Permeable Driveway in Elizabethtown PA

When Gary & Michelle first called us for a consultation, they were in the midst of renovating their historic home that had been in the family for generations.  As part of the renovations, they were also adding a large detached garage and needed a new driveway.  While they didn’t truly need to use permeable pavement due to removing some existing structures on the property, they loved the idea of minimizing stormwater runoff since they live close to the Susquehanna River.  We discussed some of the permeable options, which were quickly narrowed to a simple gravel driveway or permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP).  They opted for the permeable pavers, as gravel would have involved an ongoing maintenance problem.

The inlay paver design is the defining feature of this permeable driveway in Elizabethtown PA!  We chose this design to echo the reverse gable of the garage; since the main pavers have a slate texture and smooth pavers were used for the diamond, this project was christened “Diamond in the Smooth.”  The base was designed to hold significant rainfall– not only is there 3,000+ square feet of pavement but the garage downspouts are also directed into the paver driveway base.  This removes nearly 5,000 square feet of runoff from the local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. We inspected the project after a hurricane, and there was no water in the overflow drains!  This permeable paver driveway project attracted significant attention from passersby. It has literally become a traffic stopper as people stop to check it out. This project is a great example of how a driveway doesn’t need to be boring! 

Thanks again, Gary & Michelle, for trusting us with your permeable driveway in Elizabethtown!

Fun fact: For every inch of rainfall, “Diamond in the Smooth” infiltrates 3,000 gallons of water that would otherwise contribute to flooding!