Question 1

WHAT IS ECORASTER?

Accepted Answer

Ecoraster® is a flexible plastic porous paver. It is also known as a geogrid, geocell, grass grid/gravel grid, and permeable paver. Ecoraster® is the #1 permeable paving product in Europe with over 150,000,000 sq. ft. installed to date. Ecoraster® is an engineered product with flex and expansion components included in the design. Ecoraster® has a patented specialized locking system. Ecoraster® is made of 100% post-consumer LDPE recycled plastic and is 100% recyclable and reusable.

Question 2

WHAT MAKES ECORASTER UNIQUE?

Accepted Answer

1. The patented locking system ensures the paver grid squares lock together
2. Superior weight load bearing – Ecoraster® can support up to 800 tonnes/m2.
3. It is engineered with expansion joints to minimize the effects of temperature change.
4. The individual cells contain the fill, ensuring no migration or compaction.
5. It is a cost-effective alternative paving material to asphalt and concrete.
6. It is high quality and durable in extreme temperatures; both hot and cold.
7. It is a 100% recycled paver made with Low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

Question 3

HOW IS ECORASTER INSTALLED?

Accepted Answer

The installation of Ecoraster® porous pavement is quick and easy. Ecoraster comes pre-assembled in layers of 3 x 4 tiles. Once the paver base is prepared, the layers of the paver grid can be installed and used the same day. Please note: Specific Ecoraster® installation guidelines will differ based on the application. For detailed installation guidelines please contact us to discuss your paving project needs.

Question 4

CAN ECORASTER BE INSTALLED ON A SLOPE OR GRADE?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Ecoraster® plastic grid pavers can be installed on slopes approaching vertical. Ecoraster® is widely used for erosion control and ground reinforcement and can be specially ordered to facilitate pegging if necessary. Ecoraster® can easily be installed for sloping permeable driveways and pathways and the design of the paver grid ensures that the fill remains contained even on slopes.

Question 5

CAN ECORASTER BE USED FOR GREEN PARKING?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Ecoraster® is the perfect paving product for grass parking for driveways and even permeable parking lots. Ecoraster® grass grid pavers protect the roots of the grass or sedum from compaction, allowing for heavy vehicle traffic on a truly green surface.

Question 6

WHAT IS ECORASTER BLOXX?

Accepted Answer

Ecoraster® Bloxx is the newest permeable paver stone product introduced by Purus NA Ecoraster® and Purus Plastics. The Bloxx paver grid system is comprised of a plastic matrix manufactured in the same manner as the original Ecoraster® system and for specially designed pavers. The paver stones are available in a wide range of colors and are manufactured in both porous concrete and recycled crumb rubber from tires. The Bloxx system incorporates the popular look of interlocking paver blocks, without the risk of future shifting, lifting, or heaving. The Bloxx system can be used in conjunction with the Ecoraster® E50.

Question 7

DOES ECORASTER NEED TO BE INSTALLED BY A CERTIFIED INSTALLER?

Accepted Answer

No, Ecoraster® does not have to be installed by a special technician. Ecoraster® can be installed by local contractors and landscapers. Installation guides are readily available and we are happy to provide “on-site” installation guidance. Ecoraster® is also a great product for the DIYer and can be installed by homeowners for hot tub pads, permeable parking pads, patio stones, and pathways.

Question 8

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VARIOUS ECORASTER PRODUCTS?

Accepted Answer

Ecoraster E50 is a heavy-duty paver grid that can support up to 800 tonnes/m2. It is used by the military and can be reliably used for projects such as parking lots, access roads, helicopter landing pads, and fire access lanes.
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Ecoraster E40 is our general all-purpose plastic grid that can be used for everything from green driveways, environmentally-friendly parking lots, pathways, and access lanes to tree root protection, hot tub pads, and much more including equine and agricultural needs.
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Ecoraster E30 is used primarily as a paver base stabilizer beneath unit interlocking pavers and solid surfaces. E30 has a wide variety of lighter use purposes and is well suited for paving projects like hot tub pads, garden shed floors, and dog kennels.

Question 9

ARE ECORASTER GROUND REINFORCEMENT ELEMENTS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our reinforcement elements are environmentally neutral and are developed and manufactured in Germany. We pride ourselves on using a large proportion of recycled material and we are also proud of the recycling compatibility of our products. As a result, we save more than 25,000 metric tons of CO2 per year and guarantee sustainable products.

Question 10

ARE PLASTIC GROUND REINFORCEMENT ELEMENTS LESS DURABLE?

Accepted Answer

No, not when you choose a quality product! Our ECORASTER products are covered by a 20 year manufacturer's warranty; and by producing the raw materials as well as the finished product, we can guarantee consistently high quality. Our ground reinforcement elements are made from recyclable LDPE, a break-proof, weather-resistant and UV-stable material.

Question 11

CAN ECORASTER GROUND REINFORCEMENT ELEMENTS BE DRIVEN ON?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ECORASTER products can be driven on without a problem. Depending on the base and filling, the elements have been tested with loads of up to 800 metric tons per square meter by the German technical specification association TÜV. The ECORASTER elements  can be driven on in an unfilled condition straight after installation, which significantly facilitates the filling process.

Question 12

ARE ECORASTER AREAS CLASSED AS "PERMEABLE"?"

Accepted Answer

Yes. Thanks to an open surface area of more than 95%, water cannot accumulate on the ECORASTER surface. However, the weighting is subject to the responsible authority/commune.

Question 13

CAN ECORASTER AREAS BE CLEARED OF SNOW?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ECORASTER elements can be cleared of snow using de-icing salt, brooms, snowplows or a brush roller/snow blower. Total snow clearance should be avoided. If a gravel-filled surface is cleared, it is possible for some of the material to have accumulated once the snow has melted. This can simply be returned onto the surface.

Question 14

CAN ECORASTER BE INSTALLED WITHOUT A BASE?

Accepted Answer

Yes, although this might result in limited performance of the ECORASTER system: If no base (water-bearing layer) is used, surface drainage is not guaranteed. Furthermore, changes in the natural ground can lead to unevenness and varying load capacities. Thanks to the tried and tested safety composite system, the ground will not have any joints or edges.

Question 15

DO I HAVE TO BUILD A SURROUND?

Accepted Answer

No. The structure of the ECORASTER ground reinforcement system features a multitude of expansion joints so that no surround is needed. Please simply leave a gap of at least 5 cm to the edge when installing the product. This creates an additional expansion joint.

Question 16

HOW DO I WORK OUT HOW MUCH BALLAST/GRAVEL I NEED?

Accepted Answer

Before you can determine how much ballast/gravel you need, please specify the exact height of your project area. For larger areas, please use a leveling instrument or a laser. If necessary, use the following calculation to establish the amount of filling material needed: 
0.95 x surface area x element height

Question 17

WHAT DO I HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FOR HEAVY LOAD VEHICLES/MANEUVERING AREAS?

Accepted Answer

For surfaces, which are predominantly used by trucks and heavy load vehicles (e.g. forklift trucks/turning circles), we recommend our ECORASTER E50 system with a 1-2 cm layer of gravel.

Question 18

CAN ECORASTER GROUND REINFORCEMENT ELEMENTS BE THROWN AWAY?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ECORASTER products are made from virtually single-origin and environmentally neutral LPDE plastic. The offcuts can be safely recycled.

Question 19

CAN ECORASTER GROUND REINFORCEMENT SYSTEMS BE COMBINED WITH OTHER PRODUCTS?

Accepted Answer

No. ECORASTER products cannot be combined with third-party products and may only be enhanced with original accessories.

Question 20

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "LAND USAGE" AND "GROUND SEALING"?"

Accepted Answer

Today, almost half of our settlement and traffic areas are sealed, i.e. built-on, concreted, asphalted and otherwise mechanically compacted. The ground is cut off from all natural cycles such as ground water seepage and its vital functions are lost. In Germany alone, we currently transform around 104 hectares of land into residential and traffic areas each day. It must be noted, however, that land usage does not always mean sealing, although roughly 46 percent of land is being sealed.

FAQ