With all of the wet weather we get in the New England region, it is important to be able to use landscaping and hardscaping tools to control the flow of storm water and provide soil erosion control for our properties. Serious damage can be done to lawns and gardens, not to mention outdoor living spaces if runoff and erosion are not properly addressed and controlled. One way to achieve this is through choosing better materials that have been designed with water control in mind, such as permeable pavers.
Permeable Pavers – Are They Also Pervious and Porous?
While you may see lots of tips, articles and how-to guides on using permeable pavers that include the words pervious and porous to describe these materials, these words are not necessarily accurate to use in this situation. Between the terms permeable, pervious and porous, each word describes certain physical qualities that are unique to the others. Gaining an understanding of what each word means and how it can affect your ability to soil erosion control can help you choose the best materials for the job based upon your needs.
- Materials that are considered to be pervious or porous, allow water to enter into the material itself and filter its way through the layers down below. Natural stone materials, such as flagstone, have porous and pervious qualities and would be excellent at obtaining soil erosion control and preventing runoff water from making its way to the storm drains and ground water supply.
- Materials that are considered to be permeable work in a different way. The water is circumvented around the paver and the actual water filtration process occurs between the pavers in the space that is created by gravel, stone, rock or plant-based filler. When used in this manner, permeable pavers are considered to be part of a “paver system” of storm water control.
Proper Installation is Key
When it comes to permeable pavers, as well as pervious and porous, proper installation is the key to providing proper stormwater and soil erosion control. The aggregate layer process that occurs beneath the surface of the permeable pavers, as well as pervious and porous materials, is what allows the stormwater to effectively percolate into the sub-grade or get piped away using a residential drainage system. Layers of gravel, rock and stone are used underneath the surface to provide a proper filtering process and to allow the water to flow smoothly into the soil below to prevent erosion and other harmful side-effects.
The size, type and depth of the gravel, stone or rock layers should be determined by the local average rainfall density. In areas where it is common to have a high amount of rainfall over a short period of time, as well as areas where it is common to have a small amount of rainfall over a longer period of time, must consider how much water table drainage space they will need. In most cases, New England properties could achieve optimum results with a gravel and stone layer of 6-8 inches in depth below the permeable pavers to allow for adequate storm water storage. This would provide even more protection than the capacity of the native soil and rock, keeping flooding issues away from the foundation of the home and the finished outdoor living space.
What Are Permeable Pavers?
Permeable pavers are manufactured pavers that are made from different materials, such as fired clay brick or concrete. J&J Materials works with high end manufacturers, such as Pavestone permeable pavers and Belgard permeable pavers, to provide our customers with top quality materials that will create the look, feel and function that is desired.
While permeable pavers can be installed using a variety of methods, best results for soil erosion control and storm water filtration underground are achieved when the joints are separated by stones, rocks, pebbles or crushed aggregate to allow the water to pass through to the layers underneath the pavers themselves. Periodic maintenance should be provided to ensure that the aggregate layer does not become clogged for proper infiltration.
Compared to pervious and porous pavers, as well as to other natural stone materials, permeable pavers are designed with a distinct architectural appearance. There are many beautiful options, styles, colors and patterns available for customers who choose to purchase Pavestone permeable pavers or Belgard permeable pavers for their outdoor living space.
Permeable pavers are also designed to withstand heavy traffic, such as a driveway or parking lot especially in the case of interlocking pavers. However they are not recommended for high-volume or high-speed surfaces. Many of our customers use Belgard permeable pavers or Pavestone permeable pavers to improve storm water and soil erosion control for driveways, walkways, parking areas, pathways, sidewalks, patios, barbecue areas and other hardscaping projects.
Where to Get Permeable Pavers in New England
The best source for permeable pavers in the New England area is at J&J Materials. We have two locations in Southeastern Massachusetts and a delivery range that also includes Rhode Island. Homeowners and commercial customers outside of these areas still flock to J&J Materials from other New England states due to our comprehensive supply of Pavestone permeable pavers, Belgard permeable pavers, Nantucket pavers and wide variety of natural stone and natural stone products.
Whether you are designing a brand new patio, driveway or walkway, as well as any other hardscaping or masonry project, stop by J&J Materials and take a look at all of the high quality materials, accessories, tools and products that we have available. Our team of friendly and knowledgeable customer service and sales staff can help you find the materials you want to provide long-lasting, soil erosion control and stability for many years to come. Give us a call or use our online form to get more information about our materials and services.
