What is Permeable Driveway and How is it Useful?
February 13, 2020
Permeable
Driveway, also known as the permeable pavement is a specific type of
pervious pavement which has highly porous in nature. It is made out of
porous concrete which allows rainwater to pass through it into the
ground below easily. These driveways are specifically designed to mimic
the natural process where rain water gets soaked into the surface of the
ground. As this movement helps in reducing water runoff by returning
the water back into the underground aquifers, permeable pavements are
considered as an amazing choice these days.
What makes Permeable Concrete an Appropriate Option?
Everyone
wants to have own durable and long-lasting walkways, driveways, patios
and roads which make their property look more engrossing and attractive.
Usually, concrete is used in the construction of these spaces. However,
a large amount of energy is used in the production of concrete.
Concrete bring along a number of cons too. The rain and the water runoff
become incapable of getting soaked back into the concrete ground. This
results in the disruption of the natural water cycle.
The
impetuous journey of water through the impervious concrete surface
leads to unwanted problems over time. Thus, to solve to this issue,
permeable driveways come up as an outstanding solution. They are
considered as an excellent alternative to the solid foundation because
it allows water to get soaked back into the ground easily.
Permeable Driveway |
How is Pervious Concrete made?
The
permeable driveway is made out of specially prepared pervious concrete
which is made out of stones and concrete. It is a porous material which
stands quite similar to the look of a concrete mixture but unlike are
allows water to pass through it. The permeable or pervious concrete does
not make use of sand or gravel as the sub base during the installation.
It can be directly installed on the ground. The features of these
concrete makes it the most ideal choice for the people who are looking
for permeable and environmental friendly solution to the traditional
impermeable concrete sidewalks and driveways.
While
installing these permeable driveways, it is important to keep the point
of maintenance into consideration. These permeable driveways need
occasional cleaning to avoid the accumulation of sediments in the pores.
It is because when too much accumulation takes place, it reaches deep
inside, making it quite difficult to clean or repair. In such
conditions, the only option which comes up is replacement. It is because
over time and accumulation of sediments, the surface of the pervious
concrete tends to become impermeable, thus requiring replacement.
Applications of Permeable Driveway
Apart
from helping in the natural process of returning the rainwater back to
the underground source, these pavements play an amazing role in trapping
suspended solid particulate matter and various pollutants. They keep
away the polluting agents from reaching out the water stream and causing
unwanted blockage.
Due
to this nature, these permeable driveways are commonly used in a number
of applications. Some of the common applications of pervious concrete
include:
- In construction of the low-volume pavements
- In residential roads and driveways
- As sidewalks
- As the floors of parking lots
- In low-water bridges
- For patios
- As the linings of a well
- For all types of walls, including the load-bearing walls
- The deck region of a swimming pool
However,
before building driveway, sidewalk, patio or parking lot using pervious
concrete, you need to keep a note of the point that these permeable
pavements often allows grass to grow and prosper through them. In order
to keep them away, regular maintenance becomes important. These permeable driveways are a great and eco-friendly option
which helps in keeping the risk of disturbing the water ground water
balance away. These permeable options serve best to reduce heat
accumulation around the building and keeping your property clean and
tidy.
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