Limitations of Pervious Concrete

While this thirsty pavement is an excellent option for certain situations, it may not always be a viable choice.

Because pervious concrete has a rough-textured, honeycombed surface, moderate amounts of surface raveling are normal. This can be a problem on heavily traveled roadways.

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"The main reason pervious concrete is not used for high-traffic pavements, such as highways, is surface raveling," says Youngs, who notes that tire sheer can loosen the aggregate at the surface. One potential solution being looked at is to grind down the pavement surface about half an inch.

Special attention must also be given to the overall design of the pavement system in order for pervious concrete to perform as intended. Proper engineering of the substrate beneath the pavement is essential, since it must be able to temporarily store the water while it percolates into the soil. An initial soils site survey and site-specific stormwater calculations should be performed by a stormwater management engineer.

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