Providing structural support for drivable grass driveways, parking lots and roads.

Grass Pavers for Driveways and Roads

Grass Paver Overview

With a variety of different applications, grass pavers (also known as "grass driveway pavers" allow for grassy areas to support constant vehicular traffic or parking without causing damage or rutting to the grass. The paver products are recommended for use in the following application types: fire lanes, event parking and overflow stadium, church parking, grass green driveway, utility access, on-street parking, pedestrians’ walkways, handicap parking, emergency access, infiltration basin reinforcement, golf cart paths, helicopter landing pads, airplane transport areas, service roads, roadway shoulder and equipment. It is also ideal for yards, truck maintenance, access road for emergency vehicle, overflow parking lots, jogging tracks, service roads, residential driveways, bike paths and the construction entrance of soil stabilization. Furthermore, this load application is also effective solution for swales and erosion control of slopes.

Grass pavers as well as gravel pavers allow for instant rainfall permeability and can help reduce or eliminate the need for onsite drainage ponds which routinely cost developers thousands and are required when large paved areas are installed on properties in many regions.

Perfect for the homeowner as well, these pavers are frequently used to widen driveways in residential settings for parking of an extra car or boat.
Grass driveway pavers are available in a variety of different forms and are manufactured by a number of different manufacturers. Aside from the following options, another method of stabilizing soil for vehicular traffic is by using a cellular confinement panel. These products are flexible in design, constructed of a heavy-duty geotextile and can support heavy vehicles when filled with the correct type of infill.

Below are the three main types of pavers available:

Square Panel Pavers:

Three square 2' x 2' pavers connected together.

Square panel pavers are an ideal solution where the application calls for a paver which can withstand very heavy vehicles such as fire engines and semi trucks driving / parking over the reinforced area. Applications such as fire lanes or road shoulders often require the strength of these reinforced pavers to meet code and daily use requirements.

Square pavers are an ideal solution where the plan calls for a curved area such as a circular driveway or a windy road. The square pavers can be “stair-stepped” to accommodate the curves. The pavers can also be cut with a standard power saw to avoid obstacles such as curbs, sprinklers or other obstacles.

The square pavers are available in 19” x 19” squares or in 24” x 24” squares and interlock together to create a continuous surface. These pavers typically are 1-1/2” thick and can support approx. 97,000 pounds per square foot of pressure when empty. Once the pavers are filled they can withstand much more weight. In smaller quantities the square pavers are shipped via UPS, in larger orders the material typically ships via freight truck.

Installation of these pavers is fairly straight forward. A gravel sub base is applied to the site to provide stability. Next the gravel is compacted and a few inches of soil is placed above the gravel base. On top of the soil, the pavers are interlocked and placed. Once the pavers are placed the cells are filled with soil and seeded. If sod is to be applied it is rolled directly on top of the soil filled pavers. It is important that during the first growing season the area is watered more than usual to encourage strong grass growth.

Rolled paver being unrolled over a layer of compacted aggregate.

Rolled Pavers

Rolled pavers are an excellent paver choice for large or small grassy areas which need to be reinforced. The rolled pavers are available in two sizes: 4' x 24' and 4' x 150'. The rolled pavers are as their name implied “rolled” and are installed by simply unrolling the product. The smaller rolls can be shipped via UPS while the larger rolls are shipped via freight truck due to their size. (Orders of the 4' x 24' rolls are shipped via UPS below quantities of 5, 5+ ship freight)

The rolled pavers can withstand approximately 57,000 pounds per square foot of pressure empty which greatly increases when the material is filled with soil. These pavers are ideal for installation types where there will not be large vehicles such as semi trucks for fire engines driving on the material.

Installation is a simple, straightforward process with rolled pavers. First, a gravel sub-base needs to be installed and compacted. This gravel base should consist of class 2 road base (3/4” crushed gravel) and compacted. The depth of the sub-base varies by application. See the specific product description for recommendations on the exact depth of the sub-base required. Once the sub-base is established, the material can be rolled directly on the base. Next, the cells are filled with soil and seeded. Optionally, sod can be rolled on top of the pavers. The grass roots will grow into the soil in the pavers and anchor into the gravel providing a reinforced and beautiful grass surface. It is important to irrigate the newly planted area heavily the first year to help establish a deep root zone for the grass.

Grass pavers are an excellent way to beautify an area which would otherwise be covered in cement, aid in stormwater management and avoid the costs and land devotion of drainage ditches. They are easy to install and are built to hold their strength with regular use. In either rolled or square form, the pavers are an excellent choice for both large and small projects in a variety of different installation settings. Alternatively, for a more economical, temporary and lower usage product view our selection of grass protection mesh.

If you have any questions about our paver products, sizing, installation information or requests for volume quotes please feel to contact us at (800) 524-4161.

How Grass Driveway Systems Work

A plastic grid system sits on top of the soil or prepared substrate. Then it's filled with soil, grass seed, or sod to create a strong surface for driving or parking while still protecting the delicate root system of the grass so it can grow naturally. The outcome looks like a lawn and can be taken care of with your standard lawn equipment.

Grass Driveway Pavers Installed

A grass paver has many advantages over your basic parking surface and will make your driveway, parking lot, or other pavement areas look both beautiful and functional.

There is so much more to grass pavers than just adding a touch of nature to your property. You have improved drainage and erosion control while maintaining a low impact on the environment. These pavers can be used to create a beautiful grass driveway, as a grass stabilizer for your front lawn as well as your backyard. They can serve as a ground stabilizer for mud control and for an added detention area below the ground.

For many years, concrete and asphalt were the only choices available for paved surfaces from driveways to highways. Now you have grass pavers which are strong and are low in cost. Homeowners have sworn by concrete for their driveways and sidewalks but never realized there is a better alternative with incredible benefits. More and more people are becoming environmentally conscious knowing some traditions are meant to be broken.

One complaint many homeowners have, there is no room for their gardens, space for their other vegetation, and no room for their shrubbery to grow and fill out.

Studies have shown that exposure to plants is very beneficial to your health and well-being. Plants can improve your mind frame and are perfect for reducing stress. Concrete and asphalt will prevent you from any of the benefits you'll get from grass driveways. On top of that, concrete takes a good amount of time to install while trying to create environmental areas for your plants.

Plastic grass pavers are ready to use immediately after installation and you can drive on them before the installation is even completed. The problem with adding even more concrete takes away from the joy of nature but grass pavers will let you keep vegetation and other plants. Your grass can grow through the plastic pavers and you can cut the grid to wrap around your trees and larger plants that cannot be replaced. You will be saving living plants while adding more vegetation. There is no need to destroy your beautiful oak tree!

Even though many people still opt for concrete because it requires absolutely no maintenance but what they have forgotten, concrete will stain over time from oil leaks from their cars, dirt being dragged across the driveway, paint stains from arts and crafts projects. You have to scrub and pressure wash the driveway which is hard work and there are some stains that no matter what you do will not come out unless you buy a special grease remover. Concrete can crack due to the changing environment and weather conditions, root growth popping through the surface, and don't forget ground movements.

Grass pavers are environmentally friendly and allow stormwater to runoff and drain back into the ground to naturally filter out pollutants and re-hydrate the earth and vegetation. These paver systems offer a sub-base which is usually 3 to 6 inches deep that will detain water and offsets the negative effects of water pooling. Let's face it after it rains the ground becomes saturated with water and lawns become a muddy mess while tearing up the surrounding area. In turn, it's difficult to get to your car due to this enormous obstacle.

Muddy lawns can become an absolute nightmare, but grass pavers will stabilize the surface of your lawn even during major storms. These pavers offer a layer of solid and level ground for grass to hold onto, flooding will not cause as much damage as with concrete. The plastic grid system of absorbent pavers prevents rutting and will maintain stability even during the heaviest storms. Also, you have pets or other furry animals in your yard, this system will keep them from getting down and dirty in the mud and your dog won't stand a prayer at digging!

The installation of a reinforced grass driveway is fairly straight forward. The plastic grids interlock like modular building blocks and are placed on top of a sub-base of 5/8” angular rock for support and it will stay in place. Depending on how deep your sub-base is, you can get thousands of cubic gallons of added detention space on your property.

Once the pavers have been laid down, are interlocked, and filled, your pavement is ready to go. On the other hand, often times, concrete must have a chemical process after its poured, and that can take up to an entire week, depending on the weather.

To take care of your grass driveway, all you are required to do is cut and water the grass just like you do your lawn. You might even discover you will actually be watering less frequently. As water absorbs the surface, surrounding plants will start drinking up the water which will reduce the amount of water you will need. All this depends on how often and how much rain you get in your area.

Grass Driveway Pavers Installed in Front Yard Parking Area

How To Create A Grass Driveway