[PSUscaper]

Hello,

wondering if anyone out there has any experiences installing permeable pavers.

I ask this because I'm starting to wonder if this is a possible market to be 'untapped'.

Over the years, I have noticed a enormous push by local towns and municipalites to cut back on impervious ground covers. I can think of many jobs right of the top of my head where this was a concern, and also a limiting factor to the job.

Many people want a paver driveway......but can't have it.

Could this be the answer.

Just wondering if anyone has any 'basic' information or personal experiences where they were able to break through the town's stringent impervious coverage codes by installing permeable pavers.

For example........we bid a job where the client had a swimming pool put in......in order to do so, they had to reduce the area of their already existing drive way to accomodate the new pool/patio area in the backyard. I wonder if we could of re-installed the driveway using permeable pavers and still met the requirements for the pool.

[Paul]

Steve lots has to do with what the town or village codes are. Some will let you do it others won't. What you do have to do to convince them is to show how much water you are going to pick-up, overcoming what they lost by installing the pool. This might mean you need to show how much water your pavers are going to hold under them and making sure that you are not feeding the storm water system "down stream"

[diginahole]

In parts of Toronto permiable pavements are our only option for hard surfaced driveways. I have installed a few Uni-ecostone driveways there. I have excluded The City of Toronto from my target market for the last few years so I haven't really kept up with the regulations or requirements.

[Will Pacala]

Can you get me a link to a site on or about permeable pavers?? I don't think I'm too sure what one is.

[diginahole]

http://www.unilock.com/Product.asp?Product=108

[diginahole]

Now that I look at that page it does'nt really explain what permiable pavements are. The surface has voids left in it to allow water to drain through the base rather than running off the surface. The base design is different for permiable pavements than regular interlocking pavements.

[Will Pacala]

Oh ok now I see what they are thanks. I'm not entirerly sure that I would really install them that much around here. Near a pool wouldn't be all that great because of walking on it. It doesn't look like it would be nice to walk on!! And on driveways the pavers might get ripped up when the plows come in the winter. the voids in it would just lift it right up.

[diginahole]

Not at all. Installations of permiable pavements are equal in quality to regular interlock. You may get a few pebbles on the surface at first due to the voids being filled with small clear stone.

[Will Pacala]

Ok, I think that I was mis-understanding a bit there now I've got it.

[dan deutekom]

I have never had the opportunity to work with pereable pavers. Can the voids be filled with turf or is that another product?

[Paul]

The voids are filled with loose gravel to allow water to to flow under them. Topsoil might be used but in heavy rains the water wouldn't be pick up fast enough to qualify as a retention area.

[Will Pacala]

Those turf pavers for parking lots and such are no longer in production by the place by me. Can't find them anymore. They are basically the same idea as the permeable pavers but about 1 ft by1ft squares and are bulky. Little pieces of turf or sprigs are put in the octagon shape thing centers that have been cut out.

[Stonehenge]

Turfstone?

We have a couple suppliers around here.

[diginahole]

Turfstone and eco-stone are really completely different animals. The voids in eco-stone ( I'm guessing here) are only about 10% of the surface area. It is a much more formal look. Turfstone is more intended to make it possible to drive over a green space once in a while. I think the original application was for fire lane access.

[PSUscaper]

I'm more or less intereseted in the products like the eco-stone. Not the turf-style.

Will.......if you are working in the sparta area, you should check out the local codes. This past year, Its been reported that the township has begun checking impervious coverage % for properties on a regular basis. One of my clients had a friend who's pool was denied because of this. It is very, very big down in morris......and look like its starting around here.

I'm very interested in these pavers as it looks like a service that really has not been explored much. I see and hear about permeability problems, but never see any answers. Maybe its time to start offering some solutions.