Skip to content Skip to navigation

Filtercrete Pervious Concrete

Filtercrete Pervious Concrete Overview

Filtercrete Pervious concrete is an innovative building material with many environmental, economic, and structural advantages. By allowing for various size voids in the concrete, Filtercrete allows water to pass through, putting rainwater back in the ground. Property owners and developers can also reduce fees and enhance the bottom line by using Filtercrete, which can provide 20-40 years of low-maintenance performance. Filtercrete also has a wide array of applications, ranging from streets and alleys to residential and architectural use.

Filtercrete is most often used for parking lots, sidewalks and driveways, but the porous material can also be used for greenhouses, tennis courts, paths and horse stalls.

filtercrete diagram

Stormwater Maintenance

The surface of a parking lot is heavily littered with trash, car oil, and chunks of asphalt. This junk is eventually swept away by stormwater that drains into retention ponds. From there, it flows into our local bodies of fresh water.

Filtercrete prevents these pollutants from contaminating our rivers and lakes because the concrete itself absorbs the stormwater, eliminating the need for retention ponds.

As the stormwater drains through Filtercrete, it is absorbed, filtered, or colonized with natural microbes that consume the pollutants.

Through this process, Filtercrete simultaneously purifies the stormwater and eliminates the need for expensive stormwater maintenance solutions.

Lowering Heat Island Effects

Cooling down urban heat islands can significantly reduce smog. Ozinga’s Filtercrete can help fight these rising temperatures in several ways.

During the day, dark asphalt and building facades absorb light from the sun, turning it into heat and raising ambient temperatures in dense urban areas.

By the time the sun goes down, the heat that was absorbed into the asphalt and buildings is finally released, raising nighttime temperatures higher than they normally would be. This is the essence of the Heat Island Effect.

The voids in Filtercrete allow water in the ground to evaporate (evapotranspiration) and cool the air above the ground. And lighter than black asphalt, Filtercrete also absorbs less heat from the sun.

Because air and water move freely through the gaps in the concrete, trees can grow as closely as one foot away from Filtercrete. The shade from these trees helpss tifle rising temperatures.

While Filtercrete protects the environment by filtering water and cooling the air, cities can lower pollution levels and reduce air conditioning costs.

Installing pervious concrete requires a special certification and it is recommended that hands-on experience with the substance be obtained before placing. Ozinga offers NRMCA pervious concrete certification classes and Filtercrete demonstrations on a regular basis. Contact Us to learn more and sign up for our next class.

Filtercrete Pervious Concrete Applications

Concrete Driveways

Concrete driveway

Installing a concrete driveway is one of the best ways to improve curb appeal while making a solid investment for your home. When properly installed and maintained, a concrete driveway can last over 30 years with low maintenance costs. Plus, with the option to color and stamp your concrete, you can have a concrete driveway with a look that’s uniquely you.

Concrete Streets and Highways

concrete highway construction

When it comes to long-lasting performance, concrete is the best answer for building streets and highways. Updated technology in admixtures and fibers is making our concrete streets and highways even stronger, with some roadways performing up to 50 years longer than their expected service life.

Many other materials provide high performance in the short term but require time-consuming and costly upkeep in the long term. When working with Ozinga’s concrete, you can be assured that you’re making a worthwhile and long-lasting investment.

Filtercrete Pour at the WMS Boathouse

Ozinga partnered with Studio Gang to help build the WMS Boathouse at Clark Park

Chicago Boathouse Project | Ozinga, Studio Gang, and Recovery on Water

More Sustainable Products & Services

Find your nearest Ozinga Location for product availability.

View All Locations