If you’re looking at permeable paving grids for the first time, it’s easy to assume they’re all much the same. They’re plastic grids, they get laid on the ground, filled with gravel or grass and then driven or walked over.
But there’s an important detail that can make a big difference to how the finished surface performs: how the individual grids connect together.
A good paving grid system isn’t simply a collection of plastic panels placed next to each other. The grids need to connect securely to create one stable surface.
That’s exactly why the EcoGrid locking system is patented and such an important part of its design.
What is a permeable paving grid?
A permeable paving grid is a strong plastic grid installed as part of a driveway, parking area, pathway or other reinforced surface.
Once correctly installed, the grid can be filled with suitable angular gravel or, depending on the application, finished with grass. Instead of creating a completely solid surface like traditional concrete, the system allows rainwater to pass through into the layers below.
EcoGrid is manufactured from fully recycled plastic and is designed to create a strong, permeable surface for applications ranging from pedestrian areas and domestic driveways through to commercial and heavy-duty projects.
But to achieve that strength, the individual grids need to work together.
Why does the locking system matter?
Think about laying paving grids a little like putting together a large jigsaw.
If every piece simply sat alongside the next one without properly connecting, movement in one area wouldn’t necessarily be supported by the grids surrounding it.
When paving grids securely lock together, the individual sections become part of a much larger connected surface.
This is particularly important when vehicles are using the area. Cars don’t apply pressure perfectly evenly across a driveway. They brake, accelerate, turn their wheels and repeatedly travel over certain sections.
A securely connected grid system helps the surface work together rather than leaving each grid to perform independently.
How does EcoGrid lock together?
Individual EcoGrid sections feature a patented locking system designed to create a secure connection between adjoining grids.
As each grid is laid, it connects to the surrounding grids to gradually form one continuous surface.
This makes installation relatively straightforward while providing the connection needed for the completed system.
The standard grid format is approximately 33 cm x 33 cm per section, so a driveway or parking area will contain a large number of individual grids. The locking mechanism is therefore much more than a small design detail – it is repeated across the entire installation.
Why is this important for driveways and parking areas?
A driveway has to deal with much more than the weight of a parked car.
Every time a vehicle enters, leaves, brakes or turns, forces are transferred through the surface. This is one reason choosing the correct grid and installing the complete build-up properly is so important.
EcoGrid offers different grid options for different applications and loading requirements, rather than relying on one grid for every project.
For example, a domestic driveway used by cars and vans has very different requirements from an area regularly used by HGVs.
Whichever EcoGrid is specified, the grids connect to create a continuous paved area.
Permeability is just as important
Strength isn’t the only reason people choose paving grids.
EcoGrid is a permeable paving system, meaning water can travel through the finished surface rather than simply running across it.
With the correct permeable build-up underneath, rainwater can move through the surface and into the drainage layers below.
This can help manage surface water at source and is one of the reasons permeable paving has become such an important option for driveways, car parks and landscaping projects.
Instead of choosing between a usable surface and drainage, a properly designed permeable grid installation can provide both.
What should you look for when comparing paving grids?
If you’re comparing plastic paving grids online, don’t make your decision based purely on how similar they look in a photograph or on the price per square metre.
Consider how the grids connect, what loading they are designed for, whether the system is genuinely permeable and whether there is testing and a meaningful guarantee behind the product.
EcoGrid is manufactured from fully recycled plastic, is fully permeable and comes with a 20-year guarantee. Different EcoGrid products are available to suit applications ranging from pedestrian landscaping through to areas subject to much heavier vehicle loads.
It means you can choose a grid for the job you’re actually doing rather than simply choosing a generic plastic grid.
A small connection that makes a big difference
The locking points on a paving grid might not be the first thing you notice when you’re planning a new driveway or parking area, but they’re worth paying attention to.
Your finished surface could contain hundreds or even thousands of individual grid sections.
Making sure those individual sections securely connect means they can work together as a complete paving system.
That’s why EcoGrid’s patented locking system is an important part of the product – and why it’s worth looking beyond the surface when comparing permeable paving grids.
If you’re planning a driveway, parking area, pathway or larger commercial project and aren’t sure which EcoGrid you need, speak to the EcoGrid team about your application, expected traffic and proposed surface finish. We can help you choose the right grid and build-up for your project.
