Gravelpave² Porous Pavement Frequently Asked Questions

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What is Gravelpave² Porous Pavement?

Gravelpave² is a plastic sub-surface reinforcement structure, with fabric added to the back, that creates a dust, weed, and pot hole free porous gravel parking/walking/riding area.

What is the difference between GV2 and the competitors?

Gravelpave² is the only product on the market that comes in rolls, which makes it easy to cut and install. All the other Permeable Paver products are rigid and must be laid down one at a time on a bed of sand, in a process much like laying paving stones, and cut with a saw. Having the ability to install a flexible product in roll sizes up to 1,350 sq. ft. vastly decreases the time and expense of installation. Gravelpave² is also the only product on the market with a fabric backing that is attached to the product that acts as a weed and dust barrier

What are the products dimensions?

The individual Gravelpave² rings are one inch deep and two inches in diameter. The product itself comes in five different roll sizes ranging from 108 sq. ft. to 538 sq. ft. Don't be too concerned with the size, think of it like carpeting - you will be covering the whole area by placing rolls next to adjacent rolls.

How is Gravelpave² installed?

Gravelpave² is installed over a subbase of stone at a similar depth to what would be put under two inches of asphalt. Once the subbase is installed and compacted the Gravelpave² is rolled out and nailed into place at the rate of four pins per square meter. Finally the product is back filled with a small, clean, and angular gravel a quarter inch above the rings and compacted into place. After compaction the fill stone should be flush with the top of the rings to prevent migration.

What size and type stone should I use as fill material.

The important characteristics of the stone are that it is small (3/16"), washed, angular and hard. Small angular stone will lock together in the rings while large or rounded stone will migrate out of the rings into the surrounding area. The fill material must be a hard stone – any soft stones, such as dolimite, will break down into a dirt/mud mixture and will not remain porous. Please view our fill page for more information.

How do I lock Gravelpave² together in the field?

There is a clip system along the edges of the Gravelpave² product. When rolling the product into place align the male and female connectors from each roll next to one another and snap together. The product is shipped with eight inch pins and washers that are nailed inside the rings at a rate of four per square yard with special attention being paid to the seams. Additional pins are available at a cost of $.20 per pin.

What depth of base course does the product require?

Gravelpave² requires the same depth of subbase as two inches of asphalt.

What type of base course does the product require?

The composition of the base course is outlined in our specifications as a 3/4" minus sandy gravel compacted to 95% modified proctor. The base should allow enough void space for water to percolate. If you intend on using a material that will seal tight once compacted (such as limestone) you must add a 30% mixture of sand to create the required void space.

How are parking spaces delineated on a Gravelpave² lot?

The most effective way to delineate parking spaces on a Gravelpave² installation is through the use of concrete tire stops. Other methods, such as pouring concrete striping, are possibilities but the tire stops remain the easiest and most effective.

How heavy of a load can Gravelpave² support?

With a pounds per square inch (psi) capacity of 5,720 Graspave2 can support any load that is legal to drive on the street. The highest truck tire pressure allowed to drive on the roads is 120psi, fire truck outriggers are only around 81psi. Gravelpave² is designed to transfer the surface load to the subbase which should be designed to a depth that will support the anticipated loads.

How much traffic can the product withstand?

Gravelpave² is designed to withstand high frequency traffic on a daily basis.

What is the installed cost for Gravelpave² vs. Asphalt/Concrete?

Gravelpave² is generally 10-15% higher than hard paving surfaces. However, using Gravelpave² can eliminate the need for stormwater drainage and collection systems which could provide a significant savings over asphalt or concrete. The maintenance of Gravelpave² over a 15-20 year life span is so minimal that it can produce an additional savings of 40% over traditional hard surface paving materials that require constant resurfacing.

Can we plow Gravelpave²?

Yes, we have numerous installations across the country that are plowed on a regular basis. We recommend using skids on the corner of the plow blades to raise the blade and keep it from coming into contact with the gravel and potentially tearing the product out of the ground. Many plows already have skids or a flexible plastic/rubber strip on the bottom of the blade that protects the blade while plowing asphalt streets and can be used very easily on the Gravelpave² system.

How is Gravelpave² maintained?

The product requires very little maintenance when installed correctly. The areas of the installation that are the most frequently trafficked may require attention as gravel works its way out of the rings. Maintenance can be done easily by brooming the gravel back into place or adding a small amount of stone if necessary and should only require attention once or twice a year.

What is the product cost of Gravelpave²?

ISI can't give an exact price, that has to be done by our manufacture's representative.

What is the installed cost of Gravelpave²?

The installing cost varies a lot depending on the size of the installation and geographic location.