Concrete driveways should look great for many decades. Here are some tips that your driveway contractor needs to follow. How durable and beautiful your driveway will look over the long-term depends on how well it is constructed. You can learn more about driveway construction basics to ensure a trouble-free driveway.
Concrete driveways are easy to maintain once you have it. Here are some tips to help you care for and maintain your concrete driveway.
Once you have created a short list of contractors to contact, be sure and ask for references. Ask how long the contractor has been operating, if they are insured, if any professional certifications have been obtained, and if they provide a warranty on their work. Here are some tips to help you hire a concrete contractor.
To protect exterior concrete slabs from freeze-thaw conditions, you should use a high-quality sealer. The sealer protects concrete from moisture absorption as well chemical and grease stains. A sealer will enhance the color of decorative colored concrete.
There are two types of sealers that can be used for exterior concrete. They are film-formers (or penetrants). Penetrating sealers are the most effective in protecting against moisture absorption. No matter the type of sealer that you choose, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is unreasonable to expect your contractor or subcontractor to match the concrete driveway's color to a concrete sample, a neighbor’s decorative concrete driveway, or an image from a brochure. Even plain concrete can display color variations. This happens especially if there are multiple concrete loads or concrete placements on different days. These color variations are very minor and will fade over the course of time.