Pervious Concrete

Environmental Benefits of Pervious Concrete

Concrete and Pervious Concrete Can Be Recycled

When the time comes to demolish a concrete structure or pavement, the material need not be wasted. It can be crushed and used as aggregate, base material or as a paving material. Even rebar can be recycled. And while it is being crushed it is absorbing CO2.

Concrete Pavement Being Prepared to be Crushed and Recycled
Concrete Pavement Being Prepared to be Crushed and Recycled

Concrete Can Be Made Pervious to Improve the Environment

Concrete can be made porous. This is done by removing sand and fines from the mix, and adjusting the cement paste with admixtures for maximum strength. The base and the pervious concrete mix is made of sustainable materials. It is installed inside of steel forms rather than wood. Steel is stronger, straighter and being reused, it does not use up trees.

When being installed correctly the process is relatively fast. With the right equipment, a 9 yard truckload can be placed and compacted in an average of 45 minutes. This reduces emissions from the ready-mix trucks.

Pervious Concrete allows 6 to 18 gallons of water to pass through to be stored in the base, the aquifer or the surrounding soil. The top 1-1/2″ filters out oil, grease, cigarette butts, squashed road-kill and other particulates. From there filtered water is either is drawn up by roots through trees or plants, or it just evaporates through the pavement. All of this helps cool the environment.

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As more and more commercial projects are using hardscape to reduce maintenance costs, less rain is getting into the aquifer. We have done numerous hardscape jobs. And Pervious concrete can be used along with solid (impervious) concrete to remedy the problem. To blend in, color can be added to the pervious concrete.

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Pervious Concrete is an excellent tool to help the environment, and it will last a long time if installed correctly. Even when clogged with sand it will allow more water through than Bahia grass.

Proper compaction immediately after placing, brings aggregate and cement paste into close contact. This allows the paste to enter the pores of the limestone or to adhere to the surface of granite to create a strong mechanical bond. Without this immediate compaction, that bond is not achieved and raveling will occur as shown in picture on left. Proper compaction on the right prevents this from happening.

Because of our over 25 years experience installing Pervious Concrete correctly we can provide a 10 year warranty!

 Pervious Concrete lets this new Walgreens Drugstore Parking lot help to heal the thirsty aquifer below.

Pervious Concrete lets this new Walgreens Drugstore Parking lot help to heal the thirsty aquifer below.
Pervious Concrete installed at Tampa International Airport allows this tree to continue to drink when it rains.
Pervious Concrete installed at Tampa International Airport allows this tree to continue to drink when it rains.

Chargerโ€™s success comes from more than three decades of experience and continuous training. Concrete evidence you get more than you pay for!

For successful installation every crew member is trained to work as a part of a precision team. From the moment that the ready mix truck arrives a smooth choreography swings into motion placing, vibrating, roller compacting, misting and covering with polyethylene.