Environmentally Green Asphalt
If you ever want to know how dirty your pavement truly is, just put on a pair of white socks and walk across it in your stocking feet. Oil, gas, transmission fluid, sand and a host of other unappealing substances will be evident within a few paces. Whenever it rains or your pavement receives runoff from your sprinkler system, all of these chemicals are being washed into the storm drain. Eventually, these chemicals make their way into rivers, lakes and streams. Although asphalt pavement is eco-friendly — it is completely recyclable and the nation’s most recycled material — the contaminants that can be contained in runoff are not nearly as environmentally friendly. For those who want to “go green,” however, there is a new type of asphalt pavement that is extremely kind to the environment. It is called porous asphalt.
Environmentally Green Asphalt – The Benefits of Porous Asphalt
As its name suggests, porous asphalt is water-permeable. The pavement contains tiny holes that allow water to flow beneath it. Underneath the pavement, a special drainage system distributes the water into the surrounding soil. The water is kept out of the sewer system, and it can be redirected to nourish nearby landscaping or trees.
Although virtually all asphalt pavements include recycled asphalt, many manufacturers are producing porous asphalt with a higher percentage of recycled materials. This makes porous asphalt even more eco-friendly than traditional asphalt pavement.
Because the water penetrates the pavement, surface puddles are eliminated or dramatically reduced. Pedestrians and other cars are freed from the splashing that typically occurs when a vehicle drives through a puddle.
The Disadvantages of Porous Asphalt
Despite the benefits of porous asphalt, a few minor disadvantages exist. Asphalt manufacturers have yet to develop porous asphalt pavement that can stand up to heavy truck traffic and high rates of traffic, but they are working on it. For now, porous asphalt is most suitable for low-volume, lightweight traffic. Parking lots that do not allow heavy equipment or heavily laden trucks, the driveways of homes and quiet residential streets are examples of pavements that are considered suitable for porous asphalt.
Installation costs for porous asphalt are higher than they would be for paving the same area with traditional asphalt. However, since the costs associated with a drainage system can be eliminated or drastically reduced, the overall difference is often not highly significant.
Porous asphalt must also be kept clean to avoid clogged pores. Sand, oil and other debris should be removed twice a year by power washing the pavement. If the pores become clogged, water will not be able to infiltrate the pavement, effectively negating the beneficial properties of porous asphalt.
Call Us for Answers to All of Your Asphalt Questions
The team members at Affordable Striping & Sealing are pavement maintenance experts with extensive experience asphalt sealcoating, installation of concrete parking block, parking lot striping, asphalt crack repair. We offer our services throughout the greater Las Vegas area. Our crews have handled major jobs for some of the area’s largest enterprises, delivering quality work — on time and at competitive prices. Use our online form to request a free quote, or call us at 702-222-9009 to discuss your pavement needs.
