Adding A Concrete Driveway To Your Home's Property
A homeowner will have many options available to them when it comes to the materials that they can use for their driveway. Despite concrete being an extremely popular option for driveways, it is a common situation for homeowners to be uninformed about this option for their property's driveway.
Have A Plan For The Drying And Curing Process
It is important to appreciate that concrete will need a relatively long period to dry and cure. This is necessary for the concrete to fully harden so that it can withstand the weight of the vehicles that will be driving over it. The amount of time that will be needed is largely determined by the thickness of the concrete, but most homeowners will find that it takes around a week for their driveway to be fully dried and cured. During this time, you will need to have a plan for where to park your vehicle. Otherwise, you could inadvertently damage the concrete due to it not being fully cured.
Consider Adding Root Guards Along The Concrete Driveway
Roots can be another common source of damage for a driveway. The roots can be strong enough to cause the concrete to crack and split. While homeowners may assume that it is simply not possible to protect the driveway from this damage, there are root guards that can actually be extremely effective at stopping roots from growing. By installing these guards along the perimeter of the driveway, you can divert roots away from it so that it will be safe from this damage.
Protect The Concrete Driveway From Staining
Stains can be another issue that driveways will have to face due to fluids leaking from vehicles that are parked on the driveway or that travel over it. Luckily, preventing the concrete from staining can be as simple as applying a sealcoat to it. These coatings can form a protective barrier that will keep these fluids from being able to enter the pores of the pavement where it can be trapped and cause staining to occur. Unfortunately, this coating can not be applied as soon as the concrete is poured. Rather, you must wait until it has fully cured and dried. Due to this delay, homeowners may find that applying the sealcoat on their own may be the easiest option, but many concrete driveway installation services can also provide this service to their clients for an additional fee. An added advantage of using these services is they will be able to ensure the driveway has fully cured and that the sealcoat is applied over its entire surface.
For help with a concrete driveway installation, contact a concrete contractor in your area.