Ordinary Concrete Vs. Porous Pave – Which Is Better For Your Project?
- Jul 18, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 9, 2025
Written by Monserrat Menendez, Interior Designer
Drawing on years of professional expertise in interior design, Ms. Menendez presently excels as the founder and president of Senom Design.
Choosing the right paving material is crucial for any construction project. This article will compare Ordinary Concrete and Porous Pave, focusing on their properties, benefits, and potential drawbacks to help you make an informed decision.
Ordinary concrete
Ordinary concrete is the most used man-made material on earth. It’s used in various structural applications like pavers, curbs, pipes, and drains.
Pros
Affordable: Concrete is a cost-effective material that lasts a long time and requires minimal maintenance.
Durable: Concrete structures are resistant to rust, rot, and fire, making them very long- lasting.
Cons
Prone to cracking: Concrete has low tensile strength and ductility, making it susceptible to cracks.
Environmental concerns: High embodied energy and surface runoff issues.
Complex installation: Pouring concrete is a complex process that requires cement trucks and skilled labor.
What’s in it? Ordinary concrete is made of Portland cement, sand, and aggregate mixed with water. The production involves quarrying limestone, clay, chalk, or marl, which contributes to high embodied energy. The cement industry also contributes 5% of global man-made CO2 emissions.
Installation G safety concerns: The installation process is complex and requires cement trucks. Wet concrete can cause skin burns, and additives and natural radioactive elements in concrete can raise health concerns.
Performance G durability: Concrete structures are very durable, with lifespans 2-3 times longer than other common building materials. However, their strength can be affected by moisture and temperature changes.
Recyclability: Recycling concrete is challenging due to moisture content and material variability. Its recyclability is limited as its chemical properties change over time. However, it can be recycled as fill or road base and reused to protect shorelines.
Surface runoff issues: Concrete surfaces can cause severe soil erosion and flooding. Urban runoff picks up pollutants like gasoline, motor oil, heavy metals, and trash, leading to water quality problems.
Porous pave
Established in 2006, Porous Pave is known for its excellent permeability, versatility, and durability. It has a 27% void space, allowing it to absorb 5,800 gallons of water per hour per square foot. It’s used in parking areas, loading docks, sidewalks, driveways, tree surrounds, pool decks, and more.
Benefits
Stormwater management: Retains and infiltrates stormwater, reducing runoff volume and slowing its velocity.
Reduces erosion: Helps prevent soil erosion.
Sustainable: Contributes to LEED credits for stormwater management, use of recycled materials, and innovation.
Made in the USA
What’s in it? Porous Pave is made with recycled rubber from scrap tires (50% recycled tires and 50% stone aggregate) and a moisture-cured urethane binding agent. Every 1,000 square feet or two- inch layer of Porous Pave removes 300 old tires from the waste stream. As of 2017, over 10 million pounds of recycled rubber have been used in applications.
Installation G safety concerns: Porous Pave is easy to install with minimal site disruption. It’s mixed on-site and poured in place without extensive excavation or subgrade preparation. Tools are coated with vegetable oil for easy cleanup, and all material components are safe for groundwater.
Superior permeability: Porous Pave has more void space than other permeable pavers, pervious asphalt, and pervious concrete. It delivers the same stormwater mitigation as larger installations of other materials, reducing the need for additional on-site measures like retention ponds.
Versatility: Porous Pave can be used in various applications and can be installed on steep grades up to 30 degrees. It can also be used as a topcoat to cover and bond with old concrete, asphalt, brick, tile, and wood surfaces, eliminating the cost and waste of tear-outs.
Performance: Porous Pave is ADA compliant and slip-resistant, even when wet. It prevents puddles, even in low areas or during heavy rains, and avoids freezing and ice formation after snow removal.
Durability: Porous Pave endures freeze-thaw cycles and ground movement without heaving or cracking. It’s tough enough to withstand snow blowers and snowplows and is resistant to various hostile substances like oil, gasoline, chlorine, and salt water. It comes in three durability levels: Porous Pave XL, Porous Pave ZLS, and Porous Pave XLB.
Cost: Porous Pave is more expensive than traditional pavements but is competitively priced with other permeable pavers and pervious concrete/asphalt. It has a higher porosity rate than Flexi- Pave. Additionally, it can lower operating costs through reduced maintenance and liability risks, leading to fewer lawsuits and claims.
Conclusion
Both Ordinary Concrete and Porous Pave have their pros and cons. While concrete is cost-effective and durable, it has significant environmental concerns and challenges with surface runoff. Porous Pave offers superior permeability, versatility, and durability, making it an excellent choice for stormwater management and sustainability, though it comes at a higher initial cost. Your choice will depend on your specific project needs and priorities, such as cost, environmental impact, and required performance characteristics.
Monserrat Menendez, Interior Designer
Drawing on years of professional expertise in interior design, Ms. Menendez presently excels as the founder and president of Senom Design. Through Senom, she aims to make projects not only beautiful, but sustainable, healthy, and approachable. Similarly, she specializes in turnkey rentals and property staging, custom product design, pre-construction, and more working with Iconic Modern Home in the Hamptons, New York City and Connecticut.
References:
United States National Research Council (2008). Report on Urban Runoff.
Additional sources and studies on concrete and Porous Pave properties, benefits, and applications.
726LK-2018F Principles of Sustainable Design in the Natural Environment by Eliza Lavine + Carmen Cid + Monserrat Menendez
