Concrete driveways are a practical choice for many people. Not only is concrete very durable, but it also typically requires little maintenance. The initial outlay for a concrete driveway is higher than many other materials, but this investment can pay itself off in lowered maintenance costs. A professionally installed driveway protects your vehicle, updates your curb appeal, and offers a safe, convenient place to walk. Working with a professional team will assure a long-lasting addition to your home.
Installation And Maintenance Techniques To Improve The Average Lifetime
Most residential concrete driveways last about 30 years. The timeline depended on the installation techniques and the amount of use and any maintenance steps you may take.
With proper care, yours could last up to 50 years
- Considering the support constraint, rebar is undoubtedly stronger than wire mesh. Several constructors consider rebar for domestic jobs. For thicker driveways and locations that involve greater traffic, rebar is always a good option to consider. Reinforced outer layers can avoid chips and cracks around the edges.
- Fill stress cracks, temperature changes, heavy loads, and natural settling cause stress cracks. Fortunately, filling cracks in a concrete driveway is a simple and relatively inexpensive project. Cracks can usually be filled and repaired if the rest of the driveway is in good shape, and it was installed properly in the first place.
- A pothole can cause serious issues. If left untreated, potholes will cause further damage to the driveway by allowing water to seep into the driveway. This water will expand and contract as a part of the freezing and thawing cycle and create further cracking and potholes. Call a professional, to have your potholes repaired as soon as you identify them, to enhance the beauty and longevity of the structure
- Sweep the surface to remove debris. Plow snow and road salt off the surface to avoid moisture issues.
Benefits Of A Concrete Driveway
A concrete driveway lasts longer. The service life of a concrete driveway is, on average, about 50-60 percent longer than its asphalt counterpart. As a result, the upfront cost savings of asphalt is typically offset by higher maintenance costs. A concrete driveway offers a more durable, customizable, and heat-resistant surface compared to asphalt. Since the embodied energy costs of a concrete driveway are lower, it is a more environmentally friendly paving solution. That is, it requires less energy overall to both produce and place concrete. Concrete driveways have more curb appeal and may make it easier to sell your home in the future, and you’ll likely recover a portion of your investment when you do. And concrete holds up to high heat without affecting its weight rating or surface.
Concrete Driveway Errors
Watch out for errors and look for a professional installation team to have a driveway that will last many years. Unfortunately, improperly prepared foundations can cause your concrete driveway to crack and break apart. The subbase is, in most installations, a layer of compacted gravel or crushed stone laid between the subgrade and the concrete slab. This layer provides drainage underneath the slab and helps reduce heaving caused by seasonal temperature and moisture changes. Disregarding potential drainage Issues, as with any ground-level surface, water puddles can form on a concrete driveway. Over time, chemicals in any area of standing water can stain or break down and crumble or crack the surface of the concrete. Install the driveway with a 1/8 inch per foot slope toward the street and away from your home.
We Can Help You With Driveways and Other Concrete Services
Concrete repair, replacement, and installation services. We specialize on helping customers with driveways, sidewalks, patios, pool decks, and retaining walls. If it’s outside and you need concrete then we can almost always help you. We can help you with a variety of finishes, textures, and colors.
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Concrete is a very practical choice with little ongoing maintenance costs if it is properly constructed.
Contact us (859-640-0657) for a free consultation!
About Presentable Landscape
Presentable Landscape provides many landscaping services to our customers in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati.
- Clean ups
- Pruning / Trimming
- Paver Patios
- Mulching
- Retaining Walls
- Drainage
- Leaf Removal
- Gutter Cleaning