New permeable solution for driveway and patio

In order to maintain groundwater levels and relieve the burden on sewers, Flanders has for several years been imposing rules to collect and infiltrate rainwater as much as possible on one's own property. For driveways and terraces, this means that permeable solutions are preferred and, in many cases, even mandatory. Artstone developed a simple yet highly effective tool to meet these requirements in almost all circumstances.

In the search for a water-permeable solution for driveway or patio, people classically think of decorative gravel or grass slabs. Valuable solutions, to be sure, but obviously not without limitations. Moreover, not everyone likes the look of these products, let alone the maintenance they require. In many cases, the customer's aesthetic and practical preference will therefore be for clinkers or tiles. Fortunately, there are more and more solutions for this.

Permeable clinkers

Permeable concrete clinkers are manufactured with a larger gravel size, giving the clinkers a porous character. Water can therefore seep through the pavement perfectly, without risk of silting up. The permeable clinkers are available in three different shades of gray and four different sizes.

Water leveling clinkers

A solution with level concrete clinkers takes advantage of the relationship between mass and joints. Indeed, the specific shape of this solution, available in four colors and a fixed size of 22 x 11 x 8 centimeters, leaves a joint area between the bricks that allows rainwater to easily seep through. The ratio is such that it complies perfectly with the regulations in force for permeable pavements.

Ecospacers by Artstone

To get past the still limited aesthetic possibilities of the above solutions, however, Artstone is launching a unique and universal tool this year. Indeed, Ecospacers are aimed at giving any clay clinker, concrete clinker or natural stone clinker a water-leveling character. The principle of the product is therefore similar to that of water-leveling clinkers, namely increasing the joint area to allow sufficient infiltration.

Very specifically, Ecospacers are plastic spacers with a thickness of one centimeter, placed between the clinkers. They can be combined with all clinkers and tiles, thus perfectly complying with regulations. Additional advantage: working in line thus becomes easier than ever. Thanks to a finish with a water-permeable insert gravel, the Ecospacer is no longer visible and the water-permeable character of the paving remains assured. A dead simple and functional solution, therefore, that makes the choice easy for every customer.

Construction, foundation and Fluvio buffer block

Of course, the success of a permeable or water-permeable pavement is only guaranteed if the subsoil also has a permeable character. In fact, given the ever-increasing contrasts between periods of extreme drought and moments of heavy rainfall, the importance of buffering will only increase. 

With the patented Fluvio buffer and infiltration system, Artstone offers a solution for this as well. The blocks partially replace the foundation and feature a large cavity to temporarily buffer rainwater and allow it to seep into the ground through trenches in a delayed manner. During heavy rainfall, this prevents puddling and flooding even at locations with a high groundwater level or difficult to infiltrate subsoil. Water from adjacent paving or roofs can also be diverted in this way.
let seep away.