Repairing & Sealing an Asphalt Driveway or Go With Concrete ...

(Q) ?I am worn out repairing & sealing my asphalt driveway, so I need to replace it with a concrete. Some appear to hold up well, & others crumble & crack. Why do some hold up a lot better? Carol. ?(A) ?Dear Carol: From an aesthetic standpoint, the driveway is the first thing guests see & walk on when they visit your home. An asphalt driveway is?probably more beautiful when brand-new than?concrete,

but over its whole?life, concrete wins out. Also, there fundamentally is no regular maintenance necessary for a concrete driveway.

When a concrete driveway deteriorates, it is usually caused by improper installation techniques. The quality of the concrete itself is never the issue because it is mixed at the concrete plant under controlled conditions.

In the event you live in an area where much road salt is used in the coursework of the winter, the salty water may cause issues. Although concrete feels hard, it is porous, & the salty water will penetrate the surface. This does not harm the concrete, but it will make the steel reinforcing rods corrode. When steel corrodes, it expands, & this cracks the concrete.

Since the quality of the installation is critical for a long-lasting concrete driveway, contact several contractors & do not necessarily accept the lowest bid. There?s methods a contractor can lower the costs, but the driveway may start to fail quickly if not installed properly.

To minimize this issue, use a clear concrete sealer on the driveway after it?s fully cured. Sealers are obtainable at most home middle & hardware stores. In the event you cannot find it, contact <SaverSystems> at (800) 860-6327 for local shops.

Ask the contractors about the type of concrete each design to make use of. The proper type to make use of for a driveway is a four thousand #-psi (pounds per square inch) concrete. There?s weaker concrete mixtures obtainable. Also, request a 5-inch thick driveway. Some contractors recommend only four inches to lower the costs. The additional inch thickness usually costs only several hundred dollars more, depending on the size of your driveway.

As with most home-improvement projects, the preliminary preparation of the driveway is an important step. Keep in mind, concrete is strong in compression. When it is crooked or stretched, it is very week. Having a powerful, stable base under the concrete ensures it is compressed under the weight of your automobile & not crooked or stretched over voids from an unstable base. Generating an appropriate base may increase a cost estimate significantly.

Ask them about how the reinforcing steel will be installed. Some lay it loosely over the ground & then start pouring concrete. For the maximum strength & longevity of the driveway, the reinforcing steel ought to be placed well up in the concrete. The driveway ought to be sloped slightly so water does not stand in puddles, with salty water.

No matter how well everything is done, some cracks are inescapable. This is because concrete shrinks as it cures. The contractor ought to make deep control joints in the concrete so any cracking occurs in the joints & is not noticeable. If a proper base was laid, the surface ought to stay even. The best type of surface for a driveway is a light broom or wood trowel finish.

Source: http://yourhomewithmurraygula.com/repairing-sealing-an-asphalt-driveway-or-go-with-concrete/

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