Do permeable pavers clog over time?

They can if they're neglected - over years, fine debris builds up in the joints and slows drainage. The fix is easy: an occasional rinse or a light vacuum of the joints keeps them draining for a very long time. The bigger risk is a permeable patio built wrong - on sand instead of the correct open-graded stone base - which clogs within a season and becomes an expensive regular patio. Built right and lightly maintained, permeable paving drains for decades.

Do permeable pavers help with Somerville's Green Score?

Yes - that's one of the main reasons homeowners here ask about them. Somerville's Green Score stormwater ordinance can factor into your project when you add or replace hardscape, and permeable paving is one of the ways to earn credit by keeping rainwater on-site instead of sending it toward the street. We're permeable paver installers and can design a patio, walkway, or driveway that both looks great and helps your lot meet the requirement.

Which is cheaper, permeable or regular pavers?

Regular pavers are usually a little cheaper up front, mainly because permeable systems need a deeper, engineered open-graded stone base. But if your project has a drainage problem or a stormwater requirement, regular pavers may need added drainage work to do the same job - which narrows or erases the gap. We price both honestly for your specific site.

Can permeable pavers be used for a driveway?

Absolutely - driveways are one of the best uses for permeable paving. A permeable driveway lets rainwater and snowmelt soak straight through instead of running off into the street, which cuts puddling and ice and takes pressure off the storm system. It has to be built with the right open-graded base and enough depth for vehicle loads, and in some towns the base is inspected before the pavers go down. Done right, it's a driveway that drains for decades.

Permeable vs. Regular Pavers: Which Should You Choose?

Q: Are permeable pavers worth the extra cost?

They usually cost a bit more up front because they need a deeper open-graded stone base, but they're worth it when you have a real reason: a wet or poorly-draining yard, a driveway, or a stormwater requirement like Somerville's Green Score. In those cases permeable paving solves drainage and can help you meet the rules at the same time - so the extra cost buys you a real problem solved, not just a nice-to-have. If your yard already drains fine, regular pavers with proper pitch may be all you need.

Q: What are the different types of permeable pavers?

The main types are open-jointed concrete pavers (the most common - water drains through wide, stone-filled joints), porous concrete unit pavers, porous asphalt, and pervious concrete. For most residential driveways and patios we use open-jointed concrete pavers from makers like Techo-Bloc or Unilock - they look sharp, come in many styles, and drain well on the right stone base. The paver on top matters less than the open-graded stone bed and the install underneath, which is what actually makes it work.

Short answer

Choose permeable pavers when you have a real reason: a wet or poorly-draining yard, a driveway, or a stormwater requirement like Somerville's Green Score. They let rainwater drain straight through instead of running off - solving drainage and helping you meet the rules at once. Choose regular pavers when your yard already drains fine and you want the widest design options at a slightly lower cost, built with proper pitch. Either way, the base is everything - permeable especially only works if it's built on the correct open-graded stone. We install both. See our paver services.

People hear "permeable pavers" and assume newer = better. Not always. Permeable paving is a fantastic tool for the right job - and unnecessary spend on the wrong one. Here's the honest difference and how to know which you actually need.

The real difference is underneath

On the surface they can look almost identical. The difference is how they handle water. Regular pavers are set tight over a compacted base and shed water off the surface - so the patio has to be pitched and drained properly to send water where you want it. Permeable pavers are set with small open joints over a deep bed of open-graded (single-size) stone, so rainwater drains straight down through the surface into the ground instead of running off.

(If you’ve searched for a “driveway that drains” or one that “lets water through,” that’s a permeable paver — most people don’t know the word.)

Permeable pavers

Pros: water drains through instead of running off - cuts puddling, ice, and runoff; helps meet stormwater rules like Somerville's Green Score; ideal for driveways and flat/wet yards; keeps water off your foundation and out of the storm system.
Cons: costs a bit more (needs a deeper, engineered open-graded base); needs occasional joint cleaning (a rinse or light vacuum) to keep draining; must be built correctly - on open-graded stone, not sand - or it clogs.

Regular pavers

Pros: the widest range of looks and patterns; usually a little cheaper up front; simpler, well-proven build; perfect when the yard already drains well.
Cons: sheds water off the surface, so drainage and pitch have to be planned right; doesn't help with stormwater compliance; a poorly-drained yard can still pool or heave if the grading isn't handled.

“Permeable isn't automatically better - it's better for a reason. Drainage problem, driveway, or Green Score? Go permeable. Yard drains fine? Regular pavers done right are perfect.”

Side by side

	Permeable pavers	Regular pavers
Water	Drains straight through into the ground	Sheds off the surface - needs pitch & drainage
Best for	Driveways, wet/flat yards, stormwater rules	Well-draining yards, maximum design options
Cost	A bit more (deeper open-graded base)	Usually a little less up front
Upkeep	Occasional joint rinse/vacuum to keep draining	Standard paver upkeep (joint sand every few years)
Green Score	Can help earn stormwater credit	Doesn't count toward it
Build risk	Fails fast if built on sand instead of open stone	Fails if pitch/drainage is skipped

When permeable is worth it

Go permeable if any of these fit: your yard pools or drains poorly, you're doing a driveway, or you're in a city with stormwater rules - most notably Somerville's Green Score, where permeable paving can help your lot meet the requirement while solving drainage. In dense neighborhoods where every surface sheds water toward the street, permeable is often the smart call. If none of that applies and your yard already drains well, regular pavers with proper pitch will serve you great for less.

Either way, the base decides it

This matters even more with permeable: it only works if it's built on the correct open-graded stone base, at the right depth, with a proper edge - and in some towns the base is inspected before the pavers go down. A permeable patio built like a regular one clogs within a season. Built right, it drains for decades. For the full Somerville picture, see permeable paving & the Green Score, and for stormwater around trees and lots, Cambridge's rules.

Not sure which your yard needs?

Tell us about your space - if it drains fine, we'll say so and save you money. If you've got water problems or a Green Score to meet, we'll design permeable that solves it. Free on-site look, honest advice, straight written price.

Request a Free Quote 📞 (781) 859-5304

Permeable vs. regular pavers FAQs

Are permeable pavers worth the extra cost?

Worth it when you have a real reason - a wet yard, a driveway, or a stormwater rule like the Green Score. If your yard already drains fine, regular pavers with proper pitch may be all you need.

Do permeable pavers clog?

Only if neglected - an occasional rinse or light vacuum keeps them draining for years. The real risk is one built on sand instead of open-graded stone, which clogs fast.

Do they help with Somerville's Green Score?

Yes - permeable paving is one way to earn stormwater credit by keeping rainwater on-site. We can design a patio, walkway, or driveway that helps your lot meet the requirement.

Which is cheaper?

Regular pavers are usually a little cheaper up front. But if your site needs drainage work anyway, regular pavers can need added drainage - which narrows the gap. We price both for your site.

Can permeable be used for a driveway?

Yes - driveways are one of the best uses. Built with the right open-graded base and depth for vehicle loads (and often a base inspection), a permeable driveway drains for decades.

What are the different types of permeable pavers?

Mainly open-jointed concrete pavers (most common), porous concrete unit pavers, porous asphalt, and pervious concrete. For homes we usually use open-jointed concrete pavers (Techo-Bloc, Unilock) — good looks and good drainage. What’s underneath — the open-graded stone base — matters more than the paver on top.

Published July 17, 2026 · American Elm Landscape LLC, Greater Boston. General guidance for New England residential paving; whether permeable is right depends on your site's drainage, use, and local stormwater rules. Confirm requirements with your town.