A concrete driveway can add up to $10,000 to a property’s value. However, it must be in perfect condition and without defects. A driveway with cracks, sinkholes, and an uneven surface reduces a property's curb appeal and also affects the safety of pedestrians and vehicle drivers.
Renovating your driveway can help increase your property’s market value and aesthetic appeal. But before starting the driveway project, you must understand a few essential factors so that you can make better decisions.
Lets look at them one by one.
Taking Professional Help is Beneficial
When you entrust an experienced concrete contractor with your driveway project, you reduce 100% of your stress. They handle everything from budgeting and planning to getting permits and completing everything on time.
Their experience in the field, appropriate licensing, knowledge about the material, and understanding of the local laws help them provide durable, precise, and accurate results.
Experts follow a step-by-step process for your driveway project. They first inspect the driveway, identify the damages, and assess the root cause and the extent of damage. All of this helps them make a budget and plan the repairs. An amazing benefit of professionals is that they give you a quote before starting the project, so you can manage your budget accordingly.
Keynote: Remember that cheap contractors might not be fully experienced. Similarly, not all expensive contractors are always good. So make a wise decision by searching on the internet and asking your friends or family for recommendations.
Considering Weather Forecasts is Essential
If the weather is not appropriate when performing a concrete project during its repairs, replacement, or installation, the surface can get damaged. If it rains heavily, the cement can wash away from the surface, leading to surfacing pitting or scaling. Similarly, cold weather can slow down the curing process and doesn’t allow the concrete to sit properly. In freezing weather, the fresh concrete can freeze and expand, leading to crack formation.
The ideal temperature before starting the concrete driveway project should be between 50 and 85°F and no expected rain for at least 24–48 hours.
Absence of Water Drainage Causes Extensive Damages
Missing drainage channels can lead to water pooling on the driveway. This can degrade the soil compaction beneath the concrete surface, compromise its structural integrity, and lead to cracks, potholes, and crumbling driveways.
Moreover, water accumulation can cause the concrete to discolor or stain. Removing the stains is hard, and therefore, the best way to prevent them is to avoid water from standing.
Installing a proper drainage system and driveway grates can help eliminate this issue and increase the lifespan of your driveway.
Driveway Work without DOB Permit is Illegal
For driveway alteration and construction, getting a Permit from DOB is essential. Similarly, if you are adding a curb cut in the driveway, you will also have to apply for a curb cut permit so that the work done complies with city rules.
A renovation done without a permit is illegal and might lead to fines. Moreover, the government might ask you to remove the modifications and start the project over after acquiring a permit.
Appropriate PSI of Concrete Should Be Considered
PSI range for driveway might differ depending upon the climate conditions. In locations with a colder climate and freeze-thaw cycle issues, the PSI should be higher; however, a lower PSI range can be appropriate for areas with moderate temperatures.
In general, concrete strength for a driveway should be between 3000 PSI and 4000 PSI. However, in special projects where the driveway has to experience extreme wear and tear due to heavy traffic and weather conditions, 5000 PSI concrete is suitable.
Identifying Suitable Thickness of Driveway is Necessary
Standard thickness of concrete for residential driveway should be between 4 inches and 6 inches. Similarly, the base thickness should be between 5 inches and 5 and a half inches. Overall, the total standard thickness of a residential driveway should be between 10 inches and 12 inches.
There is a limit for the maximum thickness of the concrete driveway, but the minimum thickness requirement is 3 and a half inches or 4 inches. This requirement has been set by the International Residential Building Code (IRC).
Appropriate Curing Time is Essential
A concrete driveway typically requires around 28 days of curing time to reach its full strength, which means you should avoid parking heavy vehicles on it for 28 days. However, you can usually walk on it after 24-48 hours and drive on it lightly after about a week.
If you notice a delay in curing time, it could be because of the weather conditions, concrete mix type, and thickness of the concrete structure.
Conclusion
Driveways are an important feature of your property that adds to its market value and aesthetic appeal. Their timely maintenance and renovations can help you keep them in their existing shape for long. However, before renovation if you are familiar with the above mentioned factors, the process can become much easier and stress free for you.
