Help prevent flooding with permeable paving

Flooding has become more common in the UK in recent years, resulting in devastation as families have had their homes, possessions and livelihoods destroyed by the turbulent conditions. Climate change is a large contributor to this growing issue which could cause more problems for the UK if private home owners, self-builders, paving contractors and housing developers do not put measures in place to combat flooding. So, what can we do? One of the answers is permeable paving – an attractive SuDS solution that functions to reduce the risk of flooding and create a more sustainable landscape.

While a garden offers grassed areas and soft planting where rainwater can be infiltrated, what happens the rainwater that falls on driveways or patios that have been tarmacked or concreted? It remains on the surface and forms puddles, which become larger over time.

There is no doubt that the vast tarmacking and concreting of ground surfaces has reduced permeability in many areas of the UK. The UK drainage and sewer system is at its maximum capacity in several areas, particularly in the regions where the highest level of flooding has been experienced over the last decade.

Permeable paving is one of the best solutions to combat this problem whilst still achieving an attractive hard landscape. Tobermore’s Hydropave permeable paving range is manufactured with spacers around the edges so that when installed, rainfall can infiltrate naturally into the ground via the small 6mm gap created by the spacers on each block. For conditions that can’t accommodate this, the rainwater is held in the system and taken away at a controlled rate.

The Tobermore Hydropave permeable paving range requires a sub-base of 4/20mm aggregate and a quantity of 6.3-2mm of a course bedding layer, so when blocks are placed in the chosen laying pattern, they are plate vibrated, and 6.3-2mm grit is then brushed into the joints until they are completely filled.

The beauty of Tobermore’s Hydropave permeable paving range is that it can actually enhance the style, character and visual appearance of a home. This is because each Hydropave product is manufactured with the same aesthetic benefits of the non-permeable product equivalent; therefore style is not compromised by employing a functional SuDS solution.

So permeable paving offers a win-win on functionality and aesthetics – what are you waiting for? Check out the Tobermore Hydropave permeable paving range on the company website: www.tobermore.co.uk/professional/products/permeable-paving

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