Unlike other competitive systems that may require the grass to grow prior to use, Grasscrete can be driven on immediately after the concrete hardens in the extent of an emergency situation. Typically it is recommended that you wait two to four weeks before you drive on it for best results.
Grasscrete has been installed extensively throughout the world in all climate types. In some environments such as the Pacific Northwest it will grow the same as any lawn requiring no irrigation. In environments that are dry and hot, it is recommended that the Grasscrete be irrigated much like any other grassed area. Hardy, drought tolerant grass or groundcover can be selected for applications such as retaining pond bottoms or slope protection.
Grasscrete is installed over a sub-base of gravel at a depth determined by the load bearing capacity required for the project. In many situations the Grasscrete is installed over the native soils saving money on excavation and gravel. In some cases it is installed over a deep bed of crushed stone or even storm water chambers so as to provide capacity for water which can be highly desired when controlling storm water runoff.
The individual Grasscrete Formers are 24” x 48” in outside dimension and are 5 ½” deep. The final installed product size is determined by the size of the project – every square foot of properly installed Grasscrete is connected with steel reinforcement.
Grasscrete is the only product on the market that is made from continuously reinforced cast-in-place concrete. It is by far the most robust pervious grassed structure as it is not made from cheap plastic rings or supplied in segments. It has the load bearing capacity and durability comparable to concrete freeways or parking lots.
The Molded Pulp is made from 100% recycled paper pulled from both post industrial and post consumer waste streams. It is suspended in a water slurry, vacuum formed to a mold and then air dried to a solid product. It is based on the same biodegradable material commonly found at landscape supply stores or nurseries that plant pots are made from.
Grasscrete is a pervious reinforced concrete structure for all types of trafficked areas that is either covered with grass, has grass growing in the voids of the structure or has stone in the voids of the structure.
Grasscrete Formers come in two types. A re-usable plastic tool that is used only for fully grassed or concealed installations and the more common single-use Molded Pulp Former used for all Grasscrete types.
Grasscrete is made by pouring concrete over “Formers”, a tool or mold that leaves voids in the concrete, that once opened can be filled with a variety of porous materials such as grass or gravel.
The use of traditional line paints is the most effective way to delineate stalls on a Grasscrete parking lot. Other methods, such as pouring the concrete in multiple pours, leaving a wider band of concrete between the stalls and planting brushes or shrubs in a predetermined pattern are all ways to distinguish between stalls and to control traffic patterns.