Cellular paving

[Paddy]

Anyone have cellular paving? it's when a concrete like block is placed with the holes up and filled with gravel or dirt with grass. Menards home stores have them on there website.

Patrick T

 

[Western]

Never seen that, but wonder why someone would want the maintenance that would seem to come with it?? Weed control, but more, keeping the grass at a level that looks good? I guess you could trim it with a weed trimmer.

 

[dave1949]

Saw quite a bit of that in Europe. It is permeable to rain, so you don't get sheeting water and drainage problems in paved areas.

It has its uses but I wouldn't want to clear snow from it, or install it without a very stable base.

 

[Raspy]

It's a nice ground treatment for occasional use driveways or access through normally locked gates, etc. Looks nice, but is still functional for truck access without being a driveway slab. Maintenance is low because you just run the lawnmower over it as you would a lawn, but it doesn't compress when driven on.

 

[aczlan]

Saw quite a bit of that in Europe. It is permeable to rain, so you don't get sheeting water and drainage problems in paved areas.
It has its uses but I wouldn't want to clear snow from it, or install it without a very stable base.

I agree. We used it to park a boat and RV when we had a neighbor report us to code enforcement for "parking on unpaved surfaces" Worked well, but that was in GA and it was shaded enough that nothing grew there.
IIRC, it we dug down into the clay to place them and backfilled with sand. Just made 2 tire tracks 2 blocks wide.

Aaron Z

 

[Midniteoyl]

Wonder if it would work in my sand?

 

[paulharvey]

It is used because its not classified as an impervious surface. As for use in sandy soils, yes, but your subgrade had better be well compacted first. I would imagine it does very poor on clay or organics, where the water doesn't perk, or where the soils swell. As for north of the Arctic circle (about interstate I-10 IMO) I no nothing about how frozen ground would work with heaving.

Typically grass is allowed to grow in the openings.

 

[Midniteoyl]

I know there is a metal version that is used as a soil stabilizer on grass runways, but in my sand, I'm afraid it will sink

 

[jinman]

It looks nice, but that's where its functionality ends in my opinion. I think the soft grass in the holes after a rain storm is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Can you see the twisted ankles or broken ankles that could be caused by a woman wearing high heels? I'm not talking spike heals, but just normal high heels. I think children running could also easily trip and fall. When they do, the sharp edges of the blocks will be there to konk them on the head. Slab concrete is hard, but it doesn't have the edges of this design. I think it's a great landscaping tool for someplace nobody walks except the gardener. The formula of functionality vs. danger is weighted way to the danger side in my opinion.

 

[oosik]

I can't tell the size of the "holes" but I'm wondering - would it act as a substitute for a cattle guard? I've always wanted a couple cattle guards to replace the two gates on my driveway. A well built cattle guard is not an inexpensive item.

 

[aczlan]

I can't tell the size of the "holes" but I'm wondering - would it act as a substitute for a cattle guard? I've always wanted a couple cattle guards to replace the two gates on my driveway. A well built cattle guard is not an inexpensive item.

Ours were ~3x3 holes IIRC. Not quite big enough to put a 2x4 into.

Aaron Z

 

[Ken45101]

I've seen it used in the National Forest on horse and bike trails for crossing gullies. It prevents erosion and provides a solid surface.

 

[wngsprd]

First time I ever saw this was for an entire parking lot at a shopping center on the Outer Banks, about 30 years ago. Sandy soil, lots of traffic and pedestrians. I can't recall going back to that shopping center since, so I don't know how it held up.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm planning to switch out a small section of solid patio block between our driveway and tractor shed to that next spring. It looks nicer. You just set the blocks at soil height and mow it as normal. Looks green but solid enough for cars and tractor to drive over it. It is a nice choice for yard barns, out garages, etc... that don't get driven over every day.

 

[dfkrug]

Wonder if it would work in my sand?

Sand is amazing stuff.

My neighbor is the head of maintenance for a major golf course, and I once asked
him how he could drive some pretty heavy tractors on the green with no indentations.
His answer: sand. Most of the soil is sand, over a stable sub-base. Drains very
well, and is essentially uncompressible.