{"id":22144,"date":"2025-01-15T15:09:05","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T15:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/?p=22144"},"modified":"2025-08-18T11:45:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T10:45:10","slug":"what-are-the-differences-between-permeable-and-non-permeable-paving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/blog\/what-are-the-differences-between-permeable-and-non-permeable-paving\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the differences between permeable and non-permeable paving?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The key differences between permeable and non-permeable paving <\/span>are in <\/span>the way they handle the collection and dispersal of rainwater. <\/span>Permeable paving<\/span><\/a> allows rainwater to filter through its surface into the sub base aggregate below, which is lined with a geotextile membrane. Here, the rainwater collects and, <\/span>depending on the permeability of the sub<\/span>-grade, either soaks slowly into the ground, or <\/span>is held and then channelled through pipes into the watercourse or drainage system.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In contrast, where non-permeable paving is laid, rainwater runs directly off its surface and is quickly directed, unfiltered, via road gullies and channels into the drainage system.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The installation of both paving types requires, among others, ground excavation, preparation of a suitable sub base, and the use of suitable kerbing. Water runs off non-permeable surfaces into the drainage system, whereas permeable paving consists of blocks that allow water to drain away through the joints between them into the sub base below.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Permeable paving, at large, does not need to be supported through the installation of pipes, manholes, road gullies, channels, and petrol interceptors needed to handle the volume of unfiltered surface water run-off from non-permeable surfaces.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Permeable paving surfaces are used on projects that meet <\/span>the regulatory Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) requirements of the Flood Water Management Act<\/span>1<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The importance of employing a good SuDS strategy is highlighted by the damage that can be done by flooding events, and the cost of the disruption that such events cause. Flooding can result in loss of life, <\/span>affect<\/span> the health and wellbeing of those impacted, and cause public services, transportation, and businesses to be disrupted.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The cost of the flooding varies depending on its severity, but the House of Commons February 2024 \u2018Flood risk management and funding\u2019<\/span>2<\/span> briefing document estimates the winter flooding of 2019\/20 to have cost around \u00a3333 million, and the winter 2015\/16 floods around \u00a31.6 billion.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Effective use of hard landscaping products that can help with SuDS compliance, and contribute to better flood management, is good for the project, the wider community, an<\/span>d the<\/span> local environment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"permeable<\/p>\n

What are the key aims of SuDS management and how can permeable paving help?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

SuDS is focussed on flood risk management, not flood defence, and its aims include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n