Setting up a concrete driveway is one of the DIY tasks that people usually think is easy to tackle. By this mindset, they try to develop concrete driveways by themselves without taking any professional help. But actually, it is a hard labor job. It is nearly impossible to create the desired driveway without any experience and skills. If you are trying to go with a DIY concrete driveway then you should have to take care that there is a sufficient amount of water for carrying out the process. And should also take the proper permission to work around the building. After all this, it is highly advisable to take professional help rather than installing it by yourself.
The thing that has to keep in mind while installing a concrete driveway is that concrete is not easy to work with. It is necessary to mix it in the right consistency because if it remains too loose or too tight it becomes difficult to use it and you may need to struggle with it. Another important thing about concrete is that it starts to harden after two hours and beyond that, it becomes impossible to use it. So, in case you are a slow worker, it’s a matter of concern for you.
Here are some do’s and don’ts that implies while working for the concrete driveway:
Do-Plan the process
Planning is an essential part of every process, so before starting the process you should take an estimate of how much concrete you would need to have for your job. For this, you can definitely use a concrete calculator that is specifically designed for this purpose. After that, you should contact your local authorities to find out about the rules and regulations that can affect your driveway building process in the future. After sorting out all these things you may need to clear out your working area as you need space for putting heavy machinery.
Do- Make sure that you’ve got the well-prepared subgrade
If there is no solid base or foundation then don’t expect your driveway to stay longer. Be sure to remove all the roots, large rocks, and vegetation from the area where you are desired to place the driveway. These preparations are essential to ensure that you’ve got the right soil and it is good enough to support the driveway.
Don’t- Make the finish to smooth
In case you’ve never finished concrete before then you should look for some professional help. As many people out there think that it is ok to keep the surface smooth but it’s not a good thing to do. The driveway surface has to be edged and grooved. The over-finding of a driveway is a common mistake that people usually make. This becomes hazardous in the winters when it becomes slippery, and can lead to many accidental cases. So, it is important to make it a bit rough for a better drive experience even in wet conditions. One good way to achieve this is by dragging the broom over the concrete before it goes hard.
Don’t- Forget to do cure the concrete after the completion process
Curing the concrete is the essential and final process while building a concrete driveway. And also one of the most neglected parts of the process. This may lead to the strength reduction of up to 50% as this way the chances of surface defects increase. That’s the reason the liquid curing compound is usually used for this curing process. And in some cases, people cover the area with wet sheets.
Below mentioned points are the step-by-step guide of building a concrete driveway:
- You should use wooden stakes for laying out the perimeter of the new driveway. And try using sturdy wooden planks that are for creating the solid-based temporary housing for the new concrete driveway. Or other than this you can take out the deep soil for leveling up the sub-base.
- When you are done with the above-mentioned points, the very next process you can do is pour the concrete into that area. Have a hoe and keep on using it while pouring the concrete for even distribution of the concrete over that place to make it relatively flat.
- Once you pour all the concrete, then after that use straight timber to flatten out that area. If you see an excess of it remove it and use it for filling the shallow area.
- For giving the non-slip finish to the surface using a broom over the concrete layer. After 7-10 days of installation, now it’s turn for a water cure to the driveway. Then if it looks necessary you can edge the concrete. After all this process you need to wait around 28 days for driving or parking the vehicle on this concrete driveway.
All in all: With just small planning and plotting you can successfully install a concrete driveway. The above-mentioned tips and tricks will help you in this task and you can get better results from having a long-lasting concrete driveway.
