Paving the Way for Panorama – Unilock Pavers

When it comes to curb appeal, the Panorama Idea Home has it all—a sprawling luxury single-level home set against the picturesque backdrop of Breckenridge, Colorado. But one key feature that elevates this high-alpine retreat above its neighbors is the eco-friendly permeable paver driveway by Unilock.

“I've been joking with people that if you want your average, run-of-the-mill $5,000,000 second home to really stand out, don’t go with an asphalt driveway because everyone does,” quipped Gene Myers, Thrive Home Builders’ founder and chief sustainability officer. “Having pavers really makes it unique and gives the whole project another touch of feeling really high-end.”

The pavers Thrive chose for the Panorama Idea Home were Treo Smooth from Unilock. The stones offer a sleek and modern appearance, come in a contemporary color palette, and contribute to the sustainability goals of the project.

Easy on the Eyes, Good for the Environment

“The pavers have wider joints and are inherently permeable,” says Myers. “That is a great help for the local environment in a number of ways.” At the top of the benefit list of permeable pavers is stormwater runoff management. Rain and snowmelt are absorbed directly through and between the pavers, increasing local groundwater supplies while also limiting the stress on local water management systems. Though not necessary for the Panorama Idea Home, Unilock’s permeable pavers can help builders meet impervious coverage requirements, thus reducing the need for detention and retention ponds in larger communities, allowing for more development space.

The Treo Smooth stones also help with basic wintertime maintenance.

“These pavers perform well in snow and ice, with rapid melting. As opposed to plain concrete paths, there shouldn’t be much snow to shovel in the shoulder seasons,” says Myers. During winter months when the air temperature is 28 F or warmer, ground heat radiates up through the spaces between the stones to melt the first few inches of snow. Because the pavers are permeable the snow melt water moves off the surface and into the soil. This helps keep pathways clear of ice that can form on cement and non-permeable surfaces as snow melt pools.

A final environmental attribute the Treo Smooth stones offer the project is that, unlike asphalt or concrete, the pavers are completely reusable.

“When we look at the life cycle of the home, at some point we know things will be replaced or changed,” says Myers. “There just isn’t much you can do when you jackhammer out concrete or try to recycle asphalt. These pavers can just be removed and directly reused on another project. From an embodied carbon standpoint, it’s a one-time investment that could last literally centuries.”

Non-Issue Installation

Beyond the aesthetic and visual attributes, historical experience with Unilock products has given Thrive confidence in the paver option. Myers notes several benefits to using the Treo Smooth stones for all areas, including the long curved driveway, patio, rear walking paths, and around the hot tub.

“One of the key features is that the pavers install really well. Our installers just knocked it out,” says Myers. “I was a little concerned about how it would work with our design of curved edges with the square Treo blocks, but it was a non-issue. It went in fast, and they did a beautiful job.”

The pavers have already proven to be durable, even through a winter season of construction at 9,600 feet of elevation. Myers discovered no damage, cracks, or issues of any kind with the pavers after months of use by contractors and installers working on the Panorama Idea Home.

The combination of beauty and environmental responsibility are the organizing principles of the Panorama Idea Home, and by partnering with Unilock, Thrive was able to deliver a home that is easy on the eyes and the environment.

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See Unilock products for the Panorama Idea Home