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Driveway Concreting
The driveway concreting is usually the last thing we think when we build a new house.
It is always about the carpets, tiles, laminates and benchtops.
Driveways become the last (but not the least) headaches of new home buyers.
However, the price of $3500-$4800 for an average concrete driveway is a substantial blow to the budget.
Many new home buyers leave the driveway concreting as the last project.
In most cases it is ok to leave your car on the street.
However, more and more estates in Melbourne and Sydney demand (in the contract) that concrete driveways are completed within the specified time and the format.
Driveway Concreting - The Facts!
Concrete is strong in compression but very weak in tension.
The introduction of steel mesh into the concrete sufficiently helps with this deficiency.
However, soil which expands easily (eg. predominantly clay) can cause significant damage to even reinforced concrete driveway.
In this situation a structural engineer is needed rather than the qualified tradesman or handyman.
Driveway concreting is not a straight forward build-and-use structure.
After concrete is laid you need to keep it moist for about a week.
The moisture on the surface permits the hydration process.
Hydration is the reaction which keeps the concrete hardened.
Always ensure that control joints are constructed during driveway concreting.
This helps to prevent development of cracks during fast temperature changes.
Most qualified tradesmen and handymen do apply the rules correctly.
However, it is up to you to check that:
- There is reinforcement steel mesh
- There are control joints (grooves cut in various places to prevent concrete from cracking)
- There is a rubber joiner to the house (keeps moisture away from the cracks)
Driveway Concreting For Passenger Vehicle
If you do not intend to park a modern battle tank in front of your garage then Grade 20 (20 MPa) concrete is sufficient.
This is suitable for pedestrians and passenger vehicles.
A Grade 25 is stronger, more expensive and suitable for trucks.
The Grade 20 (1 meter cube) has the following requirements for proper driveway concreting:
- Cement (40kg bags) - 8 bags
- Sand - 0.5 meters cube
- 20 mm rubble - 1 meter cube
- Water - 220 litres
There are additional finishing applications for driveway concreting:
- Stencils
- Tinting
- Embedded bricks and cobblestone
Types of Driveway
There are building codes which will limit what kind of driveway you can build.
This includes the shape, size, location and the material used.
In some cases driveways are permitted over easement.
However, the council can break those driveways without any compensation if there is blockage or other emergency within the easement pipe.
Many building permits prohibit gravel driveways because these look unfinished and provide legitimate hazard.
Asphalt or blacktop driveways are relatively cheap but many estates reject them (check your land contract for details).
Brick or cobblestone are the most expensive. They are safe, look good and very decorative.
Driveway concreting methods often incorporate concrete and bricks to provide cost effective method with decent presentation.
Most concrete driveways can be tinted with stencil design.
Driveway Concreting Providers in Melbourne
There are many driveway concreting businesses around Melbourne and Victoria.
The smaller driveway concreters can provide as good quality as the big guys.
The difference in price can be substantial. $1000 or more in savings is not unusual.
However, smaller driveway concreters will be difficult to chase and the warranty is not ensured.
Bigger driveway concreters have more to loose and often they can offer some extra concreting work.
Some driveway concreters in Melbourne are:
- 1300 Driveways
- The Concrete Firm
- C & N Concrete Driveways & Patios
- Endless Paths (they offer very good stencil designs)
- Asp Unique Paving (great decorative driveways and concrete replacement service)
Driveway Concreting Providers in Sydney
Similarly as in Melbourne there is large selection of driveway concreters in Sydney.
Again, you can save a lot of money by taking a smaller driveway concreter.
However, smaller driveway concreters do not offer guarantees you expect.
Generally, the quality of driveway concreting is the same though.
Some driveway concreters in Sydney are:
- SprayTech Concrete Solutions (concrete resurfacing, stencils)
- Sydney Concreting by Hayes Industries (large selections of stencils and footings)
- G&D Creators (40 years experience in concrete driveways)
- Artistique Concrete