Removal of all old concrete and all trucked off site, to a stone recycle facility.
SUB BASE. We have to start with a good sub base. 2-6" OF CLEAN NUMBER 1 STONE GRADED AND COMPACTED PROPERLY. This is the key to slap settlement and cracking. we use a vibratory plate compactor for this.
CONCRETE MIX You want to make sure for a good concrete mix. We pour 4500 psi compressive strength concrete. The proper air entrainment of approx. 6%. These are microscopic air bubbles that are in the concrete so if water enter the concrete slabs in the freeze thaw cycle the water has some where to go expand to. You also want to proper water to cement ratio for. Avoid adding extra water on the job site. It will weaken the concrete mix strength. Also, make sure the proper slump is ordered, you want approx. 4" slump for our area on most flat work.
CONTROL JOINTS Make sure your contractor is placing the control joints in the proper locations no more than 6-8 feet apart in a 4" flat work application. Also, make sure the joints are 25% deep into the slab. 1" deep in a 4" slab. In addition to control joints you will also want to install isolation joints, or expansion strip. Any place your new flat work concrete meet previously poured concrete, garage floor, and walkways
CONCRETE DRIVEWAY REINFORCEMENT All our driveways have 6" by 6" wire mesh installed in each pour. Make sure your contractor pulls the wire mesh up into the fresh placed concrete. The steel reinforcement will not stop cracking from occurring, but will help to hold the concrete together if they do occur.
CONCRETE THICKNESS Most driveways we pour are 4' thick. If you add 1" to 5" thick concrete, you will increase your driveway cost by about 20% but you will also increase the driveways load bearing capacity by 50%. If you have large trucks or large campers, we usually recommend thicker concrete.
