Concrete Driveway: Everything you need to know
A professionally installed driveway protects your vehicle, updates your curb appeal and offers a safe, convenience place to walk. The most common driveway materials are concrete and asphalt, while some driveways are made of gravel or dirt. Discover how long you can expect a new concrete installation to last and other advantages of choosing this material. Be sure to work with a professional team for a longlasting addition to your home.
Average Lifetime
Most residential concrete driveways last between 25 and 30 years. Proper maintenance can extend your life up to 50 years. This schedule depends on the installation technique, amount of use, and maintenance steps you can follow. Look at each factor to see how you can get the most out of your driveway investment.
Enjoy a longer life with our professional services at Custom Grading & Concrete. We offer these maintenance services to promote a safe and durable structure:
Reinforced outer layer: Avoid cracks and crumbs around the edges of your driveway by investing in our reinforcement services. We use a concrete mix on the outer layers designed to reinforce edges and prevent peeling or chipping.
Stress crack repair: Temperature variations, heavy loads, and natural settlement can all cause stress cracking. Hairline cracks expand at a rapid rate, so it is important to work with the local concrete team to fill all dimensions of the crack.
Filling in potholes: A pothole can cause serious problems over time. These holes allow water and contaminants to penetrate the increasingly deeper layers of your concrete driveway, eventually leading to foundation damage. A large pothole can also damage your car.
In addition to these professional tasks, consider some DIY projects to extend the life of your driveway. Sweep the surface regularly to remove debris. Remove snow and sugar salt from the surface to avoid moisture problems caused by freezing and defrosting.
Benefits of Concrete
Concrete offers a more durable, customizable and heat-resistant surface than asphalt. Choose a concrete driveway to take advantage of an uneven surface that can withstand heavier loads than asphalt. If you drive a full-size truck, RV, or other heavy vehicle in your driveway, concrete is a great choice.
This material is also surprisingly customizable. Compare the monotonous, unique look of asphalt with the many colors and textures of stamped concrete to see how a concrete driveway surface might best suit your home or landscape.
Finally, concrete withstands higher temperatures than asphalt. Direct sunlight in summer can soften asphalt and warp it as you drive on it. Concrete withstands high heat without affecting its weight or surface area.
