Permeable interlocking concrete pavement is a great stormwater management solution but it must be maintained to ensure proper drainage to get the longest life out of your pavement. The tips below will also ensure that your pavement is able to properly drain rainfall and snow.
Preventative Maintenance:
Joint Material: Keep the joints filled with the proper material, check and refill every 6 months. The fill should reach the top of the chamfer.
Surrounding Vegetation and Planting: Ensure that the adjacent landscaping is strong, prevents erosion of soils onto the pavers, and does not contribute to clogging from falling leaves or fruits. Promptly remove grass clippings.
Awareness: Ensure anyone working near the site is aware of the system and does not place landscaping materials on the system or close enough to cause future runoff and no snow is piled throughout the winter. Do not allow sanding during the winter.
Lack of maintenance will cause the system to clog, defeating the purpose of using permeable pavement. Clogging will also cause deterioration of the paver as it will sit in a constant state of saturation.
Winter Maintenance:
Snow Removal: Shovel or plow as immediately as possible following a snowfall. Do not pile on permeable surface.
Salt/Deicing Chemicals: Do not use sand. The best option is to use the joint material for grit.
Salt: When the system is clean and snow is removed promptly, far less salt/deicing chemicals should be used. Use proper judgment to gauge the amount of ice. There will most likely be little ice accumulation on the surface.
Maintenance Plan:
- Inspect the area directly following a rain event to check for standing water (after a major event & at least 3 times a year)
- Use small-scale techniques to address small areas of clogging
- Maintain the correct level of joint material
- General preventative maintenance to reduce the need for major restorative techniques
- Regenerative Air Vacuum: when major clogging occurs. Recommended 1 – 2 times a year for commercial applications and once every 1-5 years for residential applications, vacuuming frequency depends on usage.
How to Tell if Your Pavers are Clogged:
- Standing water during or directly following a minor storm event
- Visible debris in the joints
- Water running off or pooling in large areas
- Weed growth
If your pavement is clogged, you can use an air vacuum to remove the top layer of debris and joint material. You can then re-fill the joints and your pavement will infiltrate as normal. If you need assistance, please contact us or icpi.org for more details on maintenance.
Borgert is a family-owned company specializing in pavers, patios, driveways and retaining walls. We are based in Central Minnesota and serve the Midwest including MN, WI, ND, IA, SD, Northern IL, MT, CO, NE. Since 1923, we have been committed to providing high quality products that help our customers dream landscapes become a reality. Find your local Borgert distributor.