Permeable Paver Installation Services
If you want to add a hardscape that helps reduce the impact of heavy rainfall, then our permeable paver installation service is for you! Permeable pavers are a great solution for improving stormwater drainage, as they allow it to seep back into the ground. To do this, we’ll install them with layers of varying-sized stone or aggregate underneath. We can use permeable pavers to build various features, including patios, driveways, and walkways. Our team can even help you harvest and recycle rainwater with them! We offer permeable pavers near you in residential and commercial properties, along with HOAs, in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa, and surrounding areas in California. Call us today!
Installation of Aggregate or Stone Layers Under Your Permeable Pavers
The key to making sure your permeable pavers can do their job is by installing them with layers of aggregate or varying-sized stone underneath, which is just what our team at Bayside Pavers does.
These layers ensure proper drainage by allowing stormwater to be absorbed and directed to underground aquifers rather than running off and overwhelming storm drains, also helping to reduce erosion. Not only that, but it ensures that any excess water seeps through the pores of the stones or between the gaps in the aggregate instead of gathering on top of your pavers.
Choosing The Right Permeable Paver Installer
The key to permeable pavers lies in the installation process. A typical installation consists of four separate layers which act as a filtration system to clean stormwater runoff.
First Layer: The top layer consists of the concrete pavers
Second Layer: The layer just below the pavers is a 6 to an 8-inch gravel bed
Third Layer: The third layer is filter fabric
Fourth Layer: The bottom layer is a bed of compacted sand.
History of Permeable Pavers and Pervious Pavers Near You
Permeable concrete is not a new invention. First seen in the 1800s in Europe, it was used for structural purposes like load-bearing walls, infill panels, and pavement surfacing. Permeable paving, specifically, has been used in Europe for over fifty years, gaining traction again after World War II when cement was scarce. Its adoption in the U.S. began in the 1960s when pervious concrete and permeable pavers were proposed as a way to reduce floods, raise water tables, and replenish aquifers. In the 1970s, civil engineer John Paine developed Portland Cement Pervious Pavement, further advancing the field. Around the same time, the EPA began testing to determine its cost and efficiency. The first viable design guide was written in 1977, laying the groundwork for permeable pavement education and serving as a reference even today. If you’re searching for pervious pavers in your area, these advancements have made it easier than ever to find solutions tailored to your needs. Today, permeable concrete is used in multiple cities throughout the US and residential use has grown drastically in the past ten years. Permeable pavers are made using cement, a coarse aggregate, and water, with little to no fine aggregates like sand or clay. That’s why permeable concrete often has a rough, uneven appearance. The American Society for Testing and Materials has set standards for both pervious and impervious concrete.
The ASTM standard calls for the following percentages of air content or voids within pervious concrete:
- 20% +/- 5% for low porosity, high strength
- 30% +/- 5% for high porosity, low strength
The higher void percentage for pervious concrete lets stormwater easily pass through the material and seep into the ground below. Typical flow rates can range from two to 18 gallons per minute.
What Can We Build With Permeable Pavers?
Because of their unique design, permeable pavers make it possible to build some great hardscape features for your property. For example, we can install the following using this material:
Driveways: Our permeable pavers are a great option for your new driveway. Not only does this material provide functional benefits, but it’ll also boost its curb appeal!
Walkways: If you want to make it easier to go between different areas on your property, our permeable pavers are perfect for creating beautiful walkways.
Patios: A patio is a great spot to gather with others while enjoying the fresh air, and our permeable pavers will give you a stylish feature while also ensuring proper stormwater drainage.
Building a Permeable Driveway
The first step in installing a permeable paver driveway is deciding which design will work best for you. You have a wide range of choices today when creating a permeable paver driveway design. Open-cell pavers are concrete pavers with holes that can be filled with a pervious material like vegetation, which can soften your design and add a bit of green to your driveway.
However, it’s really what’s underneath the pavers that count! A solid base is a key to minimizing heaving and cracking. The typical construction starts with a 6-inch sub-base of 1 1/2 inches of clean rock, topped with a 4-inch base of 3/4 of an inch of clean rock to make the driveway strong and stable enough to handle vehicles. The permeable pavers go on top of that. If you need to control water flow, a polyurethane liner should be used near any foundation walls or concrete needs to be protected.
Tabs are formed into each paver to provide the correct joint width. Joints are filled with aggregate to allow water to pass through. Ceramic pavers can actually be porous as well, allowing water to pass directly through the pavers as well as the gaps.
When creating your driveway design you can mix and match surfaces, for example, open-cell pavers filled with gravel alternating with concrete strips to add visual interest. When you’ve decided on your design and the system and are ready to install it, make sure you focus on drainage as well as aesthetics, and redirect as much water from your patio, downspouts, and roofline to the new permeable area so you can capture as much water as possible.
We offer permeable concrete and grass pavers to accommodate your aesthetic preferences!
Harvest & Recycle Rainwater With Permeable Pavers
Not only do permeable pavers help control runoff, but it also makes it possible to harvest and recycle rainwater! If this is something you’re interested in doing, you’ll want to talk to our experts about it!
Because permeable pavers are designed to absorb water, it’s much easier to collect once it starts raining.
Our experts can help you reap these benefits, and you can store the water you gather to use later for watering plants or anything else you may need.
It’s a great way to save money and resources without having to rely on city water all the time!
Why Use Permeable Pavers?
Good storm water management is crucial to almost all outdoor and/or landscaping design projects. Permeable pavers help rainwater absorb and irrigate the soil beneath them. Without these permeable pavers, the sewer systems become flooded in a rainstorm. Any developer who pursues a LEED certification should consider using permeable pavers.
Permeable Pavers: The Environmentally Friendly Choice for Homeowners
In California’s Bay Area, water quality is a crucial issue for everyone. Studies have indicated that permeable pavers can remove between 65 and 85% of undissolved pollutants and up to 95% of sediment from stormwater runoff. Unlike traditional pavers, permeable pavers allow oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients to pass freely. This means you can plant trees and shrubs closer to a surface paved with permeable pavers to create beautiful, lush, low maintenance gardens.