Pavers

Turf block and permeable joint pavers (pavers) are used for areas with light vehicle loading, such as driveways, low-volume streets, street shoulders, and parking stalls. The terms turf block and permeable joint pavers describe systems comprised of a load-bearing, durable surface together with a pervious soil that temporarily stores water, with overflow conveyed to an outlet. The turf block surface is constructed of impermeable blocks separated by spaces and joints, filled with soil and planted with turf, through which the water can drain. Alternately, the spaces and joints of turf block may be filled with gravel.

Permeable joint pavers may be impermeable bricks, cobbles, natural stone, or modular unit concrete pavers with permeable joints to allow runoff to percolate to subsurface layers. Where soil permeability is low, an under drain system connected to the storm drain system may be needed. Areas of turf block may be considered “self-treating areas,” and may drain directly to the storm drain system if they do not receive runoff from impervious areas, as allowed by the municipality. Turf block and unit pavers are considered site design measures, and heir use can help reduce the size of treatment measures, by infiltrating or temporarily storing runoff, but they are not treatment measures.

An interlocking concrete paver is a pre-cast piece of concrete or brick commonly used in exterior hardscaping applications. Interlocking paving stones are installed over a compacted stone sub-base and a leveling bed of sand. Concrete paving stones can be used for walkways, patios, pool decks and driveways and airport or loading docks. Instead of connecting the pavers by pouring grout between the joints as one would with tiles, sand particles are spread over the pavers and tamped down. The sand stabilizes the interlocking pavers, yet allows for some flexibility. This type of pavement will absorb stress such as small earthquakes, freezes and thaws, and slight ground erosion by shifting each tile slightly. Therefore, they will not crack or buckle like concrete, though bad weather may make potholes.

Benefits of Pavers & Turf Blocks

• Parking areas
• Common areas
• Lawn/landscape buffers
• Pathways