Rubber sidewalks

Helping Hands

By jimw ⋅ May 13, 2009 ⋅

What can one do when their sidewalks start deteriorating and cracking, especially if you want to be “green”? I’ve put together some information I read on the mtairygreening group.

Here’s an article about runner sidewalks http://www.paversearch.com/sidewalk-pavers-rubber.htm.

And here’s a company who does them http://www.rubbersidewalks.com/.

Here is the contact info for the east coast rep for this company (Ben Costa bencosta@rubbersidewalks.com, 610-633-5656).

You might want to call Charlie White (m) 302-547-3063 of Rubber Sidewalks. He said he could arrange to have someone come out to install the sidewalks in Philly. They are Terrewalks – shown on web site www.rubbersidewalks.com.

It is made from fly ash, recycled tires and irrigation tubing – looks like either white marble or slate material.

But it has interlocking ears and all you have to do is get the base right with 3/8″ to 1 1/2″ crushed angular stone with no fines, then put a layer of myrafy (sp) fabric (to make it easy to slide terra-walks together)

The product is much more durable than concrete, very dense, and it has a slight crown in the center so water drains to the edges.

They’re permeable at the seams. They’re 24″x30″ sections that snap together like Lego’s. They are labor saving.

Mr. White presented the idea to councilman Kenney’s office in Philly and Charlie said the City is looking to do this in a trial project in Center City.

Advantages:
*Permeable Surface
*Longer lasting than concrete
*For businesses, you avoid a fee that is charged in Philly for area of impervious surfaces
*Cost is probably 2x that of concrete now, but it will come down as volume increases.

The rubber sidewalks were developed by Lindsay Smith, who is primary stockholder – she came up with the idea because she was trying to save a tree. Apparently she’s looking for investors.

Charlie also sells other products that either work with storm water management or have recycled content.

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