The term “porous” refers to holes in the asphalt material that provides a way of managing storm water or drainage challenges. Porous material is most often used for parking lots to allow water to drain through the surface and be infiltrated into the soil below the pavement. Not only a low-maintenance option for homes and businesses with drainage problems; porous has also been an ideal option for municipal projects that face recent storm water regulations. Common uses include sidewalks, driveways, fire lanes, road shoulders and roadways.
Here are a few reasons porous asphalt may be the best option for your upcoming paving project:
- Less runoff: In commercial construction projects especially, reducing runoff reduces costs by, at times, eliminating the need for a large detention basin. With proper installation, a porous surface can infiltrate up to 80% of your annual runoff. Using porous paving can reduce the need for construction and maintenance of storm water facilities – resulting in cost savings in the long-term.
- Longevity: Porous paved surfaces show little to no cracking or splitting, even after 20 years or more before showing cracks or potholes. Longevity is contingent upon the installation and whether or not the surface was properly maintained. Occasional sweeping or vacuuming of debris is required to ensure the spaces do not clog.
- Environmental: Porous asphalt offers a variety of environmental benefits including reduction of storm system basins and cooler asphalt temperatures. Also, porous requires less energy to manufacture and significantly reduces emissions, odor and smoke. Porous asphalt tends to be a little coarser than your standard asphalt but is still smooth enough to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and it is still an attractive option to consider during the development process.
- Cost-Efficient: The overall lifetime cost of a paving project is greatly reduced when choosing porous asphalt. Along with the environmental benefits that porous asphalt brings, there are also cost benefits associated with this paving process. Because porous asphalt helps reduce demands on the storm sewers, some local government impact fees can be eliminated.
For some installations, like home driveways, standard non-porous asphalt is an application that would fit your needs. For areas with drainage issues and businesses that must follow local government regulations, porous is likely the perfect solution for you. Are you facing challenges with an upcoming asphalt-paving project?
Consult with a Wolf Paving trained asphalt expert to help provide you with a solution.
To learn more, download our free eBook on the differences between standard and porous asphalt installation.
