Stormwater management should be a part of your property maintenance plan. You want to find a product that can help retain and manage stormwater throughout your property. If you have concrete pavers, the water has no place to penetrate under the ground. In turn, it runs off towards the sewer systems or remains on the surface. By installing permeable pavers, you can make a positive impact on the local environment. These paver stones allow the water to flow between them. If you are worried about drainage for your property, here are a few things that you will want to know.
What Are Permeable Pavers?
If you are wondering about installing permeable pavers around your property, you should know about their benefits. These paving systems allow water to drain into the substrate below the surface. As a result, you will not have water buildup in those paved spaces, and it will not run off into adjacent areas. Flooding is a big problem for many communities. Along with the practicality of these pavers, they are also an attractive option for any space.
Many great commercial lawn care services want to work to preserve the native greenery and topography. In other words, professional landscaping companies strive to protect and preserve the natural environment. With these pavers, you can find a product that looks great and protects the delicate local ecosystem. You can use these creative solutions to achieve an incredible landscape.
How Do Permeable Pavers Work?
This type of paving system uses pavers with open cells that are filled with grass or gravel. As the water enters the surface, it will get detained in the rock base. Eventually, the water is absorbed into the ground beneath the pavers. Most traditional paving systems use certain hardscape surfaces, such as concrete, compact gravel, or asphalt. These surfaces pool the stormwater and cause it to run off in unwanted areas. With a permeable paving system, the pavers have a porous system that mimics how natural ground reacts to any rainwater. The rate of the water draining into the ground depends on the specific permeable paving system installed at your property.
Benefits of Permeable Pavers
Visual appeal is a significant factor for many property owners. You can find a material that will strike a balance between effectiveness and aesthetics. However, the most important benefit is reducing water runoff, decreasing flooding risks, and aiding in stormwater management. All those traditional asphalt and concrete pavements can cause more flooding in your area. When rainwater pools, that runoff water can collect contaminants and disrupt the natural waterways. Runoff water is another problem for stormwater management systems, and it leads to floods and other issues. If you want to minimize these hazards in your community, then you need to think about installing permeable pavers around your property.
Are There Different Types of Permeable Pavers?
Initially, permeable pavers were made of brick or concrete. These pavers had gaps to allow for water drainage. Many pavers were only found in small decorative areas to reduce water buildup. However, there are several types of modern permeable pavers on the marketplace. Some even contain recycled plastics and porous asphalt. Both of these materials are more absorbent than concrete.
There is no shortage of options available for porous pavements. You will want to consult a commercial lawn care service to help you find the best choice for your property.
Some of these options include:
Permeable Concrete
These pavers are made with concrete and stone. They are placed without a gravel or sand sub-base. While these pavers have a rougher appearance than their traditional concrete counterparts, they still can absorb water and reduce any runoff. This paving system also requires frequent maintenance and has higher installation costs. It is even more brittle than concrete. As a result, they can develop potholes and cracks.
Interlocking Brick Pavers
These interlocking bricks create small gaps between the pavers to allow water to drain between them. While the concrete is not porous, the interlocking structure of the pavers provides some water absorption into the ground. Over time, these pavers will become clogged with debris. This type of system is higher in price than other types of permeable pavers.
Porous Asphalt
Asphalt is not known as a porous material, but it can be placed on top of a stone bed. This system allows the rainwater to drain into the underlying soil. While it can enable the rainwater to permeate, the small pore size of the asphalt surface leads to severe clogging issues.
Plastic Grid Pavers
Industrial strength cellular plastic grids are filled with gravel for better stormwater management. These pavers are ideal for spaces with heavy truck traffic, and they can hug the ground without developing any holes. Along with that, these pavers retain the soil and ground underneath the system’s surface for maximum permeability. If you are looking for the best-performing product on the market, you need to choose plastic pavers.
Rigid Plastic Pavers
There are several types of plastic paving systems, including rigid pavers. These pavers are designed into a rigid structure with hexagonal cells. In turn, they are less flexible. While they may have great compression strength in the lab, real-world applications are still undecided about the durability of these pavers with heavy truck loads. You will typically find these pavers in grass fields or other lightly used areas.
Rolled Plastic Pavers
If you are looking for increased flexibility, you might want to choose rolled plastic pavers for easy storage. These pavers have small cells, and they are not conjoined. As a result, there is minimal load strength for this system. If you have light foot traffic, then these pavers might be a great idea for your space.
Let Us Find Solutions for Your Stormwater
If you are looking for the proper drainage around your property, permeable pavers are an excellent choice. They make your space look great and preserve the local environment. At Charlestown Landscaping LLC, we can help you find suitable pavers for your landscaping needs. Along with that, we offer a full line of commercial lawn care services. To schedule consultation, please call us at (610) 608-3965.