DIY Permeable Paver Installation

An easy guide to creating a sustainable and eco-friendly walkway

By Clay Imports

In a world of concrete jungles, our cities and homes lack green spaces. As an alternative to traditional solid pavers, permeable pavers create a usable outdoor floor space while maintaining permeability. With permeable pavers, rain water will go back into the earth instead of becoming runoff and contributing to erosion and flooding, unlike concrete patios, concrete driveways or solid pavers that could contribute to little floods in your exterior spaces and create future issues.

Also, it is common for states to have higher property taxes if you have a higher percentage of impermeable exterior space, so by using permeable pavers you can add usable area to your exterior space without compromising on your existing permeable space.

Outdoor tile vs pavers vs permeable pavers: What’s the difference?

While designing for an outdoor space, you should consider a construction material that is both appealing with your design view and that can withstand the inclement weather. There are a multitude of options, each with their own characteristics, so let’s briefly review the two most common materials used for outdoor installations: tile and pavers.

A tile is a thin, refined product made with natural materials that usually is kiln fired, in order to make the clay stronger. Tiles are made to last: a tile should be durable, water resistant and impervious to weather, that’s why they also have different treatments such as glazing or polishing. Tile applications need a foundation to adhere to and require to be grouted. It’s a great option for adding a design element to existing slabs!

A terracotta paver is a paving brick or veneer brick that is commonly used as exterior flooring for patios, driveways and even interior applications. A paver is great for exterior because it is thicker and can be sand set or mortared as a traditional installation. 

Keep in mind, permeable pavers aren’t suitable for installation directly on cement for a driveway. However, they can be set in sand with gravel, sand, or soil in between. Just remember, a proper installation is key, so it’s important to make sure everything is flat and flush for the best results!

Why use permeable pavers?

So, you might be wondering, What is the difference between permeable pavers vs impermeable pavers? First, as the name suggests, permeable pavers allow the water to drain through it. An impermeable paver is typically solid terracotta, cement or a mix of cement and sand brick. Impermeable materials are made specifically to not allow for water to drain through. Impermeable pavers are also often mortared and sealed creating an entirely waterproof impermeable surface that can contribute to run off water.

Terracotta permeable pavers have designed perforations that allow water to flow freely into the ground. This, added to the fact that permeable pavers are usually laid over a bed of soil and filled with soil or gravel to allow for plants and grass to grow within the perforations.

Finally, permeable pavers are made from natural terracotta; they are created the same way as terracotta breeze blocks and as such, you should expect natural variations. These variations in color, texture and sheen are not defects but rather a natural part of the product. We highly recommend ordering samples before making a final purchase to confirm and appreciate these natural variations in each paver.

Permeable Pavers are an incredible option for exterior patios that allows for walkable and usable space without compromising on the environment, so we decided to use them at our Clay SMA Studio.

How to install permeable pavers?

Ok, so now that you decided to use permeable pavers, it is important to keep in mind that, while this is how we installed our permeable pavers, your particular project could need different considerations. Always check with a contractor before placing the first paver, as the following steps are meant as guidelines.

Process

• Confirm the measurements of your space: measure twice and once you have the number, measure again! 
• Confirm the measurements of your blocks and choose the right block, not all blocks are ideal for paver installation, so make sure you're using a designated item from this category.

• Clear and prepare the ground by leveling and compacting it, do not use an impermeable membrane, as this will not allow water to penetrate the earth. If your project needs membrane, we recommend finding a penetrable option. We recommend prep the ground for the blocks to be flush or slightly above flush to the typical ground height to provide your blocks with structure within the soil and eliminate elevation changes.

• Install the blocks butting against each other to lessen the amount of movement your blocks will have over time. As you install your blocks, make sure you are checking the blocks are level to each other and aligning properly as you add each row.