Yes, you guessed it! It’s pretty, it’s pervious and it’s concrete.

Pervious concrete is a special type of concrete with a high porosity used for hardscape applications that allows rain water to pass directly through, thereby reducing the runoff from a site and allowing groundwater recharge.

So why don’t we see more residential applications of it in driveways, patios and walkways? Until now pervious concrete has been used mostly in commercial applications because let’s face it, although it is great for the environment, it’s not the most aesthetically appealing product.

To negate pervious concrete’s ugly duckling complex, owner of Earthcare Landscaping, Ryan Marlinghaus, has developed a new product called Pretty Pervious. Marlinghaus’ product is a thin, overlaid product that can turn regular, unattractive pervious concrete into something, well pretty!

Pricing installed is around $13-18 per square foot (not including demo of old hardscape) which directly competes with paver pricing.

It’s very attractive and has unlimited designer choices:

  1. Great colors. From subtle to bright
  2. Textures. You can choose rough , very fine, or sanded smooth rock
  3. Options. You can add insets like flagstone, pebbles or tile. You can also create wonderful effects with different colors, shapes and patterns

“Getting pervious concrete accepted in residential projects by taking out the stigma that’s associated with concrete will help further the environmental aspect along way,” says Marlinghaus.

Pervious concrete is good for the environment because it allows storm water to stay on site and recharge aquifers. Also, because it allows air and water to flow through it, it can help alleviate the heat island effect.

Ryan Marlinghaus has been working with Pretty Pervious for over 4 years doing installations. He tests the strength, porosity, flexibility and heat resistance of each of his custom blends. His ultimate goal is get this into an easy to use product that could be made available to contractors and homeowners.

For more information about a Pretty Pervious installation, call (408) 871-2792