Comparisons
Paver Blocks vs RCC & Bitumen Roads
Technical comparison covering performance, manufacturing, durability, installation and other relevant criteria for paver blocks vs rcc & bitumen roads.
| FEATURES | PAVER BLOCKS | REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE (R.C.C.) | BITUMEN (ASPHALT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy | >20 years | >20 years | 5-10 years (with frequent resurfacing) |
| Initial Cost | Medium | High | Low |
| Construction Time | Medium as pavers are laid manually. After construction immediate use is possible. | Very High as after construction 15-20 days required for curing | Low. After construction, use possible within 1-2 days. |
| Rainwater Drainage | Permeable Pavers allow water to pass through to the base thereby reduce pooling or flooding in heavy rain | Surface is impermeable and drainage must be achieved by proper surface camber and slope. | Surface is impermeable and drainage must be achieved by proper surface camber and slope. |
| Safety | Good slip and skid resistance, helps reduce braking distances. | Prone to slippage and skidding during rain and due to spills. | Good traction and skid resistance. |
| Surface Cracks | Not affected by rainwater or thermal heat of expansion (due to small unit size and mass). | Prone to cracks due to large thermal mass (which requires provision of expansion joints) and due to poor base preparation. | Heavy rains, extreme temperatures and wear and tear result in cracks and rutting leading to potholes. |
| Repairs | Easy, fast, and inexpensive as even a single paver block can be removed, and re-laid/ replaced. Repaired area is available for immediate use. | Difficult, time consuming and expensive as whole concrete slab may have to be replaced and re-cast. | Cracks, potholes can be repaired inexpensively and quickly by patch work. But repaired area is often not durable due to poor work quality. |
| Reuse | Same blocks can be removed and reinstated after repairs. | Cannot be reused but can be crushed for recycling. | Cannot be reused but can be crushed for recycling. |
| Quality | Factory produced in large volumes to meet stringent specifications and Indian Standards for strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance and dimensional tolerances. | Cast at site and hence dependant on quality of concrete and compaction at the site. | Since asphalt is a flexible pavement, its strength relies heavily on the subgrade, subbase and base materials being well compacted and the right material. |
| Environmental Issues | Paver block usage has no harmful effects on the environment. | Concrete pavement construction has no harmful effects on the environment. | Process of melting bitumen creates greenhouse gases that contribute to environmental pollution. |
