less water damage. These pavers work with water, whether it’s from the hose, melting snow, or a heavy rainstorm. It decreases the possibility of flooding. These pavers also save your landscaping and lawn from water runoff.

What type of permeable pavers are on the market?

● Permeable Concrete: These pavers are concrete and stones mixed. There is no gravel or sand used as a sub-base allowing the concrete to become more porous. Water does wear down the concrete making it more brittle and a rougher texture.

● Interlocking Concrete Brick Pavers: This consists of smaller bricks of concrete that allow small gaps to help the water drain. While the pavers themselves are not permeable, the area in between is what will catch the water. This system will wear down over time, however, losing its permeability.

● Porous Asphalt: To make asphalt permeable it needs to be laid on a stone storage bed. These stones give ample space for water to flow into the soil underneath. One drawback is that the asphalt will need frequent maintenance to fix potholes and cracks.

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● Plastic Grid Pavers: This cellular plastic grid is filled with grass or gravel. It’s semi-flexible, allowing maximum permeability. This is best for areas that get a lot of traffic, especially for heavy-load vehicles.

● Rigid Plastic Pavers: These plastic pavers are designed to be more rigid and are often a hexagonal cell. Usually, you’ll see this filled with grass because of how stiff it is.

 
 

● Rolled Plastic Paving: This application is mostly for foot traffic and light loads. It’s very flexible because it’s easily rolled out and can work with either grass or gravel fillings.