Quick-drying surface, good grip in wet weather, efficient rainwater drainage – these are all the advantages of openwork concrete paving slabs.
Perforated concrete paving blocks are a solution that has been around for years, used successfully in car parks, squares and driveways. Their main advantage is, above all, their functionality. Due to their shape and the holes in the surface, rainwater is quickly drained into the ground, meaning there is no need for special linear drainage systems. This is of great importance during heavy rainfall, as excess water is immediately drained away, preventing the building from flooding or parts of the plot from becoming waterlogged. Provided the correct gradients are maintained, such a surface dries quickly, which significantly improves tyre grip. Another undoubted advantage is the ability to plant grass in the holes, thereby creating additional green, i.e. bioactive, space. This significantly reduces the surface temperature and also prevents the soil from drying out too quickly. This is particularly important during the summer months, which in recent years have been exceptionally sunny and dry.
Not just for the garage
driveway Another undoubted advantage of openwork surfaces is their resistance to damage. Concrete surfaces are kept to a minimum, as there are no large flat surfaces, which means the slab behaves differently and can withstand greater pressure, and consequently – bear heavier loads. Combined with weather resistance and minimal maintenance requirements, this guarantees that the desired visual effect will be maintained for many years. The thickness of the openwork pavers is also a very important factor in terms of damage resistance. In the case of Polbruk Extrano, it is 8 cm, making this solution ideal for a driveway leading to a garage at a detached house. It is also worth noting the paver Polbruk Eqol. Its thickness is also 8 cm and it works perfectly in car parks and mixed-use areas. The paver Polbruk Meba has slightly different characteristics, being available in thicknesses of 8, 10 and 12 cm. This makes it suitable for use in areas with heavy vehicle traffic, as well as in locations where lorries or agricultural or construction machinery operate. However, openwork paving slabs not only guarantee durability but also allow for the creation of interesting designs.
Achieve an interesting design
Although it may seem at first glance that openwork slabs are not particularly attractive architectural solutions, this is not actually the case. The strength of Extrano lies in its colour scheme, which features a fashionable range of greys so popular in contemporary landscape architecture. Elements are available in grey, granite and nerino. Thanks to their distinctive, openwork, geometric appearance and almost ascetic simplicity, they lend the surface a modern character. Each 50x50 cm slab features cubist-style openings. An alternative to Extrano is Polbruk Meba, available in three colours – grey, graphite and red – and in a 40x60 cm size. The slab also has a geometric form, with the difference that the openings are square. In both cases, it is precisely in these openings that grass can be sown. This combination of concrete and vegetation allows us to achieve the contrast between grey surfaces and living greenery that is so sought after in modern architecture. Furthermore, by sowing grass in the holes, we create a biologically active surface. An alternative solution is to fill the holes with very fine gravel. It is best to choose one that differs slightly in colour from the pavers. This will create an interesting aesthetic effect. Eqol, on the other hand, is a paver with relatively small dimensions of 20x20 cm compared to the slabs Extrano and Meba. It has a modernist form and a versatile colour scheme. It is available in grey and graphite, which can be used, for example, to mark out parking spaces in car parks. It can be laid in a classic or alternating pattern. This is an interesting option for an openwork solution for the construction and design of surfaces in public spaces. Openwork
slabs are an excellent solution for driveways, car parks and squares, characterised by durability and timeless design, whilst also allowing for the creation of a retention surface in line with current trends in spatial and landscape design.
