A Basic Guide On How To Lay A Concrete Driveway
A concrete driveway is permanent and low maintenance which is something that a lot of homeowners are looking for. However, it is important to note that laying a concrete driveway is bother costly and labor intensive. If you feel up to the challenge, there are a number of steps that you should take to ensure that you lay your driveway correctly.
Create A Plan
Before you start getting material for your driveway, you need to create a plan. There are a number of points that need to be considered when planning your driveway. The first is how your car is going to turn when you enter the street. While looking at this, you have to consider if your home is close to a blind corner or other traffic hazards. These will need to be taken into account when you plan your driveway to ensure that everyone is safe.
You also need to consider the land that you are laying the driveway on. If you are going to be placing the driveway on a hill, you have to take the drainage into account to prevent erosion. You also have to be careful when it comes to the steepness of the driveway as you do not want to bottom out your car.
Check For Building Permits
Many people do not realize that they may need to have a building permit for their concrete driveway. To determine if there are any legal requirements such as permits, you need to contact your local council. The reason why you may need a permit is the fact that you are linking your home to the street which is a municipal right of way. The laying of your driveway may also impact on storm water runoff and utility lines. Most professionals like Concreters Melbourne will be able to help.
Lay Out The Sides Of The Driveway
Once all of the paperwork has been taken care of and you have all of the materials you need, you have to start laying out the sides of the driveway. To do this, you will need to drive small metal or wooden stakes at the point where the driveway will meet the road and where it ends near your home. You can then use a builder’s line to connect these posts.
When you lay the sides of the driveway, you need to ensure that the resulting space is the same as the plan that you made. Measuring the width of the driveway is important to ensure that you are working with the right size.
Clear The Area
Once you have the driveway area marked, you need to remove any vegetation and other items from the area. You will also need to remove any sod from the area to ensure that the concrete will be placed on the right materials. If you have soft soil, you will need to remove enough for a fill material to be placed under the driveway you are building.
Pour And Grade The Concrete
Once you have the area cleared, you will need to pour the concrete. You should have enough concrete to create a slab of at least 4 inch thickness. You can grade the concrete by placing a straightedge on the edges of the driveway to measure the depth of the concrete. You should remove and add concrete as needed to reach the size that you want.