What are the advantages of having a concrete driveway and how much does it cost?
Strong, durable, and easy to maintain, concrete is an excellent material choice for a driveway or exterior flooring. There are many finishing techniques that make it possible to create a decorative concrete floor, such as smooth concrete or stamped concrete. Find out everything you need to know about exterior concrete claddings and their prices in this article.
Why Choose a Concrete Driveway?
If you are planning to build a garden XPath or another type of outdoor floors such as a terrace or a parking space, concrete is always an excellent choice. Indeed, this material has many advantages:
1. Uniform floor: the concrete forms a uniform surface, without joints or irregularities. You won’t have problems like deteriorating joints and weeds growing between the tiles, for example.
2. Easy to clean: as the concrete floor is uniform, it is enough to pass the broom or hose it down with a hose to clean it and remove the dirt.
3. Strong and durable: Obviously, concrete is a very strong material, which can remain in good condition for a lifetime without you having to worry about it.
4. Almost no maintenance is required: given its durability, concrete requires virtually no maintenance. Just clean it once in a while.
How much does a Concrete Driveway Cost?
The price of a driveway or other outdoor concrete floor depends on several factors: the surface area, the thickness required, the ease of access to the site… and of course, the finish chosen.
Would you like to get a tailor-made price for your project? Do not hesitate to ask for quotes from several contractors. This will allow you to compare their price offers, but also their recommendations and turnaround times. You can find Concrete contractors near you by requesting the quote page, it’s free and it does not commit you to anything.
Laying a Concrete Driveway
The laying of a concrete floor by a professional takes place in several stages:
• The location where the concrete is to be poured is marked with a formwork, a large mold constructed using wooden planks and stakes.
• A plastic film is placed inside the formwork, on the ground. Then, a few concrete blocks are placed on the plastic film, on which the reinforcing mesh will be placed. Concrete blocks create space between the ground and the reinforcement.
• The concrete is mixed on-site with a cement mixer, then poured into the formwork using a wheelbarrow or pump if necessary. Then, the concrete is leveled to eliminate irregularities.
• As soon as the concrete floor can be walked on, but it has not yet completely hardened, it can be finished. In the case of a smooth concrete floor, the surface of the floor is sanded using a machine called a helicopter, making circular movements.
Finally, a curing product is applied to the concrete, to prevent it from drying too quickly and cracking. This product, made up of resin, is sprayed on the surface and forms a waterproof film that prevents the water present in the concrete from evaporating too quickly.
Maintenance of a Concrete Driveway
As we mentioned, concrete is a very easy-to-maintain material. It is enough to clean the driveway regularly with water and a little neutral soap to keep it looking good.
If you want to protect your concrete driveway further, you can also have a coat of water repellent applied to its surface. This product makes the concrete more waterproof, which protects it against moisture and dirt.
Ask for quotes: Concrete Contractors Houston
Looking for one of the trusted Concrete Contractors in Houston to build your concrete driveway? Do not hesitate to ask for several quotes, this will allow you to compare and choose the best offer. You can make your request form:
