It is well established that concrete is the most utilized building material in the world. Every day, more and more areas are being paved with concrete, asphalt, and other impervious surfaces. As a result, storm water has less opportunity to soak into native soil which causes imbalances in the natural ecosystem and is a contributing factor to flash floods, water table depletion, and pollution of coastal waters, rivers, and lakes.
Pervious Concrete and Permeable Paver installations provide property owners an effective means to address important environmental concerns and support green, sustainable growth. By capturing stormwater and allowing it to seep into the ground, permeable pavers, porous concrete, and their associated drainage systems can be instrumental in recharging groundwater, reducing stormwater runoff, and meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stormwater regulations.
Peninsula Concrete Contractors, Inc. is one of the largest installers of pervious and permeable products on the Peninsula. We have many years of experience installing permeable and pervious paving solutions combined with drainage systems that work in harmony to redirect storm water into the local watershed.
Permeable pavers and pervious concrete are both installed over layers of varying sized stone or aggregate. For concrete installations, these layers typically include an open graded base reservoir layer and an open graded sub-base layer. (The size of the aggregate used for the top layer is smaller than the size of the aggregate on the bottom layer.)
For interlocking paver installations an open graded bedding course is also included. This bedding course layer sits on top of the base reservoir and allows us to install the interlocking pavers perfectly flat.
For some applications, we install under drains, which are used to capture the water that flows through the layers and redirect it to other areas of the property. These systems can be used for harvesting water that is suitable for irrigation.
Another benefit of permeable pavers and pervious concrete installations is that they are designed to assist in the removal of pollutants from storm water. When rain or surface water is absorbed by a pervious or permeable installation it seeps through the multiple layers of aggregate base underneath before entering the soil. This aggregate base serves as a natural filtration system that reduces pollutants.
PERVIOUS CONCRETE
Pervious concrete is a porous pavement solution. which provides the inherent durability of concrete while allowing storm water to percolate into the underlying soil, thereby replenishing the local watershed systems. Pervious concrete mixes are created from the same primary materials as most standard concrete mixes, these ingredients include cement, coarse aggregates, and water. However, unlike normal concrete, pervious concrete is made with very little or no sand. As a result, the concrete is an open cell structure that allows water to pass through the surface and into the native soil.
PERMEABLE PAVERS
Permeable interlocking pavers are another very durable and environmentally friendly solution for paving a property. Permeable interlocking pavers are available in many colors and various styles ranging from smooth to rustic. They are a beautiful option for any residential project and with options rated for vehicle traffic they are even suitable for commercial parking lots.
