November 2019 - TRUEGRID Pavers
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These Grasscrete Alternatives are Far Superior Paving Options

Paving has seen some significant innovations over the past few decades. We are no longer limited to the use of concrete and asphalt when it comes to paving parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, fire lanes, roads, and more. With new options such as Grasscrete, we can make less of a negative impact on the environment while providing our customers, friends, and family with perfectly functional and reliable places to park. These permeable paving options are durable, versatile, eco-friendly, and cost-effective.

Grasscrete Alternatives

New advancements have already been made with permeable pavers that far surpass what traditional Grasscrete has to offer. There are currently Grasscrete alternatives on the market that are superior in a variety of different ways. 

Permeable pavers are no doubt the future of paving, so if you are considering having Grasscrete pavers installed at your home or place of business, let’s take a look at some Grasscrete alternatives that you might want to consider instead:

1. TRUEGRID PRO LITE

For those of you looking for residential Grasscrete alternatives, TRUE GRID PRO LITE permeable pavers are the best available. Perfectly designed for residential use, these pavers are able to handle moderate traffic and vehicle loads. 

Despite being designed for residential use, these pavers are still extremely durable and able to withstand a lot of force. Their super compression strength combined with serious flexibility is the perfect combination for lightweight pavers.

This product is eco-friendly across every step of the supply chain, making it more environmentally friendly than other options such as Grasscrete. These pavers hug the earth to work well with gravel or grass. Their strength and supreme quality come from multiple factors such as the X-anchor and flexible joints found in every grid. The hoop strength design, 3-point locking tabs, and the high-impact recycled polymer are all important design elements as well. 

Another aspect of these pavers which makes them superior to Grasscrete is the fact that they are incredibly easy to install. So easy, in fact, that you could make their installation into a family DIY project. TRUEGRID PRO LITE pavers work well in any climate or soil type and can be saw-cut to work around trees and curves. It’s a soil stabilizer and is also very resistant to acids, salt, gasoline, ammonia, oils, and alcohol. 

The circular elements of TRUEGRID PRO LITE pavers allow for multi-directional shear and crush strength, and the built in X-anchors eliminate the need for extra staking because they allow the filler to hold the grids down easily.

The uses of this product are many, and include the paving of patios, dog trails, pedestrian areas, parking lots, driveways, cart paths, event parking, pool skirts, hot tub pads, community green-space, and more. They also work well for erosion control and allow you to retain water in a sub-base. 

2. Pervious Concrete

While this option isn’t as nearly as environmentally-friendly as TRUEGRID pavers or Grasscrete, it’s still a better alternative to Grasscrete in some ways, with style being the biggest. While permeable pavers look relatively professional compared to asphalt and concrete parking lots, they look much better than Grasscrete. Grasscrete should really only be an option if you aren’t worried about the aesthetics of your paved surface at all.

Pervious concrete and asphalt are good options for those who highly prioritize the look of their paved surfaces. They allow water and liquids to pass right through them, but still look exactly like asphalt or concrete. They can be expensive to install and maintain though, so they are only a good choice if you can afford them.

3. TRUEGRID PRO PLUS

Again, TRUEGRID makes the top of the list for its superior sourcing methods and higher-quality performance. Both Grasscrete and TRUEGRID pavers are superior to regular asphalt and concrete, but TRUEGRID PRO PLUS pavers are a step above the rest, especially when it comes to commercial Grasscrete alternatives. 

While the PRO LITE pavers are an excellent choice for residential applications, the PRO PLUS pavers are perfect for commercial use. Whether you want to pave your parking lot or provide an area for heavy vehicle traffic anywhere around your business, these pavers outperform Grasscrete across the board. They are nearly maintenance-free and feature deep cells that eliminate the possibility of gravel migration.

They can also be complemented with parking markers which are easy to see and come in both yellow and reflective red colors. PRO PLUS pavers require no stakes or clips and will perform with virtually no maintenance for over 25 to 60 years. RV pads, sports venues, construction site entrances, storage lots, equipment lots, parking lots, drive lanes, auto lots, fire lanes, truck yards, event centers and more can all be paved with PRO PLUS pavers from TRUEGRID.

Grasscrete is a Thing of the Past

Contractor standing on TRUEGRID while sodding grass

Grasscrete served its purpose when it first came around, but if you’re going with permeable paving nowadays, you’d be foolish not to give some of the Grasscrete alternatives on our list a try. If you’re an advocate for the environment and a fan of cheaper, more durable paving solutions, TRUEGRID pavers are the answer. 

To find out more about how you can incorporate TRUEGRID pavers into your design, contact a professional today.

grass reinforcement grid paver

When it comes to paving small, residential areas, heavy-duty paving solutions aren’t always required. Instead of laying down expensive asphalt or concrete, it’s often a much more efficient idea to go with an alternative that’s both lightweight and cheaper to install. This doesn’t however, mean that you have to sacrifice durability or length-of-life when it comes to your paving solution.

In fact, there are asphalt and concrete paving alternatives that are just as, if not more, durable than your average concrete or asphalt pour. One of these is grass reinforcement mesh, which is a material used in place of typical asphalt or concrete parking lots. It’s able to withstand traffic and provide all of the other benefits of asphalt, but it doesn’t cost as much, is quicker to install, and it is better for the environment as well.

If you want to avoid the excess pollution, length of time to install, and the cost that comes with installing an asphalt or concrete parking lot in a residential, low-traffic area, let’s go over some of the reasons why a grass reinforcement grid should be something you seriously consider.

What is a Grass Reinforcement Mesh?

Simply put, grass protection mesh for parking is an alternative to asphalt or concrete parking lots. Both types of paving provide a solid surface with traction for vehicles to park and for people to walk upon. The difference between the two, though, is that a grass reinforcement grid covers much less surface area, and provides a natural outlet for rainwater and other liquids to pass right through it.

Average grass reinforcement mesh is made from plastic and can be rolled out or snapped into place via a series of interlocking grids. These types of paving solutions are typically employed in areas that aren’t going to see a lot of traffic and aren’t absolutely in need of the most professional look for their business.

That doesn’t mean that car parking on grass has to look tacky, however, and some brands like TRUEGRID offer grass protection mesh for parking that looks about as professional and stylish as anything else you’ll find.

One of the best things about using a grid or mesh is that it allows the grass beneath it to stay healthy and vibrant, providing aesthetic benefits to the owners and environmental benefits to the local area. It also eliminates the need for additional drainage and all the extra costs that come with installing it, as all liquids simply pass right through it into the ground where they can be naturally filtered. Or, it can pass into a liquid-detainment zone, if you so choose.

Who Has the Best Grass Parking Lot Products?

There are many companies out there who offer this type of product, but only a few of them like TRUEGRID are completely high-quality. TRUEGRID, for example, offers the highest-quality grass reinforcement mesh alternative for parking while also ensuring that their products are sustainably produced via environmentally friendly methods from creation to installation.

TRUEGRID PRO LITE is a grass reinforcement grid that is made from 100% recycled plastic. It’s incredibly durable and will stand up to low levels of traffic for a very long time with almost no maintenance required. It also doesn’t require any stakes or clips to keep it secured to the ground, as this is achieved via an X-anchor system built into the product.

Thousands of customers have had TRUEGRID PRO LITE installed across a variety of different environments, all with a consistent level of satisfaction and success. It features compression strength that’s best-in-class and is stronger than competing products like rollout pavers or geogrid mesh. It’s runner and bike-friendly, and H20 and HS20 + rated as well for vehicular loads of all types

This product is superior to most others on the market because it will work in any climate or soil-type, and it works as a soil stabilizer. It’s also extremely resistant to petroleum products that come off our vehicles -oils, gasoline, antifreeze and coolants- as well as chemical pollutants from fertilizers.

TRUEGRID PRO-LITE is the Best Grass Parking Solution

Grass reinforcement grids are beneficial for anyone looking to save time and money on paving. In low-traffic areas such as driveways, pool skirts, walking, running, or biking trails, cart paths, pedestrian areas and more, you should consider using TRUEGRID PRO LITE. When it comes to functionality, durability, cost-efficiency, and versatility, it’s hard to beat this product. You may even come to find that you enjoy the look of this grass parking mesh more than asphalt or concrete paving solutions.

There’s no reason to overpay while paving a low-traffic area, especially when it’s going to come with recurring costs, and isn’t completely necessary. Instead, make your life easier by switching to grass protection mesh for parking like the kind offered by TRUEGRID. It will save you money upfront, is better for the environment, and will prevent you from having to spend even more money on costly drainage systems to accompany an expensive concrete or asphalt install.

As far as small, moderate to low traffic areas are concerned, you can meet all of your paving needs while making the more fiscally-responsible choice to go with grass reinforcement mesh of the highest-quality, such as TRUEGRID PRO LITE.

 

muddy driveway

When it comes to driveways, is there anything worse than a muddy one? If you’ve got a gravel, dirt, or grass driveway, chances are you’ve had to deal with it getting muddy. Spring is usually the worst part of the year for these types of driveways, but winter, summer, and fall can all become a nightmare for your driveways as well, depending on how much precipitation you’re getting in your area. Not only does a muddy driveway make for a lot of foot-scraping when you walk in your home, it can actually lead to bigger problems that could end up costing you quite a bit of money, in numerous ways.

Thankfully there are some muddy driveway solutions out there for those of you suffering from this issue. In case you’re the owner of a muddy grass driveway, let’s take a look at how you can best solve this problem and what the consequences will be of not doing so.

Muddy Driveways Can Hurt You in More Ways than One

The most obvious negative side-effect of having a muddy driveway is the fact that you’ll be getting mud everywhere. If you have kids, they will too. Mud on your clothes and footwear means you’ll either need to have a serious mud removal program going on near your front door, or you’ll be doing a lot of carpet cleaning. You’ll also be getting a lot of mud on the sides of your vehicles which will require you to increase the frequency of your car washes. These extra cleaning costs can add up and may get worse over time as mud holes and ruts develop in your driveway.

The other negative aspect of having a muddy driveway is the fact that mud will lead to ruts, as your tires grind away more and more of that soft mud and displace it. These ruts will grow in size as you continue driving through them, and they could eventually become a safety concern for your vehicles and your family. Giant ruts will require you to fill them in, but even replacement dirt won’t last long unless you have something holding it in place.

In the winter, these ruts will fill with ice, which could result in slips and falls for anyone who walks over them. They will also take a serious toll on the suspension of your vehicles. Many muddy driveway owners have had to pay a lot of money in getting their automobile suspension fixed due to the recurring strain that mudholes place on their vehicles.

The Best Solution to Fix a Muddy Driveway with Gravel and Truegrid Pavers

The best way to fix a muddy driveway is with TRUEGRID permeable pavers. The permeable pavers offered by TRUEGRID are an inexpensive, durable, effective, and long-lasting solution to muddy driveways. By filling in low spots and leveling out your driveway with dirt or gravel before installing these pavers, you create an even, pervious surface that even the heaviest of rains will pass right through, without pooling or collecting in your driveway.

Products like TRUEGRID PRO LITE pavers or PRO PLUS pavers are the perfect muddy driveway solutions. They are incredibly quick and easy to install, have a low negative impact on the environment, and are much cheaper than simply paving your driveway over with concrete or asphalt. They also provide the most natural outlet possible for the rain that pools up in your driveway.

With pavers like these, you can rest easy knowing that no matter what season it is or how much rain and snow you’re getting, your driveway will be completely mud-free. The TRUEGRID DECK is another option for a muddy grass driveway as well. This product is gravel-free, and attaches right to the PRO PLUS pavers for a driveway solution that is just as permeable and durable as the others. This product can handle the full weight of an RV and comes pre-assembled as well.

Eliminate Mud in Your Driveway

The danger that a muddy grass driveway poses to your family’s health, the health of your vehicles, and your pocketbook are too risky to put up with. By installing a permeable driveway with products offered by TRUEGRID, you can eliminate this troublesome problem once and for all.

Whether you decide to go with lightweight, TRUEGRID PRO LITE pavers, PRO PLUS pavers, or the TRUEGRID DECK, the benefits will be plentiful and immediate. Don’t spend another dollar on extra car washes, carpet cleaning equipment, new welcome mats, or driveway aggregate. Implement a permanent solution like TRUEGRID permeable pavers if you really want to go with the best solution to fix a muddy driveway.

 

Asphalt and concrete paving has served us well for many decades. With so many millions of people walking, driving, and parking their vehicles on a daily basis, the need for a solid, durable, and long-lasting material to facilitate our transport needs has been met by concrete and asphalt paving, for the most part.

As we move forward into the future, however, the environment has become more of a concern than ever before. And while asphalt and concrete have done well, they aren’t the most eco-friendly materials around, to say the least.

The negative long-term effects of the production, transportation, and installation of asphalt and concrete paving are many, and continue to contribute to the damage to our planet. If we wish to create a world that will thrive and be able to sustain our grandchildren’s children for years to come, we need to implement green paving solutions.

Concrete and asphalt paving may be one of the biggest and continuous threats to our environment, but there are also many alternatives that we can use which work just as well, if not better.

Eco-Friendly Paving Solutions

If you’re looking to make a positive impact on the environment or you just want to stay in line with new, stricter regulations on paving, let’s take a look at some green alternatives for pavement that you can try.

1. Open Concrete Grids

Open grids made from concrete are one alternative to traditional concrete paving. They may still use the same methods and equipment to produce, transport, and install the concrete, but there is less overall concrete being poured and the grid design of the concrete allows for erosion protection and drainage while still being durable enough to handle heavy vehicle traffic.

These grids are usually pre-made into 24’ x 15.75’ blocks which are laid down next to each other. Each block has 4 square holes in it large enough for water to drain through and grass to grow through. The most common strategy for implementing the efficient use of open concrete grids is to fill them with soil once they are laid down and then plant a durable ground cover or grass in them. There are also other variations of open concrete grids that allow for the placement of gravel and drainage-friendly aggregate.

2. Recycled Asphalt and Concrete

Other eco-friendly paving solutions include the use of recycled asphalt and concrete. It provides none of the benefits of sustainable paving, but the process used to implement it is much better for the environment than using fresh materials. You can even use the asphalt or concrete from your current road, parking lot, sidewalk, or fire lane and have it recycled and mixed in with your new surface, lowering the cost and environmental impact even further.

3. Porous Pavement

Porous asphalt and concrete are other options that provide excellent drainage and erosion control, both of which are good for the environment. These materials use a porous design that is both durable enough to handle heavy traffic, yet porous enough to allow water and other liquids to flow freely right through it. You can also go with recycled porous asphalt or concrete, which is an eco-friendlier option.

4. Permeable Pavers

If you’re looking for the most eco-friendly paving solutions, permeable pavers are by far the best choice. They require no concrete or asphalt and use far less equipment in their production. Companies like TRUEGRID even go so far as to make sure to use 100% post-consumer recycled materials collected in the USA. Permeable pavers are plastic grids, molded from recycled plastic, are incredibly durable and are meant to be filled in with gravel, dirt, or grass.

These pavers are much more permeable than porous concrete, yet more cost effective, more durable, and much more easily installed. Unlike porous concrete or asphalt which require frequent maintenance to remain porous, plastic pavers are virtually maintenance free. For the most environmentally-friendly, green paving solutions, you could go with TRUEGRID PRO LITE pavers for residential and light commercial use for moderate traffic, pedestrian traffic, and/or bicycle traffic; or TRUEGRID PRO PLUS for commercial and industrial applications for heavy use and heavy load applications.

Despite being lightweight, these products are incredibly flexible and durable, able to hug the earth and withstand the weight of trucks and cars. TRUEGRID PRO LITE and PRO PLUS pavers are two of the best options when it comes to green alternatives for pavement because they work well for driveways, parking lots, grass or gravel overflow parking lots, fire lanes, sidewalks, and almost any other paving application you can think of.

Eco-Friendliness is a Priority, Not an Option

With more negative PR surrounding global warming and pollution than ever before, it’s never been more important for business owners and residential homeowners alike to make the switch to eco-friendly paving solutions. Doing so will not only help you lessen the negative impact you have on the environment, it will endear you to customers and friends, as well as keep you from violating any potential new laws or regulations regarding the paving or installation of parking lots and other paved areas.

There are plenty of options to choose from, and if you aren’t in absolute need of asphalt or concrete, you’d do well to go with permeable pavers like the type that TRUEGRID offers. Not only do these pavers produce less waste during their creation, they provide erosion control, drainage, and other benefits which will be of great use to you as well as Mother Nature.

Contact a specialist at TRUEGRID to discuss eco-friendly paving options.