DIY Driveway Building Resource

How to Pour a Concrete Driveway

Many homeowners would like to know how to pour a driveway because employing professionals may incur a huge expenditure. Pouring a driveway or a patio is actually not very difficult at all and you don't even need any prior experience with landscaping. You simply need loads of patience and at least one assistant (especially if your driveway is really long) and your concrete driveway can be built in a day. Here is how to pour a driveway and set up a durable concrete slab:

Take measurement

First you have to measure your driveway to find how much concrete mixture you need. Don't worry if you have no idea about it. Just ask the shop-owner from whom you are buying concrete mixture, trowel and other landscaping equipments. Now, you should mark the area by installing a few tent stakes and by tying stings along with the driveway perimeter.

Excavate the area

The next step is to clean the area thoroughly and dig it up. You need to tamp the ground and also apply vegetation killer if needed. This is the best time to create a slope on whichever direction you want. Ideally the ground should be sloped upward towards your house.

Secure the mold

Now drive the wooden stakes at 1-meter interval into the ground and set up the boards that will work as the mold. Nail the boards to the stakes so that they don't move when the concrete mix is poured into the mold.

Prepare the ground

The next step of how to pour a driveway is to prepare the ground. Make a bed of grovel, crushed stones and cinders. Now roll out a steel mesh on the grovel bed which will reinforce the driveway.

Prepare the mixture

Prepare the concrete mixture by combining cement, sand, crushed rocks and water. You can also buy ready made mixture to make your job easier.

Pouring the mixture

Finally pour the concrete and flatten the top immediately with the help of a 2X4. You can use a darby float and a trowel for the finishing touch. You should also dig control joints with the help of a groover. Let the driveway dry for at least 1 week before using it.

Arthor and Source: Paul Kynastonni

Building a Driveway?

Your driveway, along with the front of your property, is a very prominent part of your landscape. It is very visual from the street. It is an entry to your home. In addition, it is the main thing people look for when coming to your home. There are a few important things to think about when undertaking a driveway design.

Top 10 Driveway Design Features

What comes after pouring concrete?

Sealing a concrete driveway is a simple, inexpensive and fast way to maintain the value of a home. Your concrete driveway is one of the first things people see when they drive up to your home. That is why it is a good idea to keep the concrete driveway looking as good as the day it was installed. Sealing the concrete driveway with a penetrating siloxane concrete sealer will give years of protection to the driveway. Another name for them is siloxane water repellent.

How to Seal your House Driveway