Many homeowners will opt for concrete driveways because it does not cost a lot to install or maintain. However, these installations can crack due to different reasons, but this often depends on the quality of the installation. While you can never expect concrete to be free of cracks, it is wise to point out the most notable causes and how you can extend your concrete driveway’s lifespan.

1. Stop The Sodium

As concrete cures, it will fluctuate depending on the temperature changes. Cold contracts and heat expand, and the two reactions cause concrete to crack. When winter comes knocking, your concrete driveway will be bombarded with ice and snow. While salt might seem like the next best option for dissipating the ice, it will hurt your driveway.

Concrete molecules freeze at 18 degrees and thaws at 35 degrees Fahrenheit. The ice facilitates freezing, and the thawing increase the formation of water as the ice and snow melts, resulting in increased moisture. The moisture seeps in between the concrete molecules and freezes inside the concrete when the conditions are freezing again, creating pressure that causes the concrete to crack. Therefore, using salt only aids in damaging your driveway. Instead, use sand and apply a sealant to the concrete annually, preferably a month before the winter season. If you like more professional assistance visit experienced concreter in Perth.

2. Mitigate The Sun’s Effects

Conditions during summer can be extreme. When concrete is baked in under the hot sun, it expands but then contracts at night when the temperatures drop, leading to cracks. Applying a silicone acrylic water repellent sealer to your driveway will protect it from the sun’s harshness. You can use an epoxy injection to repair the cracks. Conversely, consider techniques like sealing, dry packing, and routing to stabilize them, thus preventing them from worsening.

3. Lose Some Weight

At times, concrete will develop cracks when it has more weight than it can support. In most cases, concrete driveways in residential properties are four inches thick and can withstand a weight fewer than 10,000 lbs. Fortunately, families with vehicles will have SUVs, Sedans, and trucks, which the driveway can handle. Large vehicles and RVs exceeding 10,000 lbs. should not be allowed on the concrete. Please Visit: Best Concrete Cutting Perth 

If you plan to have heavy vehicles on your driveway, consider using a wire mesh or rebar to enhance the concrete to withstand such weight and make it roughly six inches thick.

4. Nothing Short Of Quality Installation

Lastly, many cracking issues stem from the initial preparation and pouring of the concrete when installing the driveway. The contractor must be skilled and experienced in concrete works. For instance, getting the water ratio wrong, installing the rebar or wire mesh wrongly, or pouring the concrete on frozen ground can result in a weak product that’s prone to cracking.

Pro Concrete Polishing Perth claims concrete slab should have a sturdy base because this is essential to having a driveway that lasts. The contractor you hire must be skilled in prepping the ground, laying everything down, and ensuring that control joints are secure. Therefore, the contractor must include some visible ‘cracks’ between the sidewalk squares that allow the concrete driveway to expand and contract, thus preventing new cracks.

It’s a good idea to really research what your options are when it comes to concrete driveways. You want someone that can help you get one put in that is going to last and look nice at the same time. Below are some tips that will make it easier to hire the right person.

A driveway is going to have to be worked on by someone that is not new to this kind of thing. You want to know if they have done this kind of work for others in recent years or at least a couple of times before. If they tell you this will be their first attempt at doing this kind of thing, you need to hire someone else to assist you. When an amateur puts in a driveway, mistakes can be made and the end result may not be something you’ll be happy with.  Click here for more about residential driveway installation.

To put in a good driveway, have a professional do it that has a lot of good reviews backing them. To look up reviews on a driveway service, just look up the company’s name along with the word “reviews” through a search engine website. If there aren’t any results because they are new, you may want to go with a company that is established just to be on the safe side of all of this. A good driveway is something that a good number of companies can help put in, you just have to do a bit of research first.

A good driveway needs to be made of the right material. If you’re wanting a residential type of driveway, then concrete is generally the way to go. If you want it to last and be a good driveway, make sure the materials being used are top of the line. Ask an expert that you hire to help you what they recommend you do to take care of the driveway, as well. For instance, you may need to have problem areas worked on after a good number of years so the driveway can look as good as new as long as possible.  Learn more about driveway finish trends.

Figure out what a new driveway is going to cost you when you work with a few different companies. You want to know that you are getting a deal that is worth it, so do research on what people are charging. Don’t spend too much and don’t go with something so cheap that it has to be done with cheap materials and by people that don’t have a lot of recent experience. A lot of the time you get what you pay for but that still doesn’t mean that you should pay so much more that it’s not fair.

If you want to work with concrete driveways, it’s good to have a professional help you out. They can do good work as long as you know they are well trained. Don’t just hire people that say they do good work, hire people that can prove they have done driveway work in the past.