6 Reasons Why Your Pavers Need Good Drainage

Pavers are a popular option for creating beautiful driveways, patio spaces, and walkways on your property. They come in a wide range of styles, colors, textures, and patterns that make customizing them to your space incredibly easy. 

It isn't just the beauty and endless customization options that make them a great choice; patio pavers are also very durable. Patio pavers aren't immune to damage, however, nor are they cheap to replace or repair. The best way to protect your paved space is by ensuring good patio water drainage. 

Here are six reasons why you want driveway pavers that allow water drainage.

1. Flooding

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Flooding can occur because of insufficient ground slope or ground that slopes in the wrong direction. No matter the reason, it can cause many problems, especially where pavers are involved. 

Water can cause a wide range of damage like eroding the paver surface, causing pavers to weaken and crack, making them unstable. Installing draining pavers will help with flooding issues and protect paved surfaces. Draining pavers will also add protection for homes and properties, ensuring that flooding does not harm the foundation. 

2. Paver Damage

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Without proper drainage, paving stones are open to damage from the elements, especially water. Standing water weakens pavers, leading to chips, cracks, and even erosion. 

During colder weather, water that gets into these cracks and crevices can freeze, causing cracks to expand and worsen. To prevent pavers holding water, you want to invest in draining the pavers. Good drainage will ensure water does not stay on the ground's surface, where it can cause damage to the pavers, leading to the need for costly replacements. 

3. Ice Reduction

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When you install pavers, drainage solutions are necessary to keep the surface free of standing water and minimize, if not eliminate, ice formation. Ice isn't just damaging to pavers, but the people and vehicles who pass over them as well. 

Ice makes it difficult for vehicles to get enough traction to navigate safely, leaving them prone to sliding around, which can cause accidents, especially on sloped driveways. On a similar note, ice can cause people to slip, leading to potentially serious injuries.

4. Tile Stability

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Pavers require a base on top of the soil to provide stability; otherwise, they could sink into the soil. The base is typically a thick layer of compacted soil, sand, or stone. The base also helps block water drainage, ensuring that surface water does not penetrate the soil and harm the stability by eroding the soil underneath the base. 

Without drainage, paving stones losing stability wouldn't be the only problem. A loss of stability can create an uneven surface, which makes a dangerous tripping hazard.

5. Reduced Paver Maintenance and Replacements 

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You don't want pavers holding water, as that can lead to a wide range of damage. Water will chip, crack, and erode pavers, leaving damaged, unattractive pavers behind. That leaves you with more work, like repairing the damaged pavers and base if needed and keeping up with maintenance. 

It is a costly and time-consuming endeavor, which is why water drainage is essential. By taking the time to study paver drainage solutions and implementing them within your paver design, you save yourself time and ensure that your pavers last much longer without needing maintenance or repairs.

6. Lower Long-term Costs

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Pavers aren't cheap. Add the repairs and maintenance that you may have to do, and the cost continues to increase. Of course, there are ways to lower the cost of pavers; you want to install them properly for one. 

Ensuring that the tiles have a strong base layer provides the foundation your paved surface needs to be strong and stable. The base will keep pavers from sinking into the soil due to their weight, soil erosion, or pressure. You also want driveway pavers that allow water drainage. 

Combined with the strong base, draining pavers will prevent water from damaging the pavers or the ground below them. This will protect the design and minimize the repairs and maintenance required, lowering your overall long-term costs of having pavers.

Protect Pavers with Block Paving Water Drainage

Pavers are an attractive option that can enhance a space, especially when used for patios and driveways. When done correctly, they are a worthwhile investment that will add value to your home's exterior. Installing them correctly is critical. 

You want driveway pavers that allow water drainage, as well as drainage for a patio with pavers. Drainage is an essential part of any paver design; without drainage, paving stones are open to damage from water. Blocking water drainage is also essential to help and prevent the other issues mentioned above, like tile stability, ice reduction, and flooding. 

The right paver drainage solution will keep your pavers stronger and they will last longer, saving you time, money, and headaches. Contact the drainage experts at Slot Drain today for more information on a better paver drainage solution.