Installation of Pervious Concrete

Pervious concrete is delivered to the jobsite by conventional ready-mix trucks and placed within standard forms. Because pervious concrete is thicker in consistency than regular concrete, a vibrating mechanical screed is used to level it off. Vibration is followed by compaction with a heavy steel roller to attain greater strength.

Because pervious concrete has a low water content, curing is especially critical. After placement, the concrete is misted with water and then covered with plastic sheeting and kept damp for at least 7 days to allow full hydration of the cement.

Often paving crews can complete pervious concrete jobs faster than when installing regular concrete. That's because pervious concrete doesn't need to be worked with a bull float or trowel, since these finishing operations can seal off the pavement surface and decrease water penetration.

See also: Ten Strategies for Ensuring a Successful Pervious Concrete Installation

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