Dale Vine and Natural Paving: A Partnership Built on Sustainable Outdoor Design

Dale Vine is an Australian landscaper and media personality, widely recognised as a fan-favourite from the reality TV show The Block. A qualified landscaper, Dale has built a career sharing his expertise in DIY and home improvement projects. Following his successful and very popular runs on The Block in 2012, 2013, and 2014, Dale launched his own television show, DVine Living, where he provides practical tips for home and garden renovations. In 2024, Natural Paving teamed up with Dale to showcase just how well this permeable paver can improve your home.

In this blog, we’re going to look at the upgrade of his tired, old concrete paver driveway, transforming it from a bumpy, impermeable surface into a modern, ecologically friendly alternative by using Natural Paving permeable pavers, and give you an insight into just how quick and easy the entire driveway was to install, and how he added street appeal and value to his home.

From Flooding to Functionality: How Natural Paving Solved a Driveway Drainage Problem.

Leading from the road, down a slight slope toward the garage of a his two-storied home, this concrete paver driveway was beginning to show signs of wear and tear, with dips and ruts forming under vehicle strain. It also proved hazardous during and after storms. Being an impermeable surface, water had nowhere to go, with excess water running down the slope, damaging gardens and threatening to enter the garage. It was time for a change, so Dale turned to Natural Paving to solve multiple problems.

The first was slowing the flow of water during storms. Though not a steep slope, any driveway is a large surface, and collects a lot of water. When that isn’t managed properly, it naturally finds its way to the lowest point, sometimes at pace, scouring soil and plant life along the way. Permeable paving prevents that by allowing rainwater to filter through the surface into the ground below, where excess water can be directed toward stormwater drains.

The second was creating a surface that was durable enough to take the stress of vehicle use without rutting. Natural Paving uses a honeycomb design, which means the gravel surface is locked in place, so even on sloped driveways, the stones won’t shift under stress of rain or vehicle use. An engineered geotextile is bonded to the underside of each paver, which not only allows water to pass through, but also prevents softer materials like subbase soils from migrating into the gravel surface above. This prevents rutting, for the combination of stone, durable pavers and geotextile help to spread the weight of moving vehicles.

The concrete pavers layer had formed a compacted subsurface, upon which it was easy to lay the Natural Paving pavers. All that was required was to make sure it was flat and free of any sharp materials like sticks, roots or stones.

The ease of installation meant that once the original concrete pavers were removed, the entire driveway was placed and filled in a day. No waiting for concrete to set, no laborious placement of concrete pavers, just laying the Natural Paving, cutting them to fit and filling with stones.

 Why Permeable Pavers Are the Smarter Choice for Driveways and Landscapes.

The key feature of permeable pavers like Natural Paving is their ability to allow water to pass directly through the surface into the ground below. This contrasts with traditional, impermeable surfaces like concrete, which cause water to pool or run off.

 Design and construction

• Permeable grid: Products like Natural Paving feature a unique honeycomb or grid design. This structure holds the surface infill, such as pebbles or grass, securely in place while creating voids for water to pass through.
• Geotextile backing: A bonded geotextile layer under the paver prevents the surface aggregates from migrating into the sub-base. This maintains the integrity of the surface and prevents sinking or rutting.

Environmental benefits

• Reduces stormwater runoff: By absorbing water where it falls, permeable pavers drastically reduce the volume and speed of runoff, which helps prevent flooding and eases the burden on stormwater infrastructure.
• Filters pollutants:  Permeable pavers and the sub-base acts as a natural filter, trapping and removing pollutants like oil, heavy metals, and suspended solids before they can contaminate groundwater or local waterways.
• Replenishes groundwater: Allowing water to seep back into the earth naturally helps to recharge local groundwater supplies.
• Mitigates urban heat: Permeable surfaces, especially those with lighter materials or grass, absorb less heat than asphalt or solid concrete, which helps to cool urban environments.

Practical advantages

• Highly durable: Despite their ability to let water through, permeable systems are engineered to be strong and durable enough for high-traffic areas, including driveways.
• Low maintenance: Compared to traditional gravel surfaces that can shift and form ruts, the grid structure of pavers like Natural Paving holds the infill securely in place, requiring minimal upkeep.
• Aesthetically pleasing: Natural Paving can be used with a range of aggregate, such as natural river pebbles or granite chips, providing a sophisticated look that can be customised to suit different outdoor designs.
• Usable all year: Surfaces drain quickly, eliminating puddles and ice formation in winter, which makes pathways and driveways safer and more functional in all seasons.

 The Finished Look: A Stylish, Sustainable Driveway That Stands the Test of Time.

 The result was a modern, quick-to-install system that not only looks great, but manages stormwater to help keep the surrounding landscape healthy. The driveway now has great curb side appeal, creating an elegant entrance to the home that will keep its appeal for years to come. Because it is stable, tyres won’t rut the surface, nor will puddles or potholes form.

As a landscaper, Dale chose this product for its durability, natural look, and sustainable design, stating that this permeable paving solution was easy to install and perfect for modern outdoor spaces.

Head down to your local Bunnings store and let Natural Paving help create a more beautiful, manageable landscape around your home.