Durability of Permeable Paver
Permeable Paver Stone Installation in Sacramento, Roseville and Folsom, CA
After learning about the benefits of permeable pavers, many people immediately start wondering how durable permeable pavers are. After all, if water flows through them, don’t we have to worry about erosion or wear and tear?
Permeable pavers are actually incredibly durable. In fact, a permeable paver installation lasts far longer than a poured concrete or asphalt installation, and needs fewer repairs. Here are some of the reasons why.
No need to re-seal.
Permeable pavers do not need to be re-sealed or patched the way asphalt and concrete do. They are made to withstand cold weather and harsh conditions much better than asphalt.
No need for expansion joints.
With poured concrete and asphalt, the freeze-thaw cycle is a major problem. When the weather dips below freezing, any water in or on the concrete freezes and therefore expands. Then when the weather thaws, the water melts off. The next time it freezes, there is more water that has filled the crack, and it expands even more. This is what causes roads, driveways, parking lots, and walkways to crack and break apart. With conventional construction, expansion joints must be used to help create room for the freezing water to expand. Even this only delays the inevitable need for patching and repairs, though. Eventually you will have to spend a lot of money repairing your concrete or asphalt.
Permeable pavers do not need expansion joints. They are highly resistant to the freeze-thaw cycle. This is for two reasons: first, permeable pavers are small individual pavers which fit together tightly, which means that if any water is present and freezes, the pavers just shift slightly and then go back to their original position. However, there is hardly ever going to be any water present between the pavers to freeze and expand, and the reason for this is simple: the water has already drained down into the gravel below! Since permeable pavers let water flow through, there is no water caught in the pavement to freeze and expand, and therefore to create cracks.
No need to re-surface.
With permeable pavers, you do not need to re-surface your pavement. This decreases the life cycle cost of your parking lot, street, driveway, patio, or walkway. It might be a higher initial investment to pave an area with permeable pavers, but they pay for themselves very quickly in the maintenance that you do not have to do on them, that you would have to do on concrete or asphalt.
If one breaks, just replace it!
If by chance a permeable paver should break, they are designed to be removed and replaced easily. You can simply pop out the offending paver and replace it with a new one that is identical. What could have been a costly patch or repair on an asphalt or concrete area costs literally only the price of the replacement paver to fix.
Easily access and repair the area underneath the pavers.
Permeable pavers are designed to be removed and replaced. If you need to repair the area underneath the pavement, you can simply pull up the pavers, do the repair you need to do, and then replace the exact same pavers where they were before. In contrast, with concrete or asphalt, you would need to actually break up the pavement to make the repairs and then pour new concrete to replace the section. It is much easier and cheaper to make the repairs you need to make on the road, parking lot, driveway, patio, or walkway with permeable pavers, which means that you are less likely to let problems build up until they become a crisis. When you can make small maintenance repairs at a low cost and with minimal time involved, the overall life cycle of your pavement increases exponentially.
Safer and Skid Resistant
A major problem with concrete and asphalt is that it becomes slippery when it is wet. People are more likely to slip and injure themselves, and drivers are more likely to lose control of their cars, or at least skid. With permeable pavers, you have a slip resistant and skid resistant texture. Since the road stays dry, drivers and pedestrians alike have better traction. Drivers have reduced braking distances, even when it is raining. This results in a safer area with fewer accidents and injuries.
Whether you are planning a backyard patio or a major city street repair project, permeable pavers are an excellent solution to ensure longevity, durability, and safety. Check out the different permeable paver options we have here at The Paver Company. Call us today for your free estimate, and to find out how permeable pavers can help you achieve your paving goals.
