Read Our Useful Guide to Pave including Permeable Solutions

Thinking of a new Driveway? Permeable Solutions to pave

Permeable paving is pretty new in the Irish and British pave markets, but is set to head up the trade in coming years. The technology behind it is called Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) which help prevent flooding from storm water. As the country is developed further, with even more roads, pavements and buildings, the environment will struggle to cope. These drainage systems also prevent watercourses from being polluted and take the pressure off the struggling sewerage systems.

What are the pollution effects?

As there is an ever increasing number of cars and machinery used by people today, we are seeing more pollution, like heavy metal and hydrocarbons which are released into the atmosphere. Surfaces which are impermeable, will let the run off water flow into our natural watercourses and sewers This in turn can cause major damage to treatment plants. Flora and fauna of rivers, streams and ditches can also be affected.

How does Permeable Paving help when you want to pave?

Permeable block paving systems allow the pollutants to be caught within the sub-base. SUDS aim is to address these problems and MD paving follow these guidelines when it comes to laying down block paving for driveways, patios or pathways. Also, many local authorities, planners and developers are giving consideration to the use of these paving systems, as they can be a more cost effective route than traditional methods.

There are different kinds of permeable coverings to pave:

– Infiltration. This is where the surface water is channeled through voids within the areas of solid block paving. For example, concrete block paving.

– Porous. This is where the water drains directly through the block paved surface. For example, filled cellular gravel paving or a resin bound aggregate paving surface.

Other surfaces to pave include:

Clay pavers, cell matrix ground reinforcement, grass pavers and no-fines concrete.

For low speed areas such as driveways, an infultratable block paving system is used. There are also macadams and porous asphalts being trialled including resin bound pervious surfaces. Though it has to be said that gravel is the one of the best and long lasting permeable surfaces.

So to summarise the benefits of a block paving permeable paved system is as follows:

Simplicity – This is an element of source control, as it deals with the water where it actually lands.

Quantity – This will help to reduce the effect of storm water on the local river and stream systems by infiltration and attenuation. This in turn reduces the risk of flash flooding.

Quality – It improves the quality of the rainwater in two different ways – a) stones act as a filter, which removes the polluted particles such as heavy metals and silt and b) the organisms in the the paving blocks cultivate and break down the carbon leaks such as sump drips and fumes.

Practicality – All new home improvements and developments will require some kind of hard paved landscaping, in which permeable combines this with an approved SUDS drainage system.

Cost – Usually less expensive than alternative impermeable surfaces, including storage and drainage.

With regards to the structure, the basic format of a permeable pavement solution is not too dissimilar from that used a on standard block pavement. Sub grade is prepared and a similar specified paving material is then layered. This consists of a granular material, such as grit and then the paving blocks on top. There could be geo textiles embedded into the system, depending on your parameters. With alternative infiltration paving, each surface void is filled with a granular material.

We hope you have a better understanding of Permeable Paving for block paving Leeds. For further information, please see our website – www.md-paving.co.uk

Colored concrete flooring assembled on a substrate of sand; type of flooring permeable to water

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