Pervious concrete is a great way to make your project greener, more environmentally sustainable. This form of concrete captures stormwater and, instead of channeling it into the gutter, allows the water to seep into the ground and thus helping to recharge the water table. Pervious concrete, also known as porous concrete, permeable concrete, and no-fines concrete, is among the Best Management Practices (BMPs) that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends.
How Does Pervious Concrete Work?
Because pervious concrete uses little to no sand (hence the “no-fines concrete” moniker), the end pour has lots of void content. This porosity is achieved by mixing carefully controlled amounts of water and cementitious materials in order to form a paste that coats aggregate particles. This mixture generally has a water-to-cement ratio of 0.28 to 0.40 and a void content of 15 to 25 percent.
Where Is Pervious Concrete Used?
You’ll find pervious concrete used in many different applications. The primary use is for stormwater management, specifically in pavement. When your project employs pervious concrete, there will be a much reduced need for retention ponds, swails, and other stormwater management techniques. This can result in a lower cost for your project.
Other applications of pervious concrete include:
- Roads, alleys, parking areas, and driveways
- Patios
- Slope stabilization
- Floors for aquariums, greenhouses, zoos, and fish hatcheries
- Swimming pool decks
- Hydraulic structures
- Tennis courts
- Much more
North Country Concrete is one of the most experienced concrete companies in the state of Minnesota with pervious concrete. We have completed many projects across the metro area including one of the largest pervious street projects in the country - a project in the Woodbridge community in Shoreview, Minnesota, in the summer of 2009. If you’d like to learn more about how pervious concrete can help your commercial construction project, give us a call today.