There are many different types of pavement and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Cinder blocks, for example, are widely used as pavers by many people. Cinder block pavers are known for having unique characteristics that differentiate them from other types of cement pavement such as concrete.
Whether you’re looking for affordability, permeability, a specific aesthetic, or something else, cinder blocks have a lot to offer as a pavement material. In case you’re thinking about implementing cinder blocks in a project of some sort, let’s take a look at what they bring to the table, as well as a better alternative.
Why Use Cinder Blocks?
Cinder blocks are known for being incredibly cheap and inexpensive. They’re like a much weaker version of concrete blocks, having almost no tensile strength to withstand any significant amount of force or pressure. Cinder blocks are made using the ashes and cinders from burned wood, combined with cement. This creates lighter blocks that can be used for a variety of purposes like paving.
The main benefits of cinder blocks as pavers are their low cost and permeability. They aren’t generally stylistically diverse and typically only come in a few sizes and shapes. Cinder block pavers are great for stabilizing areas of your yard and can even be used to build a cinder block driveway.
Constructing a block driveway with cinder blocks is relatively simple. You would simply have the area excavated to a certain depth and either lay the cinder blocks right after, or lay a bed of gravel for enhanced drainage and then lay the cinder blocks on top.
Some people like to fill their cinder blocks with soil and grow grass in the open areas within each block. You can also fill the blocks with an aggregate like sand, gravel, or pebbles and use a cinder block driveway border to keep stray material from spreading.
One of the main downsides of using cinder blocks as a paving material, especially for driveways, is the low level of durability. Cinder blocks easily chip and crack and do not last very long when subjected to constant vehicle traffic. This makes maintenance and replacement a constant concern.
Replacing Cinder Blocks with a Better Choice
Building a permeable paved surface is beneficial for many reasons, and can be done with many different types of material. If you want to build a cinder block driveway border, cinder blocks do not provide as much value as permeable plastic pavers, for instance.
Permeable plastic pavers like the kind made by TRUEGRID are some of the most durable and long-lasting pavers on the planet. Made from 100%-recycled plastic, the TRUEGRID PRO LITE and TRUEGRID PRO PLUS systems are perfect for implementing a clean-cut, 98%-permeable paved surface that can withstand the weight of a monster truck falling on it without breaking.
These pavers are impervious to temperature extremes, moisture damage, erosion, UV- rays, and almost any other hazard you can think of. They will last up to 60 years with almost no maintenance required other than a quick pressure wash now and then.
TRUEGRID Pavers Outperform Cinder Blocks Across the Board
Whether you’re looking for durability, permeability, low maintenance requirements, stylistic versatility, or some combination of these traits, TRUEGRID pavers have them all without question. They are also incredibly quick to install.
The installation process is similar to that of cinder blocks but can usually be completed in as little as one day. First, the area is excavated to a depth of 12 inches, then a piece of fabric is laid at the bottom to prevent the migration of gravel. The gravel is then compacted until it’s level with the surface, at which point the TRUEGRID pavers are snapped into place over the top as easy as LEGO blocks.
Next, more gravel of your choice is poured over the top of the pavers and pressed into them, weighing them down and creating a level, durable surface to drive on. A TRUEGRID driveway or patio will eliminate flooding concerns because, with an almost 100%-permeability rate, even the heaviest storms are withstood with ease.
When it comes to eco-friendliness, TRUEGRID pavers outperform cinder blocks as well. Since cinder blocks are made from the cinders of burned trees, they are significantly less eco-friendly than TRUEGRID pavers which are made from 100%- recycled plastic.
You can also use a variety of different colors and styles of aggregate to fill the surface of your TRUEGRID pavers, allowing you a ton of creative flexibility when it comes to choosing the overall aesthetic of your paved area.
Cinder Blocks Don’t Measure Up to TRUEGRID Pavers
If you want a permeable paved surface that looks incredibly clean-cut, requires little maintenance, will last up to 60 years, and is one of the most eco-friendly paving materials on the market, call TRUEGRID today and get in touch with a pavement professional.
