When Flood Waters Rise: Why Porous Concrete Could Be Your Property’s Best Defense Against Nature’s Fury
For homeowners in flood-prone areas across Long Island and beyond, the choice between porous concrete and traditional asphalt isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about protecting your property from increasingly severe weather events. As climate change brings more frequent and intense storms, understanding the drainage capabilities of different paving materials has become crucial for smart property management.
Understanding the Flood Challenge
By creating large amounts of storm runoff, conventional pavement contributes significantly to urban flooding. That’s right: It causes major erosion and flooding problems in rainy places around the Gulf of Mexico, along the Atlantic seaboard and elsewhere. According to the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium (MRLC), up to 40 percent of the land in cities is impervious. This means nearly half of urban surfaces can’t absorb water naturally, forcing it to flow elsewhere and potentially causing flooding issues.
By replacing natural land covers (like grasslands and forests) with impervious surfaces (like parking lots and streets), we lose the water retaining role of the soil and vegetation. Increased runoff from impervious surfaces causes dangerous floods, severe erosion damage to our stream channels, diminished recharge of groundwater, and degraded habitat for our fisheries.
Porous Concrete: The Flood-Fighting Champion
Porous concrete, also known as pervious concrete, represents a revolutionary approach to paving that works with nature rather than against it. These alternative materials which include pervious asphalt, pervious concrete, interlocking pavers, and plastic grid pavers, allow rain and snowmelt to seep through the surface down to underlying layers of soil and gravel.
The performance benefits are impressive. The infiltration rate of porous asphalt and concrete may exceed 1,500 inches per hour, while long-term infiltration rates have been observed to fall to as low as 0.5 inches per hour. Even at reduced efficiency over time, this still represents significant water absorption capability.
Despite its higher installation cost, pervious concrete’s greater durability makes it a better long-term option than porous asphalt. Studies show that concrete typically lasts a decade or longer than asphalt before repairs are needed. This longevity becomes particularly important for homeowners looking at long-term flood protection strategies.
Traditional Asphalt: The Limitations
While traditional asphalt has served as the standard paving material for decades, it presents significant challenges in flood-prone areas. Traditional paving materials such as asphalt and concrete causes problems with the environment. In urban areas that are significantly paved, asphalt and concrete do not allow for natural water drainage, and this puts unnecessary stress on sewer and draining systems. It runs over and off of traditional asphalt and concrete, over-flowing city septic systems and damaging nearby watershed ecosystems.
Even porous asphalt, while better than traditional asphalt, has limitations. Much more than concrete, asphalt is susceptible to raveling, or breakdown of the material. The Florida Department of Transportation conducted long-term tests of various roadway materials, concluding that while pervious concrete was a great option, porous asphalt was not, due to a high level of raveling.
Real-World Flood Reduction Results
The effectiveness of permeable paving in flood-prone areas isn’t just theoretical. The results indicated permeable pavements could store 70% of the rainfall, resulting in only 30% runoff. Research has shown that the permeable pavement can reduce part of surface runoff and flood peak and can delay peak time. The permeable road has better effect on reducing runoff coefficient and flood peak, which can effectively reduce the pressure of urban drainage and reduce the risk of stormwater flood.
International examples demonstrate remarkable success. In Copenhagen, a city plagued by cloudbursts, planners replaced 20% of downtown asphalt with permeable stone pavers. A 50% reduction in flood volume during heavy rains. These surfaces work like sponges, absorbing up to 1,000 liters of water per square meter per hour.
Cost Considerations and Long-Term Value
Both pervious concrete and porous asphalt cost roughly 20 percent more to install than their traditional counterparts, with concrete costing slightly more to install than asphalt. However, the long-term benefits often justify this initial investment. Permeable pavements can also reduce the need for road salt and reduce construction costs for residential and commercial development by reducing the need for some conventional drainage features.
For property owners considering driveway paving Copiague and surrounding Long Island areas, working with experienced contractors becomes crucial. Companies like Ageless Masonry, which has been serving Nassau and Suffolk counties since 2003, understand the unique drainage challenges facing Long Island properties.
Choosing the Right Solution for Your Property
When selecting between porous concrete and traditional asphalt for flood-prone areas, several factors should guide your decision:
- Flood Risk Level: Properties in high-risk flood zones benefit most from porous concrete’s superior drainage capabilities
- Traffic Load: Reduced Load-Bearing Capacity – It is not ideal for areas with heavy traffic or high-weight loads applies to some permeable solutions
- Climate Considerations: Temperature Sensitivity – Extreme heat can soften porous asphalt, and freezing temperatures may cause cracking
- Maintenance Commitment: The UNH recommends sweeping and pressure-washing and quarterly vacuuming of both types of surfaces, in addition to regular visual inspections
Professional Installation Matters
The installation of pervious concrete differs enough from impervious concrete that installation should be done by a certified contractor. The use of a certified installer is strongly recommended. This is where working with established masonry and paving companies becomes essential.
Ageless Masonry, founded by childhood friends Bobby Bruno and Sherwood Adams, exemplifies the kind of experienced contractor homeowners need for flood-resistant paving projects. Great service always begins and ends with experienced and friendly professionals, which is why you can count on an owner to be present for every aspect of your job. We aim to not only meet your needs, but also to exceed your expectations!
The Future of Flood-Resistant Paving
Permeable pavers are particularly useful in cities since the porous pavement catches precipitation and reduces the impacts of urban runoff. It also helps to establish a more natural hydrologic balance which minimizes fast pulses of precipitation through the stormwater system and leads to a reduction in the amount of storm drains needed within the city.
As extreme weather events become more frequent, the choice between porous concrete and traditional asphalt in flood-prone areas becomes increasingly clear. While traditional asphalt may offer lower upfront costs, porous concrete provides superior flood protection, longer lifespan, and environmental benefits that make it the smart choice for property owners serious about protecting their investment from flood damage.
For Long Island homeowners facing these decisions, consulting with experienced contractors who understand both the technical aspects of permeable paving and local drainage challenges ensures the best outcome for your property’s long-term flood resilience.