(800) 289-2569 [email protected] www.countymaterials.com ADVANTAGES OF USING CONCRETE PAVERS IN COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS The past few decades have seen an upward trend in the use of concrete pavers in commercial entrances, driveways and parking lots, plazas, and other retail and industrial applications. There is good reason for this – pavers offer numerous benefits that make them a superior choice for commercial applications. When seeking to create or update an outdoor space, the installation of concrete pavers can provide an eye-catching, cost-effective paving solution. Interlocking concrete pavers add character while functioning Mechanical installation of Renewable Pavers™ manufactured by County Materials Corp., allow for as a durable, low-maintenance, easy-to- large scale projects such as this one to be done in a install paving option. fraction of the time it would take to be hand laid. Enhanced Aesthetics Simply put, pavers look beautiful and make a great first impression. Concrete pavers provide an appeal that carries an unspoken message of quality, sophistication, and lasting performance. Where aesthetics are a priority, interlocking concrete pavers can provide beautiful and stunning, yet functional, paving in place of alternatives such as asphalt or poured concrete. From the designer’s perspective, concrete pavers are exceptional for their sheer creative potential. Available in an array of shapes, sizes, colors and textures, pavers allow unparalleled choice in product selection and application. Whether the desired look is weathered and rustic, classic and timeless, or modern and contemporary, pavers are the perfect medium for creating unique designs. 1 (800) 289-2569 [email protected] www.countymaterials.com Economic Value resistance, minimal damage from Permeable Pavers: Raising the Bar At first glance, the price per petroleum products, and do not for Property Development square foot of concrete pavers experience indentations from may be greater than that of high temperatures. Where property prices are high, or where stormwater control restrictions alternative materials. However, Flexibility and Low Maintenance limit property development, upon examining the durability, Parking lots, driveways, and permeable pavers can make the flexibility, low maintenance, and heavy traffic areas installed with impossible project possible. quick installation of concrete concrete pavers typically perform Permeable paver systems offer a pavers, their lower life cycle costs very well when subjected to functional, space-saving, and safer can often prove to be the most alternative to traditional water freeze-thaw cycles and minor maintenance solutions such as cost effective option: movements of the earth. While retention ponds. They can enable Durability control joints are intentionally development on sites that in the past simply did not have room for both Concrete pavers are added to poured concrete to accommodate the stress of development and on-site storm water manufactured and installed to management. easily withstand high volumes settling and shifting of the earth beneath, the spaces between Development in high-value locations of pedestrian and vehicular use. such as urban downtown areas is They have been used success concrete pavers act as built- enhanced by the use of permeable fully in numerous residential, in control joints. Cracking and concrete pavers because they commercial, municipal, port degradation of the paver surface can allow a greater percentage of the available space to be used for and airport applications. ASTM is minimized because the sand- filled joints act to transfer the load income-generating purposes, such guidelines for concrete pavers as increasing a building’s footprint in the U.S. specify a minimum of without damaging the pavement or available parking spaces. This can 8,000 psi compressive strength; surface. This results in a longer- potentially add to the bottom line for this is about twice as strong lasting, lower-maintenance property developers. as a typical 4” concrete slab installation. Even where affordable space is In fact, pavers are so superior in available, pavers can reduce project driveway. Some manufacturers costs substantially. In Moline, IL, produce concrete pavers that applications where some settling the builder of the Autumn Trails far exceed these industry is expected that they were chosen subdivision found that using guidelines. Properly installed as the primary paving material permeable pavers eliminated the concrete pavers, following for the Hong Kong International need to install a storm sewer system. Airport, which was built on land Selecting pavers reduced project costs industry recommendations, by $0.65/square foot compared to will easily last 20-30 years with reclaimed from the ocean. The asphalt and over $4.00/square foot minimal maintenance, and with airport designers cited pavers’ compared to poured concrete. proper care can be expected resistance to degradation from to last for 50 years or more. The spilled fuel over that of asphalt, as high-strength concrete units well as their ability to hold up to offer resistance to freeze-thaw extremely heavy wheel loads and cycles, high abrasion and skid aircraft stabilizer legs. (continued on pg 3) 2 (800) 289-2569 [email protected] www.countymaterials.com Maintenance and replacement They also facilitate incremental Are Concrete Pavers Practical cost over time is an important construction, affording a in Northern Climates? consideration when pricing project owner the opportunity “Pavers look like a great option, but paving materials, and concrete to add paver areas in phases will they hold up under extreme winter pavers shine in this department. depending on site and budget conditions?” While asphalt requires periodic considerations. This is a common concern in northern resurfacing and concrete repair areas where pavement materials are In parking lots, different-colored subjected to alternating freeze-thaw can be expensive, pavers require pavers can even be used to mark cycles, salt applications, and snow only light cleaning and/or minor parking stalls or other pedestrian removal. People often worry that restoration every few years. One or traffic zones. This eliminates the concrete pavers won’t hold up as well primary advantage of pavers is cost of re-striping every 2-3 years. as other options, or that plow blades that they can be taken up and will knock them out of place. replaced with no new material When the Morton Arboretum in When properly installed by a qualified input. Morton, IL was deciding on a new contractor, concrete pavers withstand parking lot, a cost analysis was repeated freeze-thaw conditions easily. If a paver gets dislodged, it performed on concrete pavers The joints between pavers allow for can be re-set very quickly and versus heavy duty asphalt. The expansion and contraction, so heaving inexpensively. For example, to and cracking is unlikely to occur. Pavers analysis showed that the project perform similarly to poured concrete accommodate street repairs, would break even at year 23, and under the snowplow. Textured paver pavers can simply be removed that choosing pavers would save surfaces will require snow removal and put back into place without them $600,000 over the estimated equipment to have the proper spacing, compromising the aesthetics 51-year lifespan of the parking bumpers and rubber blade guards or the structural integrity of the to protect the surface of the pavers lot. Even though the cost was from possible scuffs or markings. If a pavement. greater up front, the decision was plow blade should happen to catch made to utilize the pavers. Once a paver edge and move or crack it, the project was installed, real-life replacement is relatively quick and inexpensive. data showed a breakeven point at just 15 years – 8 years ahead of Permeable pavers perform especially well in winter conditions. Snow and ice schedule, with a corresponding tends to melt faster from permeable increase in life-cycle savings. surfaces because their wider joints Quick, Efficient Installation facilitate excellent drainage. This can reduce the need for plowing and/or Pavers require no cure time salt applications. One Illinois school and can be installed in weather district was able to eliminate 3-4 salt not conducive for alternative applications and 1-2 plowings per year after replacing their parking lot with materials. Installers certified permeable pavers. In the same way, concrete pavers by the Interlocking Concrete can be easily and seamlessly Pavement Institute (ICPI) or by a added if a driveway or parking lot paver manufacturer can provide expansion becomes necessary. efficient and proper laying of 3 (800) 289-2569 [email protected] www.countymaterials.com concrete pavers. Furthermore, weather by as much as 22° at • Groundwater recharge – With modern mechanical installation certain times of day. Concrete permeable pavers, a higher methods allow even large areas pavers – especially light-colored percentage of rain and snowmelt to be paved quickly and cost ones – can help address this percolates naturally down through effectively. Hiring a professional uncomfortable and dangerous layers of aggregates to maintain contractor experienced in situation by reflecting heat healthy groundwater levels. installation is advised. and light. • Pollution control – Permeable Sustainability Permeable concrete pavers paver systems trap up to 80% or also deserve special mention greater of TSS,