SmartPave Case Study | Permeable Paved Garden Floor

The Challenge: 

We all have that one neglected corner in our backyard—a space that’s just begging to be transformed. Maybe it’s a patch of land that’s been overlooked, or perhaps it’s sitting next to a less-than-appealing neighbour’s fence that you’d love to cover up. Turning that area into a vegetable garden might seem like a great idea, but the unpredictable weather can make growing your own produce a real challenge. So, how do you make the most of that unsightly or unused space while overcoming these obstacles? For Janine and her husband, the answer was clear: build a greenhouse. But instead of pouring a concrete floor, which felt too harsh and permanent, they sought an eco-friendly solution that would be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

 The Solution:

SmartPave is an innovative, permeable flooring solution that ticks all the boxes for a greenhouse. It allows for excellent drainage, insulates the greenhouse from cold, keeps out weeds and pests, and is comfortable underfoot. “It’s a bit more organic,” Janine notes, “and I quite like that crunchy gravel underfoot.”

Here’s what makes SmartPave an excellent choice:

• Geotextile Backing and Honeycomb design: The backing keeps weeds at bay while the honeycomb design ensures the pebbles stay in place.
• Permeability: Water drains easily through the surface, preventing puddles and waterlogging, so it’s easy to water plants without making a mess.
• Versatility: SurePave is easy to cut into any shape with a hand or circular saw, making it adaptable to various spaces and layouts.

Janine and her husband found SmartPave especially useful for the gap between their greenhouse and a raised garden bed, creating a convenient spot to park the wheelbarrow. Unlike bare ground or concrete, SurePave drains well and looks much nicer.

Although building the greenhouse itself came with a few challenges—like working in tight spaces and dealing with the heat—laying the SmartPave was a breeze. “By the time we got to the SmartPave, that was welcome relief because it was just really straightforward,” Janine says. They used CalcuPave to figure out exactly how much they needed, which made the process even easier.

The SmartPave surface was also ideal for their potting bench. The bench sits firmly on the gravel, and the geotextile backing ensures no weeds grow through, making maintenance a breeze. Janine appreciates how stable and firm the surface is, even for heavy tasks like moving a fully loaded wheelbarrow.

 The Result: 

With the greenhouse complete, Janine now enjoys a functional and visually appealing space where there was once only an unused patch of land. Laying the SmartPave panels took just a couple of hours—a quick morning project, as Janine describes it. Thanks to the Strol installation guidelines, the process was straightforward and stress-free.

Now, instead of staring at a bare patch of land and an unsightly fence, Janine has a beautiful greenhouse that’s dog-proof and a joy to use. Inspired by their success, she and her husband are already planning a bigger and better greenhouse, with SmartPave as their go-to flooring solution once again. “It’s much nicer than just pouring concrete,” she says, “and it’s stable enough for anything—even rolling a wheelie bin over it.”

SmartPave has not only transformed Janine’s garden but also opened new possibilities for future projects. Whether it’s a new greenhouse or garden paths, SmartPave offers a sustainable, easy-to-install, stylish solution that aligns perfectly with the Strol commitment to “Enhancing Tomorrow.”