Ottawa Permeable Driveway
At Glennview Place in Ottawa, a homeowner faced a familiar but frustrating problem. Their garage sat at the bottom of the driveway, and every heavy rain sent water migrating toward the apron and pooling where it was least welcome. Over time, that kind of repeated water collection does more than create a nuisance. It can accelerate surface wear, contribute to freeze-thaw stress, and increase the risk of water intrusion at the garage threshold.
PRODUCT SELECTION
To address the issue at the source, the project team selected the ROMEX TRASS RSG system with ROMEX DRAIN (2-component resin jointing). This combination was chosen specifically for its ability to support a permeable assembly with large joints, allowing water to move through the surface rather than gathering and pushing toward the garage.
PROJECT LOCATION
PROJECT NEEDS
The driveway apron needed to do one job exceptionally well: prevent water from collecting at the garage. That required a solution that could:
- Manage rainfall at the surface before it reached the threshold
- Perform reliably through Ottawa’s seasonal freeze-thaw cycles
- Integrate with the property’s existing drainage strategy
An important project detail was that water management below the ROMEX TRASS assembly was tied into a drywell, which also received runoff from multiple downspouts. From there, overflow was directed safely toward a ravine, providing a controlled path for excess water during high-volume events.
PROJECT SOLUTION
Rather than allowing rainfall to sheet toward the garage slab, the apron was designed to accept water through the joint network and move it into the drainage layer below. From there, the system directed water to the on-site drywell, aligning the apron’s performance with the broader stormwater plan for the property. The result was a clean, durable entry point that actively reduced water collection at the garage, improving both day-to-day usability and long-term resilience.
