Building a Concrete Driveway: DIY Tips for the Budget Conscious Homeowner

Building a concrete driveway is one of those rare options that can satisfy most people's practical and aesthetic concerns. Concrete driveways are not only built to last long but are appealing to the eye at the same time. Granted, they may take a bit of time to build properly, because none of your efforts will feel wasted once you view your final product.

What Not to Forget When Building a Concrete Driveway

Building Codes in Your Area - It's possible, especially if you're living in the suburbs, or belong to a certain community, that driveway specifications may be subjected to certain community rules. Your village, for instance, may prefer for all houses to have similar looking driveways, regardless of the material used. Or, it's the choice of material that's subjected to certain restrictions. To avoid wasting time and money, do your homework and see if building a concrete driveway will result to any violation.

Put Your Plans in Paper - Before getting your still-unused carpentry and building tools and donning your DIY uniform, it's best to put your plans on paper and try sketching the dimensions of your proposed concrete driveway. Make sure that you scale your drawing properly to gain accurate results, and most especially if you've decided not to hire an expert to help you out.

If you don't know how to draw, please please please ask someone to do it for you. Don't be stubborn like other homeowners who insist on doing everything themselves, never mind the consequences.

Submit the Necessary Requirements - Once you've become satisfied with the projected appearance of your concrete driveway, make time to submit the necessary requirements in order for the housing committee in your area to grant approval for your concrete driveway plans. It's possible that they'll be concerned with how your neighbors would feel once the noise of construction reaches their ears; to avoid any future altercations with your neighbors, make sure that you politely and nicely inform them of your plans. Gaining written permission from them won't hurt either!

Going Shopping - With the legal stuff done, the next thing to do is what women love to do best: going shopping! If any woman in your household is a genuine shopaholic, she wouldn't mind accompanying you in your buying quest, even if it's just a trip to the local hardware store.

To save on time and money, make a list of the things you have to buy, compare product reviews, and see what brands are of superior quality but affordable at the same time. As for tools and other equipment, consider either buying them second hand, renting, or borrowing from your neighbors or friends.

Excavation and Base Preparation - The pre-construction stage is over, and it's now time to do backbreaking stuff. First in the list is excavation and base preparation. Like most structures, excavating and preparing a base is required to give your concrete driveway a solid foundation. It's best to take your time when doing this because one little mistake related to the foundation can cause the whole thing to collapse.

Building the Driveway - Once you've finished with the foundation, it's now time to build the skeletal part of the driveway itself. Always consult your handmade blueprint while building the driveway to ensure that you've done everything correctly and according to the measurements you've specified.

Sealing it with a Concrete Kiss - Once you're done with the frame, it's now time to apply the concrete and wait for it to harden.

Finishing Touches - Backfill and provide enhancements for the landscape.

Pros and Cons of Using a Concrete Driveway
Benefits - Concrete driveways can be decorated in various ways, making it more easy to use as a complement to the house itself. It is also easier to clean during winter. Concrete driveways can also be sealed right after installation.
Cons - Concrete driveways, however, are more expensive than asphalt driveways and require a higher degree of care and maintenance. Lastly, concrete driveways cannot be relayered.

Choosing to build a concrete driveway is a good decision to make in most cases, but of course, it's what the homeowner feels that counts the most. Just remember that when making a driveway, always choose a material that won't crack under the weight of a ten-wheeler truck but enhance the appearance of your house as well!

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How To Install An Asphalt Driveway

Verify that the contractor you're about to hire is actually a member of our websites! Go to www.hardsurfaceexperts.com Learn all the little secrets SOME contractors use to rip us off! Click on this link below: www.allaboutdriveways.com Learn how asphalt driveway installation SHOULD be done! Hi! I'm Patrick Mattingley. I've been working in the driveway business for well over a decade. I love the driveway business. Driveways are the first thing people see when they pull up to your home. I've looked at thousands of driveways since I started back in the 90's. Concrete driveways, asphalt driveways, interlocking paver driveways... even gravel driveways. I've seen some of the most beautiful driveways and I've seen of the worst driveways you could imagine! I started AllAboutDriveways.com because I got sick and tired of seeing people get ripped off by common driveway paving scams and gypsy asphalt scammers. It frustrated me to see people spend their hard earned money on asphalt driveway paving, sometimes to the tune of several thousands of dollars, only to get ripped off by some fly by night asphalt paving contractor. The kicker for me was meeting an older retired couple who had saved their money their entire lives to have their rural driveway paved. I gave them an estimate and immediately they said "Wow! You're twice as high as the other asphalt paving contractor that we have an estimate from." Having experience in the driveway business, I knew right away, they we're in for a ...



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Driveway repair – a valuable yet economical home improvement project

Driveway repair may not be the first thing you think of when considering a home improvement project.  The problems in your driveway tend to happen gradually over time, so they may not be suddenly obvious.  However, driveway repair is a great way to improve the appearance and function of a very noticeable part of your property.

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Damaged Driveway - Repair Or Replace? Three Things You Must Consider

Your driveway is the entrance to your home and one of the first things to get noticed by visitors. If the driveway is busted or overwhelmed with unappealing cracks it can leave an unpleasant impression. More often than not, this is a problem that goes unaddressed.

If you have a driveway that is cracked or busted and are ready to address the problem you have two basic choices, replace or repair. Three things you must consider when making the decision to replace or repair.

1. Most driveways are a minimum of four inches thick. Natural stresses caused this four inch thick slab of concrete to literally tear itself apart. These stresses include expansion and contraction due to heat and cold, the weight of vehicle traffic, and movement of the substrate. Any crack repair material placed within these fractures will undoubtedly suffer a similar fate as the original slab of concrete, failure.

2. Driveway replacement can be expensive but if performed correctly can provide you with fifty plus years of solid use. If you decide to replace a concrete driveway make sure the contractor uses a four thousand psi mix of concrete poured at a minimum of four inches; furthermore, steel reinforcement should be added for increased tensile strength to compliment the already high compressive strength of concrete.

3. Over time, a driveway's surface can become weathered and lose its finish. There are a variety of overlays available. Although relatively expensive, when compared to the cost of replacement, these overlays can be a viable option. I don't suggest overlaying cracked or busted concrete; however, if the desired effect is simply a nicer finish then overlay can do the trick.

Concrete repair can be a risky endeavor. Far too often, I see a repair gone wrong, a costly mistake that never should have been attempted in the first place. Every day, home owners waste money on costly repairs that fail. That being said, cracks can be filled to prevent moisture penetration and good concrete can be overlaid for aesthetic appeal.

Many times, due to budget restraints, the best solution is to simply cut out and replace only the most severely damaged sections. This way, you spend less money and the repair is solid.

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5 Tips To Clean Your Concrete Driveway

The most commonly used part of your home, and also the most neglected part of your home, is your cement driveway. Most driveways are constructed of grey-tined concrete. This can really make a beautiful sight when it is brand new. But, over time, with the dirt, cracks, weeds growing, and oil build up; these can all be factors which will deter a potential buyer. Here are 5 tips for repairing and updating a concrete driveway.

Do you have drainage problems? You will notice this problem after it rains. Instead of running off the side of the drive way, it will puddle in the middle. This is normally the result of concrete, which has settled into an insufficient foundation. The rule of thumb is for every foot of driveway, it should increase by ¼ of an inch from the road to the house or garage. This will facilitate the drainage away from the house.
If you have oil stains, you can try this. While chalk can be easily removed with a good rain, or even the water hose, oil takes much more work. You can try to use a sprinkle of cat litter or saw dust. Let this sit for about 2 days, and then sweep it up. This will remove all of the top oils. But, for the deeper oils in the concrete, you need something else. Sprinkle a layer of dry concrete powder over the stain. Let this sit for 2 days. This will help absorb the oils deep in the concrete. Then sweep this up. Obviously, check the weather. If it rains on the concrete powder, you will have a permanent concrete patch.
Power washing is a preferred method of getting a nice and even cleaning of your driveway. There are cleaners specific to driveways, sidewalks, or just concrete in general. Use these as they will do a much better job than just hot water and the pressure washer.
Once the driveway is clean, and gives a nice uniform appearance, it is time to apply a sealer, or sealant. Remember, concrete is porous, which means it has little holes in it. Dirt and oils easily get down into these holes, and make the driveway look dirty again. The normal rains you get will not wash these out. The best way to keep these out is to seal the driveway. Sealants can be applied just like paint, and will give a nice glossy look. Some will even make the driveway appear as if it is still wet. A sealant can go a long way. You may need to apply it again once a year or two.
If you are just bored in general with your driveway, then give it a facelift. There are plenty of decorative finished you can use for your driveway. The local hardware stores will have an entire section devoted to concrete finishes. See if any of these have the appeal and appearance you want.

These 5 tips can help you to clean and restore your concrete driveway, and then protect. Most people never pay any attention to this area, but it is the first part of any house you actually step foot on. Just follow the tips above, and you can bring your driveway back to its original appearance.

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