How to Build a Concrete Driveway: 9 Tips from the Pros
- 1. Get a Building Permit Before you start rolling up your sleeves, check to see whether or not you’re allowed to do this project. ...
- 2. Remove Your Current Driveway ...
- 3. Plan Your New Concrete Driveway ...
- 4. Gather All the Materials ...
- 5. Lay the Foundation ...
- 6. Mix and Pour the Concrete ...
- 7. Strike and Smooth Wet Concrete ...
- 8. Edge the Driveway ...
Full Answer
How to properly prepare a concrete driveway?
Part 1 Part 1 of 3: Making a Plan
- Check local ordinances to know if you need a permit. ...
- Plan your driveway’s size, shape and route. Draw out the basic outline of your driveway. ...
- Determine how much concrete you’ll need. ...
- Decide on your forms and reinforcement materials. ...
- Do a cost estimate using your concrete order and other supplies. ...
- Add sand or clay to firm up the soil. ...
How to pour a perfect concrete driveway?
Pour the concrete in small sections. Spread the concrete by moving the chute back and forth and by having the driver pull forward as you go. Once the truck has reached the end of a section, spread the concrete out evenly, and a touch higher than the form, with a concrete placer/rake.
What are some alternatives to concrete driveway?
Top Alternatives To Replace Your Concrete Driveway
- Gravel. Gravel isn’t just a common but highly preferred driveway material in many regions that experience exceedingly low temperatures.
- Asphalt. A frequently used option in lieu of concrete is asphalt. ...
- Brick. Driveways made of brick are quite popular in a lot of circles due to the vivid personality they add to the house.
- Rubber. ...
- Timber. ...
How much does it cost to replace a driveway?
- Driveway size, material, and thickness have the most significant impact on the total project cost.
- Labor typically makes up 50% of the total project cost.
- Designs with stamped patterns, colored stains, finishes, or stencils add $2 to $15 per square foot.
- Borders featuring stone or brick pavers cost $10 to $25 per square foot.
Can I cement my driveway myself?
You can build an attractive concrete driveway yourself, but careful planning and preparation is necessary. Be sure to place all the concrete at once; a big driveway can be broken down into smaller manageable sections using 2x4's. Build and install forms, making sure they're level and properly graded for drainage.
How do you prepare the ground for a concrete driveway?
Use shovels and rakes to make sure there are no weeds, large rocks and stones left within the area. Then add the forms, fill in the area with at least 4 inches of fill sand, stone or gravel and wire-mesh reinforcement as a solid base for the concrete.
How thick does the concrete need to be for a driveway?
four inchesAs for thickness, non-reinforced pavement four inches thick is standard for passenger car driveways. For heavier vehicles, a thickness of five inches is recommended.
Can you pour concrete driveway over dirt?
Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.
Is gravel necessary under concrete?
You do need gravel under a concrete slab, footing, or patio. Gravel provides a solid foundation for your concrete as it can be compacted. It also improves drainage, preventing water from pooling beneath the concrete.
What happens if you don't put gravel under concrete?
Because concrete is a very porous material, it will absorb any moisture that it contacts. This can cause pooling. Without crushed stone, pooling water will settle under it and erode your slab. Adding a layer of crushed stone will add proper drainage, as well as create a barrier between your slab and the ground.
Do I need rebar in concrete driveway?
This strength is crucial for things like buildings, roads and driveways. Rebar is not necessary for every concrete project. The general rule of thumb is that if you are pouring concrete that is more than 5 inches in depth, you are probably going to want to add in some rebar to help reinforce the entire structure.
Do you need rebar for 4 inch slab?
Generally, you do not need rebar for a 4-inch slab. But if one should choose to reinforce their concrete patio, the reinforcement bar they should use should be a size #3, which is 3/8 in diameter. Generally, rebar has an immense impact on concrete.
Is wire mesh necessary in concrete driveway?
When it comes to concrete, you can't avoid cracks entirely, but wire mesh reinforcement will help hold the material together when they do occur. Also, it will help evenly distribute the weight of cars on your driveway. The added strength of steel is especially crucial if your subgrade isn't up to par.
Should you put plastic under concrete?
0:101:02Why a Plastic Vapor Barrier Under Concrete Slab - Mondays with MikeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut you want to have a six mil plastic. That's code to put down over the slab or I should say theMoreBut you want to have a six mil plastic. That's code to put down over the slab or I should say the dirt. Before you pour your slab. The reason that is is moisture migrates from the dirt up.
How long does 4 inches of concrete take to cure?
How long does four to six inches of concrete take to cure? As stated previously, concrete takes approximately 26-30 days to reach its full strength. If the concrete is professionally poured and floated, the curing process should be sound and ensure proper hardening of the concrete base.
What do I need to know before pouring concrete?
Here are five of the most important things you can do before you start pouring concrete at a jobsite:Conduct a pre-slab meeting to iron out plans. ... Inspect formwork thoroughly. ... Check reinforcing steel. ... Make sure you have the right materials and equipment. ... Double-check the materials and jobsite to ensure readiness.
What do you put on the ground before concrete?
To shore up the subsurface, sprinkle a thin layer of cement sand onto the gravel and dampen it with water. Do not leave any standing water and allow the dampened sand to dry for about an hour before pouring the concrete. Ground preparation is key to pouring sidewalk, driveway or any other concrete slab.
What is the best sub-base for concrete?
The best sub-base for a concrete slab is gravel. The soil has to be prepped first before the gravel can be laid down; pouring concrete directly onto rock is not considered a best practice. You can use different kinds of gravel for the subbase as long as it is clean and uniform in shape and size.
What do you put down before pouring concrete?
Laying Down the Base Before you can put down a concrete slab, you have to lay down a base. A solid base protects the concrete from settling dirt, water runoff, and other natural hazards.
What do you put under concrete before pouring it?
Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. Gravel is especially important in clay soil because it doesn't drain well, which results in water pooling under the concrete slab and slowly eroding the soil as it finally drains.
How thick should a driveway be?
Place concrete at a minimum thickness of 4 inches. Increasing the thickness from 4 inches to 5 inches will add approximately 20% to your concrete cost, but will also boost your driveway's load-carrying capacity nearly 50% , ...
What are the biggest mistakes that occur during the finishing of concrete driveways?
The biggest mistakes that occur during the finishing of concrete driveways are overworking the surface and performing finishing operations while bleedwater is present.
What is the most common machine used for subgrade compaction of residential driveways?
Vibratory plate compactors and rammers are the most common machines used for subgrade compaction of residential driveways. Click here to read more about subgrades and subbases for concrete slabs.
Why use steel reinforcement on driveway?
Using steel reinforcement will provide additional structural capacity for your driveway and is especially important if the slab will be exposed to heavy traffic. Reinforcement won't prevent cracks, but it will help hold them together if they do occur.
How to cure concrete that has been acid stained?
Methods of curing include covering the concrete with plastic sheets or wet cu ring blankets, continuous sprinkling, and application of a liquid membrane-forming curing compound. For slabs that are to be acid stained, wet curing is the best approach, since a curing compound would have to be completely removed to allow the acid stain to penetrate. The most common way to cure plain or integrally colored concrete, though, is to use a liquid curing compound. Read more about why curing concrete is important and how it's done.
What is the purpose of a screed on concrete?
Level or strike off the concrete with a screed to achieve a uniform surface.
Can you use synthetic fibers in concrete?
In either case, blocks should be used under the reinforcement to keep centered within the concrete. Synthetic fibers have also proven to be beneficial in driveways as a way to reduce shrinkage cracks. Fibers will not provide structural reinforcement, however. (See Using Fibers for Secondary Reinforcement .)
HOW CAN I MAKE MY DRIVEWAY BIGGER?
The most permanent way to increase the size of your driveway is to do a concrete driveway extension. With this option, you can have a concrete contractor add concrete where you would like your driveway widened. After that, you have three options:
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO EXPAND A DRIVEWAY?
The cost to widen a driveway depends on a variety of factors. What type of material will you be using (will you widen your driveway with pavers, concrete, gravel, or a different material)? What’s the size of the expansion area? To figure out your exact driveway extension cost, you’ll need to discuss details with a local contractor, but here are some estimates that might give you a general idea of how much your project might cost:
How much does concrete cost?
Concrete. Generally, concrete costs anywhere from $4.25 to $6.25 per square foot. Use our concrete calculator for a more detailed estimate.
How much does a paver cost per square foot?
Pavers. Depending on the paver and pattern, you'll pay between $4 and $20 per square foot.
Can you expand a driveway with concrete?
Leave the concrete as-is. Though it’s possible to complete a driveway expansion by simply pouring the new concrete and skipping the resurfacing step, the difference between the old and new parts will probably be noticeable.
DOES WIDENING A DRIVEWAY INCREASE HOME VALUE?
If you have a very narrow driveway, it’s possible that widening your driveway will increase the value of your home. However, just like all home updates, value is in the eye of the potential home buyer. Many buyers are looking for extra parking space for storing their RV, boat or other vehicles.
Why is concrete driveway important?
A concrete driveway improves the aesthetics of your home from the outside and it also prevents land erosion. Moreover it also keeps your cars and garage clean. Installing a concrete driveway takes proper planning and preparation before any masonry work, whether it is a DIY project or you hire a contractor, to prevent any problems during the lay and also to help save money.
What determines the size of a concrete slab?
The size of your concrete form will determine the size of your concrete slab. Even specially shaped concrete forms or designs can be installed, other than a square or rectangle.
Can you smooth concrete?
Once concrete begins to cure, it is often finished with mechanical smoothing machines. But for residential driveways it’s probably best left well tamped and then finished with a course brush for stoking parallel to the driveway, which results in grooves forming. This helps with drainage and provides grip on the concrete surface when wet.
Can you put concrete on unstable soil?
To lengthen the life span of your concrete driveway, you may have to excavate and add base material to unstable soil in order to stabilize it. Whether you need base to be installed totally depends on the type of soil in the region you live in and specifically in the area where the concrete driveway has to be installed.
Can you mix concrete yourself?
If you are tackling it as a DIY project, then you’ll have to mix the concrete yourself from raw materials, so you need to buy, hire or borrow a cement mixer. Otherwise concrete prep can be included in a package when you purchase concrete from a professional company.
Why do people use concrete for driveways?
A reason why many people choose concrete as their driveway surface material is that it has high durability. However, even concrete will eventually show wear and tear signs, thanks to exposure to the elements and high foot and vehicle traffic. Instead of stripping it and starting all over, it can be easier and cheaper to resurface your driveway ...
What to do if you have cracks in concrete?
What you need to do next depends on the (minor) issue (s) at hand. If you have some cracks in the concrete, apply the necessary product to fill these up. Make sure to let this product dry completely before you proceed with the resurfacing.
How Long Does a Resurfaced Driveway Last?
If it is done correctly, it can actually last a long time. Somewhere between eight and fifteen years is not uncommon .
How many square feet does a concrete resurfacer cover?
Be mindful that you will have to apply two or sometimes three resurfacing layers to finish the job. One bag will cover 15 to 90 square feet (1.39 to 8.36 square meters), typically.
What are the benefits of resurfacing a driveway?
Aside from the costs and relative simplicity, there are a few other benefits of resurfacing to consider, such as: It will enhance the appearance of your driveway: the new layer will give your driveway a brand-new look.
What color is resurfaced concrete?
Gray is the only color that resurfacers are available in. However, you can use a coloring agent made explicitly for concrete products to offer a different color. Remember that if you are only resurfacing a larger slab section, it is not always easy to match colors.
How long does it take to resurface a driveway?
From start to finish, the whole process takes no longer than 48 hours. This doesn’t include the preparations, although these won’t take you more than a few hours either.
Remove Concrete Stains
When you have stains on your concrete driveway, it's typically best to treat them with the appropriate products before you apply the sealer. For best results, work on stains while they're fresh. Always follow the cleaner directions, and wear the specified safety gear, especially eye protection.
Clean the Concrete With a Driveway Pressure Washer
Select the appropriate pressure washer spray tip or nozzle based on how deep your stains are. The wide-pattern spray tips are lower pressure and the narrow-pattern tips are for tough stains but are capable of marking concrete. Many models come with a specific nozzle for spraying cleaners.
Seal the Concrete
After the concrete has dried for at least 24 hours, you can effectively apply a concrete sealer. A sealer helps prevent future stains and potential damage from products like ice salts. Some sealers leave the surface with a shiny finish while others have a matte finish.
How do I resurface a concrete driveway?
Start by eliminating dirt, oil, and flaking concrete with a 3,500-psi pressure washer.
Why use concrete for driveway?
Durability ranks high among the many reasons to choose concrete as a driveway surfa cing material. After years of exposure to the elements, however, as well as to foot and vehicle traffic, your concrete driveway may begin to look worse for all that wear. Rather than rip it all out and start from scratch, it’s far easier and much cheaper to renew ...
How long does a QUIKRETE concrete resurfacer last?
In 73-degree weather, QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer remains workable for 30 minutes. In hotter weather, it hardens more quickly, but by keeping the bag in the shade and using cold mixing water, you can widen the window of workability. Resurfacing a large driveway? It may be wise to work in sections, mixing and applying resurfacer on one modestly sized area (no larger than 144 square feet) at a time.
How long does it take for a concrete driveway to be ready?
Most of the time, however, you can expect the new surface to be ready for foot traffic in about six hours. And in 24 hours, you can pull your car in and park in the driveway again—that very same driveway that was tired- and worn-looking yesterday but, thanks to QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer, appears brand-new today.
Can you use a power drill to resurface concrete?
QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer isn’t your typical concrete product; as a result, your typical mixing method may not be appropriate here. Being that hand-mixing so often leaves lumps, it’s recommended that you use a power drill that’s outfitted not with a barrel-type attachment, but with a paddle mixer.
How thick should gravel be for a driveway?
Check gravel thickness with a homemade template that extends down from the tops of the forms 4" of the finished driveway; when it just touches the top of the gravel, the base is thick enough. A taller slab will be stronger- we recommend 4" thick. Let the gravel extend under the edges of the forms.
How to keep concrete from drying out?
Cure your concrete by keeping it wet. Cover the slab with burlap, sand, straw, or other material and wet it (above). Wet it down as needed until curing is finished.
How long does it take for a slab to cure?
Whatever method you choose, curing should last a minimum of three days-longer in cold weather- but it's best to let the slab cure for a week, just to be on the safe side. Don't walk on it for at least 3-4 days, nor drive a vehicle until 10 days have passed.
How to use a darby for concrete?
Use the darby (above, left) on small DIY concrete projects. Move it in overlapping arcs, then repeat with overlapping straight, side-to-side strokes. Keep the tool flat, don't let it dig in. For larger jobs, use a bull float (above, right). Push it away from you with its leading edge raised slightly. Pull it back nearly flat; overlap your passes.
How to level concrete?
Move a strikeoff (example above- a straight wood 2x4) across the form to level the concrete. On large jobs, do this batch-by-batch, rather than after all the cement is placed. Move the board slowly along the form, using a side-to-side, sawing motion; be sure to make two passes. Even on narrow forms, two people will make the work faster and more efficient. If necessary, a third person can shovel extra concrete into any corners to save time.
What to use after striking off a walkway?
If you're working on a very small walkway leading to your driveway, you can skip this step.) After striking off, use a darby or bull float-depending on the size of your project-for the initial finishing, to smooth down high spots and fill small hollows left after striking off.
Can you use a steel trowel on a driveway?
CAUTION: Don't use a steel trowel on outdoor surfaces, unless you are going to broom-finish afterwards; it creates a very slick surface that can be dangerous when wet. So positively do not use a steel trowel on a driveway exposed to moisture.