Permeable Pavers - Great, Eco-friendly Solution to Water Run-off
by Tim Sanford on 07/25/11
We have many clients asking for eco-friendly solutions to paving and hardscaping. Many municipalities are placing restrictions on paving (or offering rebates for eco-friendly paving) to reduce impenetrable surface areas in cities and in coastal towns. Permeable Pavers offer a great solution to reducing water run-off and pollution, while still allowing you to have a great looking hardscape.
The way the permeable paver system works is the base of the hardscape consists of a deep layer of large stone which will process the water, filtering out the pollutants and keeping them in the base and soil. The ground water is then released back into the main watershed.
When we install a permeable paver patio, driveway or walkways we start by digging a 12" deep base (normally for a patio it would be 7" to 8" deep) and fill it with a larger stone for drainage. Then we use crushed stone instead of sand to set the pavers and sweep into the joints. The permeable pavers are made with a spacer to create a wider joint in between to allow the water to flow through to the stone. If the hardscaping is in a heavy water flow area, we can also install a drain into the sub-base that drains to a dry well.
If you are looking for an eco-friendly solution to your hardscaping problem, give us a call we will be happy to help!