The driveway outside your home can play a significant role in making the house look good, but it also provides the convenience of parking on solid ground and reducing the dirt and mud coming into the house. Installing a new concrete driveway is often not complicated and can positively affect the property's resale value if that is a concern. 

Driveway Preparation

Before your concrete driveway installation begins, the contractor you hire will assess the soil and drainage to ensure they will support the concrete. If you have a lot of water where the concrete driveway installation is going, standard drain tiles can help remove it.

Gravel and stone are typically installed to sure up the area before the concrete is poured, and can create layers of drainage. Compacting the area will prevent the driveway from settling and cracking over time. If the water remains in the soil, the weight of the concrete driveway could cause it to sink in areas, so prepping the area is critical to the installation. 

Drains And Pitch

A new concrete driveway is typically not flat and requires a slight pitch to allow water to run off the surface. The driveway may run slightly downhill, ensuring water runs toward the street and the sewer drains, not into your home's foundation.

If you have drain tiles under the driveway, the gutters from your home and a drain in the concrete can tie into them to help control additional water runoff. The concrete driveway installer will go over the drain and pitch requirements with you and discuss the layout of the driveway. The time to ask questions of present concerns is during the design phase before the construction begins. 

Driveway Installation

Once everything is ready, the concrete driveway installation can begin and will take several days to complete. Larger driveways will take longer, and you may need to make arrangements to park on the street or nearby for a few nights while the construction is happening. 

The concrete driveway contractor can give you an estimated time for the completion of the driveway, but allow a day to two longer in case something changes during the construction. Sometimes weather or other minor issues delay the work, and being prepared for these hiccups is essential. 

If you live in a community governed by an HOA (homeowners association), you may need to get permission for the work ahead of time and submit a plan that shows how the new driveway will improve your property. You may also need permission from them to park on the street for a few days or to have large concrete trucks and over equipment coming into the community during the concrete driveway installation. 

Contact a local concrete driveway installation service to learn more. 

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