So you are thinking about having a new concrete driveway put in and you are concerned with finding the best methods to go about it so that you can prevent any cracks in the future. The first thing you should know is that concrete work done by a seasoned professional is the best way to ensure your concrete driveway will last for years. If you do so, your driveway should last for at least 30 years, sometimes even 50.
Cracks are to be expected in concrete. While it is a very strong substance, it can lose it’s strength if not applied properly. If the new concrete is poured over soft, uncompacted soil, your car or heavy delivery truck will bend and crack the concrete as it passes over the spot. For this reason, concrete needs to be poured on solid, compacted soils.
Professionals take care to install crisp, tooled lines in the slabs when installing the concrete. These lines act as pre-weakened stress points that encourage the concrete to crack only at these locations. The minimum depth of these lines should be 1/4 the thickness of the slab. These lines should also be spaced at intervals of 15 feet or less.
The thicker the concrete for your driveway, the better. A lot of professionals will recommend a 4 inch thickness to be suffice, however it is better to pay a little more for the 5 inch thickness, as it will pay off in the long run. Lastly, you must use reinforcing steel when installing a new concrete driveway. Steel will strengthen the concrete and hold the cracked slabs together. Without it, the cracks will continue to grow in size.
So, with the help of these few suggestions and a seasoned professional, your concrete driveway should last for 30 to 50 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment