Paving is important for creating finished surfaces for people and/or vehicles to travel over, creating a levelled surface that should be safe to use and pleasant to look at. Of course, cities tend to be fully paved with asphalt for roads and concrete for the pavement, so much so that it can create some unwanted side effects as well. Permeable paving is a solution that helps to replenish groundwater and alleviate some of these problems whilst still providing a robust surface that can last for many years to come.
What is Permeable Paving?
As the name implies, permeable paving is permeable and as such it allows infiltration of rainwater. At face value, this has some notable upsides and disadvantages unless controlled for.
In the cases of cities that are filled with roads and walking paths that are paved with impermeable materials, rainwater has no place to go. Engineers get around this by designing roads with superelevation and channelling rainwater to catchment basins and gutters to avoid puddling. Moreover, parks and other natural areas provide some relief from severe rain by absorbing the water and using it to nourish flora.
In the case of permeable paving, rainwater can penetrate through the paved surface and enter the soil, replenishing groundwater and reducing puddling. This is extremely important for managing the flow of water around your property, reducing the occurrences of stagnant water, keeping trees, grass, and other flora well-nourished and keeping them from drowning.
Permeable paving options for properties include a wide range of coarse aggregates, either consisting of similarly-sized stones or irregular stones of a roughly similar size, compacted atop whichever subbase you prefer (normally soil). Air pockets, grooves and crevices along the surface allow water to penetrate and trickle down at a managed rate into the soil, allowing for gradual groundwater replenishment whilst keeping the surface safe to use and appealing.
Uses for Permeable Paving Surfaces
There are many possible uses for permeable paving surfaces on properties. One of the most common is a driveway extending from the edge of the right-of-way to the garage or parking area for your vehicle(s). Permeability is great on properties surrounded by grass and other lush greenery since it naturally blends in (some products are quite earthy in hue and tone) while also providing excellent drainage.
Another common use is on footpaths. Whether as part of a trail network extending around your property or simply for walkways along your garden, footpaths look and feel great to walk on when made of permeable paving surface materials.
In the case of footpaths, there isn’t typically much need for subbase preparation and compaction since the stones are not likely to be displaced much with regular foot traffic, unlike for driveways which must handle the weight of parked vehicles, for example.
How to Get Eco-Friendly Permeable Paving for Your Property
Eco-friendly permeable paving materials can be purchased from many aggregate yards and bricolage shops, but there’s no better place to look than Multigrass, a leading supplier of top-notch synthetic turf and permeable paving materials designed for superb performance. Moreover, our affordable and competitive prices and choices for materials are second to none. Shop online today and save big on eco-friendly permeable paving materials and much more.
Multigrass
Shop at Multigrass for permeable paving stones and more.
