A Guide to the Most Popular Permeable Driveway Surface Options
Contemplating a new driveway? There’s a lot to consider when choosing a surface. Obviously, it has to look the part. And, if you’re parking cars on it, it has to be tough. You want it to last for a long time too – a resurfaced driveway is a significant investment, after all.
But there is another key consideration that sometimes gets overlooked: permeability. In this article, we’re going to examine what makes this word so important, before taking a look at the most popular permeable driveway surface options.
Why is permeability important?
If you’re not familiar with the term, permeable surfaces are those that allow water to pass through them and into the ground below. If your surface isn’t permeable, you’re likely to encounter a few issues:
- Flooding: rainwater will sit on top of an impermeable surface instead of passing through it, potentially resulting in large puddles. Not ideal.
- Increased cost: Impermeable surfaces often require the installation of drainage systems to avoid flooding. This will increase the cost of the installation significantly.
- Hassle: Impermeable surfaces require planning permission, unlike permeable ones. If that wasn’t frustrating enough, the increased complexity of installing a drainage system (and the risk of potential flooding) makes matters worse. It’s why most homeowners now choose permeable surfaces.
Now you understand the advantages of permeable surfaces, let’s take a look at three popular choices.
Surfaces to consider
Gravel
Affordable, straightforward to install and attractive to look at (when it’s tidy), gravel is a popular choice – and for good reason. It also offers an additional benefit: security. Gravel crunches underfoot, alerting you to visitors (welcome or unwelcome) – and you’ll know immediately if a car pulls onto your driveway.
The only real downside to gravel is that it requires a lot of maintenance. Cars will quickly and easily dislodge stones, making the driveway look untidy.
Asphalt
Permeable asphalt is a durable and hard-wearing option, and a variety of colours are available to suit your property. It can be expensive to install and is prone to cracking over time, however.
Resin bound
Resin bound surfacing offers the best of all worlds. Hard-wearing, durable, attractive and naturally permeable, it can last for over two decades with minimal maintenance. Although it’s on the more expensive side, we feel it’s worth the extra cost. Resin bound surfaces are SuDS compliant, sustainable and highly customisable, with a variety of finishes available to suit your tastes.
Get your quote today
Keen to explore your options in more detail and get a free installation quote? Learn more about our services today – we cover the entirety of the UK, so you can rely on us no matter where you’re based.
