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There are many reasons why you might choose to build a concrete driveway to access your garage or living room. This is a work that offers irresistible charm and exceptional appeal to your home. However, its implementation often requires an expensive budget. However, thanks to the information and advice we give you here, you can manage to do without the services of a professional and build your own concrete driveway.

Building your concrete driveway: what tools?

To create your concrete driveway , it is essential to scrupulously follow certain simple steps. The very first step is naturally to equip yourself with the right tools. The tools needed to build a concrete driveway vary depending on the complexity of the job.

However, the basic tools are as follows:

• Concrete mixer
• Rake
• Cleat
• wheelbarrow
• Shovel
• Beam
• Cement
• Brick
• Water
• Gravel
• Sand
• Saw
• Tape measure
• Clamps
• Snow groomer
• Pegs and cord
• Broom

The actual implementation: the steps to follow

To successfully complete your driveway, you will need to follow each of the following steps:

• concrete preparation
• the payment
• the settlement
• the finish
• drying time

Regarding the preparation of the concrete , it is necessary:

• First of all, make the foundations, put in place the formwork , then pour the concrete slab. For this purpose, the optimum thickness to be planned should be 25 cm in principle or 16 cm when the ground is soft beforehand.
• Then, in order to determine the quantity of concrete to be poured, it is necessary to use a simple mathematical formula which is the multiplication of the length by the width and the depth to obtain the necessary volume in cubic meters.
• Furthermore, a reasonable margin of 10% must be allowed to avoid an insufficiency or excess of the prepared concrete.
• Finally comes the phase where the concrete must be mixed using the cement mixer in order to obtain a homogeneous mixture ready for pouring.

The second step, which is pouring,  consists of carefully distributing the concrete in the part delimited by the formwork.

Compaction, for its part, allows excess concrete to be removed and any inhomogeneities and roughness to be filled.

The finish  is the culmination of the concreting work undertaken from the preparation of the concrete to the compaction. It allows aesthetics in order to make it attractive. It involves cleaning the surface of the concrete carefully, using a high-pressure cleaner or a deactivator.

The last step is drying. The ideal waiting time varies from one expert to another and from one DIY guide to another.

However, everyone agrees that it is necessary to wait at least 48 hours before removing the formwork. The usual time limit remains the 96 hour wait in order to ensure as best as possible that the concrete has dried properly.

Furthermore, to obtain a perfect result, in addition to following the steps detailed above, it is necessary to ensure the correct thickness of the concrete, the additive, the base of the slab and the creation of drainage.

All these precautions guarantee the strength and durability of the concrete driveway.

Types of Concrete Driveways That Can Be Made and Cost

To create your driveway, several categories of decorative concrete with varied patterns are available to you:

• Imprinted concrete, whose intrinsic property is to highlight the designs, colors and patterns of the concrete. The installation is done just before the concrete dries in order to imprint the desired imprint;
• Exposed concrete, ideal for outdoor spaces, paths and borders of gardens or swimming pools. This type of concrete is rough and offers a multitude of textures and colors that are both bright and sober. It also has good resistance due to its anti-heat and anti-humidity properties;
• Bush-hammered concrete is  obtained by eroding the surface of concrete that has already hardened. The result is such that reliefs are obtained that resemble natural stones made of granite;
• Brushed concrete: gray in most cases, it offers an incredible charm, thanks to the streaks that appear on the fresh concrete. It can be available in several other colors, each as beautiful as the next.

How much does it cost to install a concrete driveway?

The cost of making a concrete driveway varies depending on the type of decorative concrete chosen when finishing. It is therefore between 30 and 80 euros including tax per square meter. This amount is perceived as being quite high.

However, the final result is so attractive and durable that you will forget the cost of production.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a concrete driveway?

Beyond the fashion effect and the practical aspect of the concrete driveway, its advantages are numerous.

• First of all, it is sustainability which represents a decisive and very motivating factor for owners.
• Then, it requires very little maintenance.
• Moreover, the concrete driveway is known for its economical nature which helps to make the invested cost profitable over time.
• Finally, it is worth highlighting the multiple decorative choices at your disposal. You will be able to have a work that is as resistant as it is dazzling.

What are the disadvantages?

By choosing concrete to build your driveway , you will have to face certain drawbacks:

• The possibility of cracking if the concrete is poorly applied;
• The many precautions to take if you decide to build your own concrete driveway. Indeed, the products used contain substances that are harmful to the skin and eyes;
• Finally, there is also the cost of production which remains somewhat high.

Building your concrete driveway requires attention to detail, the use of suitable materials and compliance with the various steps outlined above. The care you take in its maintenance will contribute to its longevity and its aesthetics.

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