To build a properly drained road, many factors must be taken into consideration. These factors become even more important if you want a road that is both environmentally friendly and permeable.
In cases like these, it's first necessary to define precisely what draining and eco-friendly pavements mean , what materials are most suitable for making them, and how to build such a road. Let's find out together.
Ecological and draining flooring: what they are
When we talk about draining and eco-friendly roads, we're referring to pavements, installed in public parks, in the countryside, and even in home gardens, that guarantee a high level of permeability and compliance with specific environmental standards. Specifically, the materials used during installation must not release substances into the soil that could pollute the environment or compromise the underlying aquifers.
At the same time, eco-friendly flooring must be made with materials that, at the end of their life cycle, can be recycled and reused , rather than disposed of as hazardous waste in landfill. They must therefore comply with stringent European directives and existing Italian laws on recycled aggregates from demolition sites, so they can be used on construction sites in complete safety. In short, flooring that is circular economy- proof.
Recent developments in the field of building materials have led to the development of new techniques and mixtures that perfectly meet these needs. At the same time, existing construction techniques have also undergone an evolutionary process, replacing older, more environmentally impactful materials with decidedly more eco-sustainable ones.
Draining and ecological floors in stabilized earth: advantages
Stabilized earth is a high-tech solution for creating a draining road while fully respecting the surrounding environment. These characteristics make this material ideal for maintenance of dirt roads and country roads or for building driveways in areas subject to landscape restrictions.
To create a stabilized earth pavement, it's possible to use quarried materials and aggregates from demolition sites to create the earth base, while the conglomerate can be made by mixing the stabilizer and earth agglomerate already present on site. This reduces both the use of "virgin" raw materials and the CO2 emissions resulting from their transportation.
The use of eco-friendly stabilizers and binders (such as those in the Nature Stabil Road line from Terra Solida Italia ) ensures there are no environmental problems whatsoever. At the end of its life cycle, the flooring can be recycled and reused and does not need to be disposed of as special waste in landfill.
The installation of stabilized earth is another of the great advantages this material offers compared to alternative solutions. Building a stabilized earth road requires significantly less time: only a handful of days can pass between the opening and closing of the construction site, and the pavement is immediately ready for traffic.
This means that the maintenance work on a dirt road or the construction of a cycle path or pedestrian walkway in a park will be reduced to the bare minimum.
Draining flooring at home: why choose the lawn-saving grid
If, however, you want to make private land accessible to vehicles, the most effective and aesthetically pleasing solution is without a doubt the lawn guard. The so-called reinforced lawn allows you to create a driveway surface in a short time and with low installation costs. Above all, it allows you to keep the turf intact, without it being necessary to remove portions of the lawn.
A draining surface created using lawn grids ensures a high level of permeability and can withstand the passage of vehicles of all sizes. It's therefore ideal for creating a driveway to a home garden or for transforming a lawn into a parking lot without having to worry about puddles, standing water, and mud.
Solutions like Terra Solida Italia's Garden Grid also pay attention to the environment and eco-sustainability thanks to the use of recyclable and recycled materials. The honeycomb mesh needed to provide strength and stability to the ground is made of plastic materials from renewable sources . This, combined with the use of recycled aggregates and quarry stabilized rock for the drainage base, allows for a draining pavement that is fully environmentally friendly.
As mentioned, reinforced turf doesn't require the removal of portions of the lawn, as is often the case with alternative solutions. After digging the drainage base and installing the honeycomb grid, you can proceed with planting a new lawn. Within 2 or 3 weeks, the newly created driveway or parking area will blend seamlessly into the surrounding lawn, creating a priceless visual and aesthetic effect.
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