Comments on: Holey Concrete: Pervious Paving Reduces Stormwater Run-off http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/15/pervious-paving-reduces-stormwater-run-off/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:29:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: laboohttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/15/pervious-paving-reduces-stormwater-run-off/comment-page-1/#comment-149179 laboo Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:26:04 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=32935#comment-149179 My concerns with porous concrete lie with the harmful substances (i.e. gasoline, oil, pollution) it could dissolve and carry into the soil and watershed. What (permeable vs. impermeable) concrete is more detrimental to the environment is worth discussing. My concerns with porous concrete lie with the harmful substances (i.e. gasoline, oil, pollution) it could dissolve and carry into the soil and watershed. What (permeable vs. impermeable) concrete is more detrimental to the environment is worth discussing.

]]> By: Lndscpurbnsmhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/15/pervious-paving-reduces-stormwater-run-off/comment-page-1/#comment-149121 Lndscpurbnsm Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:39:38 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=32935#comment-149121 We just recently designed and over saw the construction of the State of Michigan's first pervious asphalt trail in Flint, MI. It's a demonstration project because, as jbooth2009 noted, these materials are a tricky matter where freeze/thaw is a problem. This increases in areas where soils are poorly drained. To reduce these potential problems it requires a significant amount of subbase, detention, and underdrains to make sure the water is drained as fast as it infiltrates (and it infiltrates really, really quickly). The additional amount of engineering and 'liability insurance' (aka over-engineering) being required to ensure a product that doesn't fail is blowing away any whisp of economic benefit.Additionally, we're seeing problems with long-term maintenance of this particular facility. Even though it's maintained through the an agreement with a local college, repeated letters and directions as to its care are continuously ignored. They're driving their skid-steers, mowers, security/utility carts all over it and in the process tracking mud, grass, and debris all over the path just as if it was a typical asphalt. I'm already seeing points of degradation and the trail isn't even 8 months old yet. We just recently designed and over saw the construction of the State of Michigan’s first pervious asphalt trail in Flint, MI. It’s a demonstration project because, as jbooth2009 noted, these materials are a tricky matter where freeze/thaw is a problem. This increases in areas where soils are poorly drained. To reduce these potential problems it requires a significant amount of subbase, detention, and underdrains to make sure the water is drained as fast as it infiltrates (and it infiltrates really, really quickly). The additional amount of engineering and ‘liability insurance’ (aka over-engineering) being required to ensure a product that doesn’t fail is blowing away any whisp of economic benefit.

Additionally, we’re seeing problems with long-term maintenance of this particular facility. Even though it’s maintained through the an agreement with a local college, repeated letters and directions as to its care are continuously ignored. They’re driving their skid-steers, mowers, security/utility carts all over it and in the process tracking mud, grass, and debris all over the path just as if it was a typical asphalt. I’m already seeing points of degradation and the trail isn’t even 8 months old yet.

]]> By: alrightythenhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/15/pervious-paving-reduces-stormwater-run-off/comment-page-1/#comment-149024 alrightythen Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:56:52 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=32935#comment-149024 how does it hold up to the freeze/thaw cycle? looks as if it might just crack to pieces, no? how does it hold up to the freeze/thaw cycle? looks as if it might just crack to pieces, no?

]]> By: jbooth2009http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/15/pervious-paving-reduces-stormwater-run-off/comment-page-1/#comment-148983 jbooth2009 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:45:50 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=32935#comment-148983 Porous pavement is an excellent alternative to pavement an it shows a move in the right direction in the construction industry. However, designers should be cautious of the use of porous pavement in the Northeast and Northern climates, where there are harsh winters, as there are concerns with effects of the freeze/thaw cycle on the porous pavement. There are applications in these areas, however they are still relatively new. Hopefully there will be more applications in these harsher climates and new alternatives will be created. Porous pavement is an excellent alternative to pavement an it shows a move in the right direction in the construction industry. However, designers should be cautious of the use of porous pavement in the Northeast and Northern climates, where there are harsh winters, as there are concerns with effects of the freeze/thaw cycle on the porous pavement. There are applications in these areas, however they are still relatively new. Hopefully there will be more applications in these harsher climates and new alternatives will be created.

]]> By: Paul Sheldrakehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/15/pervious-paving-reduces-stormwater-run-off/comment-page-1/#comment-148976 Paul Sheldrake Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:25:44 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=32935#comment-148976 [img]http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/9e8495144c69c79fc9a305a47b23cca5.jpg[/img] test comment [img]http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/9e8495144c69c79fc9a305a47b23cca5.jpg[/img]
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]]> By: theauthorhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/15/pervious-paving-reduces-stormwater-run-off/comment-page-1/#comment-148947 theauthor Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:22:35 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=32935#comment-148947 I've seen this stuff on several projects and it indeed does work great....for about 6 month. If it is not pressure washed regularly it clogs and essentially becomes impervious. I’ve seen this stuff on several projects and it indeed does work great….for about 6 month. If it is not pressure washed regularly it clogs and essentially becomes impervious.

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