Permeable Pavement
Permeable pavers, also known as permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICP), are installed with layers of varying-sized stone or aggregate underneath that filter and direct stormwater to underground aquifers. With permeable concrete pavers, any rain that falls on your patio, walkway, or driveway seeps back into the ground, reducing the burden on storm drains and preventing flooding.
Looking for an incentive program to pay for your pavers?
Type in your property address to search our program database.
General Questions About Permeable Pavers
What is Permeable Pavement?
Permeable pavers allow rain and snow to soak into the ground with porous materials and specific designs.
The beautiful designs are not only for looks but serve a purpose—water is able to reach the ground in between the spaces of individual pavers. A standard concrete driveway forces water to flow over it and around it, leading to flooding, erosion, and runoff.
Permeable pavers limit runoff at the source, reduce downstream erosion and improve our water quality. This makes the rainwater soak through instead of running off and into the street. There’s an underdrain that goes underneath it.
What are the benefits of permeable pavers?
- Extend the life of your driveway. Permeable Pavers are 4x stronger than concrete
- Enhance curb appeal and increase your property’s value
- Help you retain and redirect rainfall, preventing floods
Where would I install permeable pavement on my property?
Most of the time, if you take a survey of your land (look around) and consider the hardscapes (walkways, driveways, patios, etc.) these are the places where improving permeability could be a desirable solution. The most convenient time is when you start to notice these hardscapes breaking down due to the elements, or when you notice things like breakthrough moisture in your basement.
As a caveat, every property is unique and has its own stormwater story. So sometimes, permeable pavement can solve for stormwater drainage issues that aren’t due to the failure (or success) of existing hardscapes. The best way to understand the feasibility of stormwater on your land is to use our free tool, which will help you choose the right technologies for your land. Once you’ve entered your information into our system, one of our experts will complete your file with the information on soil, permeability, land grade, and more so you know exactly what to do. Start building your rainplan today!
What properties are a good fit for permeable pavers?
Permeable pavement works well on driveways and walkways that have:
- Flat areas with less than a two percent slope (Two-foot drop in elevation for every 100 feet)
- Soil with a high infiltration rate (Allows water that is temporarily stored in the pavement to soak into the ground.)
- Little tree cover (Tree roots or overhanging tree canopy can negatively impact the pavement)
- Small spaces (Many stormwater features require a large footprint)
What kind of Maintenance is required for permeable pavers?
They are known for easy repairs and low maintenance. When concrete cracks and needs fixing, repairs can be costly. Alternatively, permeable pavers are easy to repair because it can happen one stone at a time. Permeable pavers also require 0% to 25% of the salt application of conventional materials in the winter months.
How do Permeable Pavers Look?
Rainplan offers several unique designs to fit your style and make your home stand out. They also have a higher resale value than concrete because of their longer lifespan and visual appearance.
Should I replace my concrete driveway?
Concrete driveways are not pervious. This causes rainwater to flow off the driveway rather than into the ground. Removing this pavement creates less stormwater runoff, which is better for our streams. Permeable pavement spreads out stormwater, soaks it into the ground, and slows it down.
- Remove impervious surfaces such as asphalt and concrete
- Prepare the ground to install native plants, permeable pavement and rain gardens
- Help you retain and redirect rainfall, preventing floods
Are there minimum requirements in order to qualify for an Incentive?
Each incentive program is different and has its own unique standards and requirements based on the local government or region offering the incentive. Some programs will require a minimum project size of your rain garden or permeable pavers, some may require a minimum of impervious area to be treated. It varies from incentive program to incentive program.
Rainplan helps you discover what incentive programs your property is eligible for and understand the program’s specific requirements to ensure you maximize and receive your benefits!
How long do Permeable Pavers last?
Permeable Pavers are up to four times stronger than concrete and last two times longer than traditional driveways. Permeable pavers have joints which make it flexible and durable as the ground changes. Unlike concrete paveways, it won’t crack when there is an earthquake or when the ground beneath contracts and expands.
How much do permeable pavers cost?
Permeable pavers on average cost $35 per square foot including both the material and installation cost. In most jurisdictions permeable packers are eligible for $10-$15 in incentives which brings down the out of pocket cost to $20-$25 per square foot.
What’s the incentive breakdown For Permeable Pavers?
MS4- The government incentive will give you a rebate of up to $3 per sqf with a $4000 cap on all properties.
MGC- The government incentive will give you a rebate of up to $14 per sqf with a $7500 cap on residential properties and a $20,000 cap on Commercial Properties.
PGC- The government incentive will give you a rebate of up to $9 per sqf with a $4000 cap on residential properties and a $20,000 cap on Commercial Properties..
CSS- There are currently no active incentive programs for Permeable Pavers in the CSS area.
How do permeable paver affect my local water supply?
Permeable pavers reduce stormwater runoff and filtrate water that runs through them which means cleaner water soaks into the ground. When water travels downwards through the varying layers, it is filtered, removing pollutants that would have otherwise entered our local water systems. The slow filtration also cools down the water which puts less pressure on our water systems.
Are there minimum requirements in order to qualify for an Incentive?
Each incentive program is different and has its own unique standards and requirements based on the local government or region offering the incentive. Some programs will require a minimum project size of your rain garden or permeable pavers, some may require a minimum of impervious area to be treated. It varies from incentive program to incentive program. Rainplan helps you discover what incentive programs your property is eligible for and understand the program’s specific requirements to ensure you maximize and receive your benefits!
What is impervious surface and what happens when it is treated?
An impervious surface is one that does not allow water to soak through. Examples include roofs, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, patios, roadways…
There are several ways to retrofit or treat the runoff from impervious surfaces. Improvements can be made as simple as installing a vegetative buffer strip around the perimeter of a designated area, installing a tree island in a parking area; installing permeable concrete, permeable brick and concrete pavers; or permeable asphalt.
Let Rainplan help you discover incentives and technologies to best treat your impervious surfaces!
What are impervious surfaces?
Impervious surfaces are surfaces that do not allow water to pass through them. On your property, these can be driveways, patios, sidewalks, parking areas and rooftops. Since water cannot go through these surfaces, it travels over them and picks up pollutants along the way which creates an environmental burden on our local waterways. Did you know that municipalities across the country charge property owners an annual fee for the amount of impervious surface on your property? Replacing impervious surfaces with pervious surfaces like permeable pavers can reduce this annual government fee and come with added benefits.
What does my "soil classification" mean?
The soil classification from A through D indicates the permeability (how fast water is absorbed) of your soils. “A” soils have high permeability, while “D” soils have low permeability. In urban environments, you can have more than one soil classification on your property. The “soil classification” is the reported soils for your property either from the USGS national database or your local government’s GIS data about your property. Regardless the permeability of your soil must be tested and confirmed through a “percolation test” in order to determine if your soils are adequate or require additional design enhancements like an underdrain or soil amendment.
Let Rainplan help you find a contractor to perform a percolation test as part of their price proposal!
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Is Rainplan a contractor?
No, we match you with the best contractors in your area and help you navigate the installation process.
What are the steps of the rainplan process?
Once you submit your address we will send you a Rainplan assessment that will include an analysis on your property, what type of technologies we recommend, the amount of government funding you’re eligible for, and a pricing estimate.
Afterwards we send a contractor or engineer to your property depending on the type of upgrade you’re looking to do. A structural engineer will evaluate the structural integrity of your property for a Green Roof, and a landscape designer will conduct a percolation test on your soil and the design for the installation on your soil for permeable pavers and rain gardens.
We’ll then send you finalized pricing and if you accept we will submit your property for incentive approval and afterwards begin the installation process.
How does Rainplan work with the government?
Yes, Rain Plan is a for-profit, private organization. We have no contractual or affiliation with the government. We provide storm water services where we assess the property, connect to installers and fund the work so there’s no out-of-pocket cost for the property owners.
We administer the application process into the local jurisdictions for the programs. For example; In DC they have numerous programs, one of them is the River Smart Rewards Program and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
We have no affiliation but we provide a service to make it easier for property owners to make upgrades but also obtain incentives from the government. This is not only meant to be a concierge service but also a way to guarantee your incentive and not come out of pocket for the entire amount while waiting on your incentive rebate after the project is complete.
What type of technologies does Rainplan offer?
Green Roofs, Permeable Pavers, Rain Gardens, Rain Barrels
What is the homeowner responsible for?
In addition to the installation fee, the property owner is responsible for:
A- Providing Rainplan with access to the property throughout the installation process.
B- Assigning payment to Rainplan of any stormwater installation rebates.
C- Annual maintenance of stormwater improvements to ensure property owner remains eligible for annual utility fee discounts.
D- Any property damage. Stormwater upgrades are designed to capture the first 1.2 inches of rainfall and Rainplan does not guarantee protection from severe weather, and or other property related events.