Designing your Concrete Driveway is an important part of building a beautiful, functional, and durable home. In addition to providing visual satisfaction, a well-designed driveway will increase the overall value of your home. Good planning is the first step to creating a concrete driveway, and it can prevent problems later on. The first consideration is the size of your driveway.
One of the most important steps when constructing a concrete driveway is the application of a sealant. This is done to help protect the concrete from the elements and to prevent staining. It is also important to thoroughly tamp the concrete slab and to use a coarse brush to finish the surface. Typically, residential driveways require a day or two to cure.
To install a concrete driveway, you must have a solid, stable surface. Depending on the type of soil that you have, stabilization may be necessary. In some cases, a freshly-laid gravel base layer is preferred. However, if you do not have this kind of material, you can hire a professional to pour the concrete.
A good driveway should be sloped towards the street so that water can drain away. It should also have control joints to prevent random cracks. Random cracks are not structural failures, but they do reduce the aesthetic appeal of the driveway. In addition to controlling water evaporation, control joints are necessary to prevent random cracking.
The first step in the construction of a concrete driveway is to remove any vegetation and ensure a stable foundation. Next, the sub-base must be sufficiently compacted so that the concrete will be able to hold its weight. The sub-base should be at least four inches thick. Once the sub-base is ready, a layer of class-5 gravel must be laid down. After this, the reinforcement material is added above the packed gravel base. This reinforcement material consists of a steel wire grid and metal rebar laid in a criss-cross pattern.
Aside from improving the look of your property, concrete driveways also prevent land erosion and help keep cars clean. To make the installation process as smooth and as inexpensive as possible, there are several steps that must be followed. For instance, proper site preparation is essential to ensure that the concrete driveway lasts as long as possible and saves you money in the long run.
The thickness of the concrete driveway also affects the price. A standard driveway is four inches thick. Any thicker will result in a higher cost. In addition, thicker driveways are more resistant to heavy vehicles. However, adding an inch to the thickness increases the price by around 25%.
Although concrete driveways are incredibly durable and practical, they can develop issues over time. The concrete itself is not meant to be indestructible, and stains on it can cause a host of aesthetic issues. If you notice a stain right away, you’ll find it easier to get rid of it than later.
Concrete driveways can be cleaned with cleaning chemicals or power washing machines. Homeowners can rent power washing equipment or purchase their own. However, if your concrete driveway is new, you may want to hire a professional to power wash it for you. This will not only get rid of any dirt or grime that may have accumulated over time but will also help seal the driveway. The sealer will prevent further crack expansion, and it will also help protect the concrete from freeze-thaw damage.
While the surface of a concrete driveway does not require resurfacing, it should be cleaned frequently to prevent rust and other damage. Regular power washing will remove dirt, tree sap, grime, and oil stains. You should also use a high-quality commercial sealer, which is available at building supply stores and hardware stores. The wet-look seal is a bit more expensive, but it will prevent stains from forming and will also prevent oil and grease buildup, although it will need to be reapplied every three to five years.
Regular application of de-icing fluid and salt can cause damage to a concrete driveway, so avoid the use of them. Salt and de-icers can cause cracks in concrete, particularly in newer concrete. Moreover, they can harm your plants, weeds, and metal. If you need to use deicing products, it’s best to use a natural, mineral-based product, such as sand.
While concrete is a durable material, it can only take so much abuse before it starts to crack and break. Heavy trucks and equipment can also cause damage to concrete driveways. If you plan to park a large vehicle on your concrete driveway, be sure to park it in the street instead.
