If you are planning about constructing a driveway in your property you should know that construction of concrete driveways is more common than that of asphalt, bitumen, or other paving materials. Concrete driveways, often known as cement driveways, provide a variety of ornamental possibilities along with many other advantages that set them apart from other road construction techniques.
Construction of a concrete driveway:
The concrete driveway’s functionality and appearance are determined by the level of craftsmanship and the materials used in the construction. To achieve the intended quality, polish, and durability, the contractor in charge must adequately facilitate the construction of the concrete driveway.
The following conditions are put into practice during the construction of a concrete driveway.
- Correct Subgrade Setup
- Choosing the right concrete mix
- Reinforcement Position
- Concrete Positioning
- Correct Concrete Driveway Finishing
- Proper joint placement
- Suitable Drainage Facilities
1. Correct Subgrade Setup:
To guarantee consistency in both the compaction and soil composition, the subgrade must be prepared. Achieving this criterion aids in giving the loads crossing the driveway appropriate support. This contributes to:
- Uniform slab thickness
- Prevention of slab cracks
- Obtaining a constant slab thickness
But, if any soft spot is discovered during preparation, it is advised to replace the soil with a suitable substance, such as crushed rock or gravel.
To gain a clear understanding of the soil qualities of the site under consideration, a geotechnical engineer must be contacted. Rammers or vibratory compactors are both capable of performing compaction operations.
2. Choosing the Right Concrete Mix:
For the construction of concrete driveways, ASTM C-94 advises using ready-mix concrete since it offers a consistent concrete mix. The use of the proper concrete mix prevents problems with random cracking.
For most conditions, a concrete’s compressive strength at 28 days is 4000 psi. Concrete that has been air-entrained (5–10% air content) is more durable and easier to deal with.
Slump values of more than 5 inches are not recommended. The majority of the aggregates used in concrete driveway buildings are coarse aggregates. They range in size from 3/4 to 1.
3. Reinforcement Positioning:
Plain concrete is used in the majority of light-duty driveways. Concrete and reinforced concrete can be used to strengthen the driveway’s structural strength.
In locations with high traffic volumes, a driveway made of reinforced concrete is the best option. No amount of reinforcing can stop cracks from forming. However, the rebars hold any cracks together and stop them from spreading further.
In a concrete driveway, the reinforcement can be installed as wire mesh or in the form of a grid. Blocks can be positioned beneath the rebars for support in order to correctly put the reinforcement in the middle of the concrete driveway.
4. Concrete Positioning:
The structural capacity of concrete driveways depends on their positioning and thickness. The thickness used has a significant impact on the concrete driveway’s structural strength. A concrete driveway should have a minimum thickness of 4 inches. And, it improves by 50% when the thickness is increased from 4 to 5 inches. This decision is made depending on the specifications and needs of the driveway.
5. Concrete driveways should be finished properly:
When finishing a concrete driveway, extra care must be given because most mistakes are made when activities are performed over bleeding water on the surface or by overworking the surface.
By using a screed to remove extra concrete, a uniform surface is created. The concrete is floated using wood or a magnesium bull float. This aids in avoiding the buildup of bleeding water.
6. Appropriate Joint Positioning:
Random cracking problems can be reduced by the provision of control joints at suitable intervals. For a driveway made of 4 inches of concrete, the recommended spacing is generally 10 feet.
7. Sufficient Drainage Facilities:
To prevent standing water, concrete driveways should have a sufficient drainage system. There must be a high elevation on the side that faces the existing structures. A drain needs to be placed at a low position on the concrete driveway if sloping is not an option. The water is then redirected elsewhere.
Conclusion:
A driveway is a necessary part of the construction for a home. It is important to choose a driveway that is both strong and durable. A driveway should be made of concrete so that it is durable and can withstand heavy loads. It should be wide enough to accommodate a car and long enough to allow for easy access to the home.
