“EXCEPTIONAL WORK ALWAYS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
SUPERIOR WORK STANDS THE TEST OF TIME"
- Cellini D. Parker
Founder/CEO
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Concrete Driveways
Whether you call them concrete driveways or cement driveways… they’re both the same! How common are concrete driveways? The further South we travel in the United States, the more likely we see concrete driveways and/or paver driveways. The further North we travel in the United States, the more likely we see asphalt driveways. This is due to the limited amount of freeze and thaw cycles that occur in warmer regions.
Sub-grade preparation can take anywhere from 1 to 2 days up to 2 weeks, depending on the region you live. Depending on the size and scope of work involved, the construction of a new concrete driveway can be installed generally over a 2 to 10 days period after the sub-grade preparation has been done.
Concrete driveway installation can be labor intensive and it also needs to cure for several days before being able to drive on it and use it. Installation can take 7 to 10 days for patterned or stamped, stained or overlayed concrete driveways. If you already own a concrete driveway and it’s beginning to show the signs of aging and exceptional deterioration, or has a tremendous amount of patching and repairs and looks patchy, blotchy and uninviting… removing and replacing it may be in order!
The Concrete Lady will do it right the first time by performing soil tests and determining if the sub-grade is suitable to re-install the concrete driveway on the existing soil. If not, the soil should be excavated and new base or structural material installed for a solid, long lasting driveway. All driveways age and deteriorate and become a use and safety hazard. The goal with any driveway should be to maximize the life of expectancy as much as possible before having to completely remove and replace it. This requires a solid plan with a frequent maintenance of every 2 to 3 years!
Driveway 2020
Driveway May 2022
with hump
Driveway is all mud
Extreme water damage
*** Click images to view gallery
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A concrete driveway is the second most expensive driveway when comparing it to the other hard surface driveways.
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A concrete driveway requires the second least amount of ongoing maintenance, compared to the other hard surface driveways
* For asphalt driveways, please go to the Asphalt Services tab.
Life Expectancy Of A Concrete Driveway
A properly installed concrete driveway with regularly scheduled maintenance can last up to 25 or even 50 years! That variation in age can be determined by the stability of the sub-grade, the quality of the installation, the type, and frequency of maintenance, the drainage plan, and the climate of the region you’re located in.
Types of ongoing maintenance you can expect to perform on a concrete driveway
Cleaning oil spots, sealing cracks, edging, and sealing. New concrete driveways should NOT be sealed until they are at minimum 3 to 4 weeks old.
Concrete should then be sealed every 3 to 5 years thereafter to slow down the deterioration process. If you live in a snowy region and de-icers are regularly used in your area, concrete driveways and stamped concrete driveways should then be sealed every 1 to 2 years to protect from salt and magnesium chloride. However, only a quality commercial grade concrete sealer is recommended and applied either by yourself or a reputable concrete sealing contractor.
When cracks develop, they should be sealed as soon as possible. Ultimately cracks should be sealed every year or as needed. Sealing the cracks will help to prevent further damage and failures like alligatoring and potholes.
Poorly Maintained Concrete Driveway
Unfortunately concrete driveways by nature cracks. When cracks develop, they should be sealed with a quality commercial-grade concrete crack sealer. Sealing the cracks will help to prevent further damage and failures like alligatoring and potholes. Ultimately cracks should be sealed every year. This will most certainly save money long-term avoiding costly patching services.
This is tough to do since most concrete driveway maintenance companies provide crack sealing services in conjunction with sealing, which can only be performed with temperatures of 50 degrees and above. This is why in most areas of the country sealing is performed only in the summer months.
Summary Of Concrete Driveways
Concrete driveways can be a beautiful addition to your home. The wide variety of different colors and patterns to choose from can give your home a unique, one-of-a-kind look. Stamped concrete driveways, patterned concrete driveways, colored concrete driveways, concrete driveway overlays, concrete driveway staining, and dyes.
Toll-Free 1-844-828-7638 or Local 404-941-8978