There are others who know more about this, but I thought I'd raise the issue of using a pervious concrete known as Flexi-Pave. The only thing I know about this is that at the presentation on Pittsburgh water issues presented by Nine Mile Run a few weeks ago, I think they were encouraging the use of Flexi-Pave. It sounded like a very good idea all around (though it may cost a little more upfront). I think they suggested this contractor:

We have developed and have supplied thousands of yards of porous concrete for a variety of used over the past 20 years. Currently, porous concrete, also known as pervious concrete, is being used as a paving material for parking lots, sidewalks and trails.

Porous/pervious concrete allows rainwater to flow through the concrete and not directly run off into the storm water or sanitary sewer systems. This has the dual effect of reducing storm water run‐off and recharging the ground water system in our region. Additionally, depending on the void percentage used in the porous/pervious concrete, developers can store rainwater/storm water inside the concrete rather than utilizing extensive pond systems for storm water retention.

This results in better land utilization and management in large scale developments. Although porous/permeable concrete is still not a mainstream paving material for parking lots, the many benefits of this material are being recognized in the environmental and design community.

Frank Bryan Inc. is a licensed installer of KBI Flexi®‐Pave – a porous construction material that utilizes high volumes of recycled tire rubber in its matrix. KBI Flexi®‐Pave has real world testing and provides superior functionality and design. Its unique properties and features give it a material classification all its own. Given its porous properties, a developer can reduce the need for stormwater retention, providing greater value in building design and size. The flexibility of KBI Flexi®‐Pave gives it enormous resistance to sub‐surface movement that would normally cause trip hazards and separation – ultimately causing costly repairs and site liabilities.

Freeze/thaw conditions will not crack the material as the rubber provides for a monolithic expansion and contraction joint. Slip resistance due to high recycled rubber content makes it suitable for inclined paving and high pedestrian traffic zones.

On Sun, Apr 1, 2012 at 1:05 PM, Guru <chefguru1@yahoo.com> wrote:

I just had a problem with a parking pad I had done years ago, and a permit issue with the City of Pittsburgh.

My word of advice would be to make sure all building codes and zoning laws are followed precisely, and if you're not going to pull any permits yourself, MAKE SURE to put it in the contract that the contractor will be required to pull any necessary permits that are required.

I'd also suggest calling the zoning office, or building inspectors office, and MAKE SURE that what you're doing is within the codes, and find out for certain if you do, or do not require specific permits.

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