I am now the proud owner of the first fully permeable Dream Pave driveway and walkway in Bolton. There is one other in Caledon, but that belongs to an owner of the company, so it doesn’t count. I get bragging rights on this one. For pictures of the finished product go to DreamPave.ca, and under “Projects” look for the “Permeable Driveway Using Resin Bound Aggregate in Caledon” … the pictures are worth a thousand words.

Tom Cordeiro is the dreamer behind Dream Pave, and Phil Pinto is the landscaper who makes the Dream come true. The two men have been friends since boyhood and their trust in each other shows in the quality of their business partnership. As an added bonus, both  men live in Caledon – home grown entrepreneurs!

Phil’s crew from Almeida Landscaping Company worked ceaselessly through high heat and thunderstorms to complete the project right on schedule. Phil excavated an almost two foot deep bed that he later filled with tons of gravel. The team tamped and levelled the surface precisely. They removed our old curbstones without breaking one, and laid them back like they were building the Temple of the Sun. I have rarely seen such workmanship and attention to detail as the Almeida team displayed.

On the final day, Tom showed up with huge bags of granite gravel that the teams combined with the bonding resin. They meticulously poured out batches that Phil smoothed to perfection with a large concrete polishing fan. The team celebrated with a group lunch and toasts at La Bomba Taco in Bolton. We couldn’t walk on it for a while or park on it for five days, but when we could, I danced on the driveway exclaiming, “This is a work of art.” You can get away with dancing on your driveway when you’re a senior.

My son, the engineer, was sceptical about the permeability paving. At the first rainstorm, he rushed to the front door and watched the water disappear. He became a believer. I have never been so happy with a home project ever: timetable kept, costs met as per contract, finished product above excellent. Yes, more expensive than the regular re-covering of a driveway, but there’s no more assfault on my turf. Our driveway is clean, green, strong, and long lasting.. Welcome to the 21st century.

This permeable Driveway will allow stormwater to filter back into the water table and divert it from polluting our rivers, lakes and ponds. There is less carbon footprint to produce permeable pavement than using asphalt or concrete, no heavy machinery, and a truly beautiful finished product.

Now, keep reading if you’d like to know the history. Tori Newton and Andy Newton of Stone Set (offspring of Michael Newton who was one of the UK founders/directors) and the brand they have now built and partnered with Dream Pave is Stone Set.

Their website says it best: “StoneSet are the TRUE pioneers of resin-bound paving. Installing for 35+ Years, from UK to Siberia to Australia. Dream Pave now offers StoneSet in Canada! The Stoneset Premium resin delivers a permeable pavement that is 100% permeable, made with Canadian natural stone, it was developed for driveways, walkways, tree and pool surrounds. StoneSet by Dream Pave, creates a durable surface, highly suitable for vehicular traffic, while also allowing water to pass through.”

Now we have StoneSet technology right here in Caledon thanks to Tom Cordeiro of Dream Pave and Phil Pinto of Almeida Landscaping, using Canadian granite and Canadian resin. Think Global, buy Local, invest in Canadian entrepreneurs!

I started lecturing about the benefits of a permeable paved community back in 1989. It took a while but I finally put my money where my water table begins. The way I see it.

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Note: StoneSet Australia’s tagline: “For more than a decade, we have demonstrated a sincere dedication to various projects, regardless of their size. As a result, we have gained the trust of local governments, businesses, and homeowners. We take pride in providing reliable services to our valued clients.

The solution we offer is not one dimensional. Our permeable paving is the product for those who want a solution that survives the test of time as much as they want stunning visual appeal that Australian sourced stone provides. All of StoneSet’s eco-friendly resin bound products are fully backed by Governments, schools, businesses & homeowners since 2008. We take pride delivering our Australian-made products to clients with customer service excellence & 10-year guarantee. Our extensive Australian wide approved installer network allows for us to ensure a high quality experience & result from start to finish.”