Important Factors to Consider When Designing Permeable Pavements

Permeable or porous paving is one of the easiest paving solutions you can do yourself. But just because it’s easy, doesn’t mean it can be done thoughtlessly. In order to get the best results out of your permeable pavement, it’s important to take note of a few things before turning your paving design ideas into reality.

Permeable pavement design guidelines vary from place to place but there are several common factors that must be considered when designing porous pavements:

• Soil

Before starting any pavement project, you should evaluate the quality of the soil on which you plan to implement your paving design ideas. On average, clay soils are less able to provide structural support to paving solutions than sandy soils. This means that the gravel layer will need to be deeper on clay soil than on sandy soil to provide additional strength and stability. Clay soils also provide less infiltration compared to sandy soils, and may therefore require underdrains in order to drain water more efficiently.

• Area

You need to make sure that the pavement will not be too close to areas with soil disturbance, or areas where plenty of sediments can get transferred to the paving. Soil and other particles can enter the permeable surface and cause clogs. Plant shrubs or grasses on surrounding soil to keep them compact. If not, just make sure you avoid clogs in your pavement by cleaning it often.

• Slope

Steep slopes can reduce the paving’s ability to store stormwater and can also cause shifting in the paving material. As much as possible, slopes should be minimal (less than 5%). Some permeable pavement design guidelines even state that there should be none at all. If the surface to be paved is sloped, it would be better to have a terraced design instead.

• Load

Porous pavements are designed to handle moderately heavy loads, but not high velocities. Make sure that you consider the load that your pavement will carry when choosing your aggregate, and the thickness of your pavement.

• Aggregate

Aggregates come in various colours and sizes. The type of resin you use to achieve that self-binding gravel finish will depend on these factors. Whichever type you choose, always make sure that your aggregate is clean and washed before proceeding with the paving process.

• Weather

Gravel binders like Pour On typically take 12 to 24 hours to cure. This means that rain showers should not occur within those hours otherwise the binder will not cure properly. Before you start your paving project, check the weather forecast and make sure you have enough hours of sunny weather to complete your project properly.

Keep these factors in mind when bringing your paving design ideas to life, and make sure to use a reliable gravel binder like Pour On to get the best results. For more information about Pour On gravel binder, click here.