Eco-friendly, durable and beautiful:
The porous pavement of PurePave grows in popularity
Since 2011, PurePave Technologies founders Taylor Davis and Kyle Pittman have focused on installing specialty pavements made from crushed granite as a more durable and beautiful alternative to concrete or interlock. However, in recent years the hazardous effects of stormwater run-off have become an increasing concern for the Canadian government and private landowners.
With the vast majority of urban landscapes being asphalt-paved and impervious to water, our cities have been swamped by an overflow of ecological and infrastructure issues. Consequently, Credit Valley Conservation has been working on an incentive strategy to deal with the several stormwater-related issues.
In similar fashion, Davis and Pittman’s team have developed a new product called PurePave, which extends the already impressive longevity of porous pavements, and addresses the immediate need for land developers and property owners to install permeable surfacing.
With patents pending on their new way to create natural-looking surfaces that are practically immune to the cracking and buckling caused by our harsh Canadian winters, PurePave has already been installed in four cities. “Exceeding the government’s criteria as the best Low Impact Development solution to address stormwater run-off is something we’re very proud of,” said Pittman.
The cost to install a PurePave system is comparable to higher-end materials like interlock pavers or stamped concrete, Davis said, and ranges in price depending on the choice of stone and surface size.
“The quality, longevity and practicality of PurePave surfacing is incomparable to asphalt. Our goal was to deliver maximum value while addressing the stormwater issues we’re facing,” said Davis. “The PurePave system also uses 12.1 lb of recycled plastic per square metre and has zero VOC emissions.”
On top of the eco-friendly benefits, this surfacing also requires no maintenance; there are no weeds, no brick movement, a fast snow melt and no water run-off. The system is 100 per cent salt resistant and comes with a 10-year warranty. The company’s estimators are happy to offer a complimentary architectural landscape design to property owners looking to install their “Earth conscious surfacing.”
“Every other pavement fights to keep water out, and it’s a battle that can’t be won in our climate,” said Davis. “With our system, we don’t have to play that game anymore. Our materials have a tensile strength of 5000 psi and up to 249 per cent elongation.”
At 3.6 inches thick, PurePave is nearly double the standard thickness of typical pavements. To ensure longevity in even the most extreme temperature swings, PurePave layers in a hidden grid made of recycled plastic, which is sandwiched between the porous base and the resin surface.
“That stabilizer is something we’ve added in to create the best possible pavement for the Canadian climate,” said Davis. “It supports up to 250 tons per square foot.”
Although PurePave originally focused on local driveway design, their porous pavements are now attracting attention from international customers, as well as from commercial clients (like high-end car dealerships across the country), U.S. golf courses and large, design-forward new home construction projects in Ottawa and Toronto.
“We’re getting calls from around the world now, from companies that want to buy our materials,” said Davis. “Our architects are creating designs for clients that nobody else can do.”
The team is already selling distributorships across Canada and is now looking for Low Impact Development home builders and contractors to partner with moving forward.
And indeed, Davis and Pittman haven’t stopped innovating; they’re currently working on new techniques to embed lighting effects within PurePave landscaping, and even a heating system that would eliminate snow shovelling altogether.
For more information on PurePave, call 613-614-9899 or visit purepave.com.