What is Porous Concrete?

Porous concrete is concrete which is designed to trap water and allow it to percolate through the concrete to the ground below. There are a number of advantages to porous concrete which have caused it to become a popular option for things like sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. It is especially popular with ecologically sound construction companies, since it helps to manage water runoff in a sustainable way. Many so-called “green†builders promote the use of porous concrete in their projects. There are a number of alternate names for porous concrete including permeable concrete, porous pavement, and pervious concrete. All of the names basically mean the same thing; porous concrete is a form of concrete which is permeable, rather than solid. Porous concrete is made by mixing large aggregate material with mortar, creating lots of voids in the cast concrete. When water lands on the concrete, it trickles through the voids and into the ground below. For people who are concerned abou ... more

Porous concrete is concrete which is designed to trap water and allow it to percolate through the concrete to the ground below. There are a number of advantages to porous concrete which have caused it to become a popular option for things like sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. It is especially popular with ecologically sound construction companies, since it helps to manage water runoff in a sustainable way. Many so-called “green” builders promote the use of porous concrete in their projects. There are a number of alternate names for porous concrete including permeable concrete, porous pavement, and pervious concrete. All of the names basically mean the same thing; porous concrete is a form of concrete which is permeable, rather than solid. Porous concrete is made by mixing large aggregate material with mortar, creating lots of voids in the cast concrete. When water lands on the concrete, it trickles through the voids and into the ground below. For people who are concerned about t ... more