Concrete Driveways

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Feb/05/21

A-Core provides a variety of residential concrete services to customers across the country. Concrete is an affordable, strong, and durable construction material that’s suitable for most outdoor surfaces—including home driveways.

From the roads we drive on to the building we work in, concrete is everywhere. Residential homes also rely on concrete for many parts of their construction. It’s an inexpensive building material while also being able to withstand harsh weather conditions as well as large amounts of weight for years without breaking down. If you’re looking to redo your home driveway, concrete may be the right choice.

 

Types of Concrete Driveways 

 

  • Plain or colored concrete. This is the most popular option for most homeowners. This sleek, clean, and simple look works perfectly with every home design. Gray concrete is the default color, but there are also other shades available if you’re looking for a driveway color that will complement your home’s exterior. 
  • Stamped/stenciled concrete. This style of driveway uses stamps and stencils to create realistic replicas of more expensive building materials such as brick, cobblestone, tiles, flagstone, and slate. Not only does stenciled concrete still give off the feel of natural stone and improve curb appeal, it’s more durable since there aren’t spaces between individual stones for weeds or the elements to get in and damage the cement’s structure.
  • Exposed aggregate concrete. Concrete is simply a mixture of water, cement, and rough aggregates. This style of concrete involves pouring the concrete mixture as normal and then removing the top layer to expose the coarse aggregate embedded underneath. Not only is the added texture aesthetically pleasing, it’s also more resistant to heavy traffic and skidding tires than smooth surfaces.

 

Maintaining Your Concrete Driveway

Installing a concrete driveway requires a professional crew since working with concrete on large scale projects can be difficult to get right. But you can maintain your concrete driveway by yourself. Concrete driveways can often last 40+ years if they have regular maintenance. Here are some things you should do to ensure your concrete driveway has the longest lifespan possible:

  • Keep the surface clear of debris. Regularly sweep your concrete driveway to clear debris from the surface. Pressure washing and deep scrubbing your driveways as needed can also improve your home’s curb appeal, and get rid of items that could harm the surface of the concrete over time. Stencilled concrete may need some extra TLC to clean in between the grooves.  
  • Remove stains immediately. Concrete is a porous material, meaning liquids can easily be absorbed into the surface. This could not only stain the surface, it could also make the internal structure weaker and cause damage. You should wipe away any oil, gasoline, grease, or other spill as soon as possible to keep your driveway’s surface looking clean and to ensure structural integrity.
  • Avoid using chemicals/deicers on the driveway’s surface. Salts and chemical deicing products stop you from falling in the winter, but they can also damage your concrete driveway and lead to scaling and spalling—especially if the concrete is newly laid and still curing. If possible avoid using these products on your driveway to keep it from degrading faster.
  • Reseal the surface every 1-2 years. Sealing your concrete driveway’s surface every year or two will keep it looking its best and stop the surface from wearing out prematurely and shortening its lifespan. If you live in an area that gets snow, seal your driveway in the fall so it can withstand road salts and the winter weather.

 

Pros and Cons of Concrete Driveways

Before deciding to install a concrete driveway on your property, there are a few things to take into consideration. Factors such as the climate of where you live and the angle of your driveway can help determine what material will work best for your driveway. Here are some pros and cons to consider if you’re thinking about installing a concrete driveway.

 

Pros

  • Compared to other driveway material options like brick or cobblestone, concrete is a much more affordable option. Since they have a long lifespan if maintained properly, the savings over time will greatly outweigh any upfront installation costs.
  • Concrete driveways can withstand large amounts of weight without breaking. You don’t have to worry about heavy equipment like moving trucks damaging the structural integrity of your driveway. 
  • With proper maintenance like regular sealing, concrete driveways can last for 40+ years. 

 

Cons

  • Since concrete is a porous material, it can easily be stained by fluids like oil or gasoline leaking from vehicles and lowering curb appeal.
  • Even if you have worked on concrete or cement DIY projects before, installing a full concrete driveway properly requires the help of specialists like our professionals at A-Core.  
  • Concrete has to be regularly maintained in order for it to have a long lifetime. While the maintenance is easy (yearly sealing and general upkeep), it can be annoying to have another thing around the house to maintain. 

 

 

A-Core Concrete Driveway Services

Our team of construction experts can install your concrete driveway quickly and professionally. We’ve provided high-quality concrete services to customers across the country: 

 

  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Idaho
  • Montana
  • New Mexico
  • Oregon
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Washington

 

Are you interested in installing a concrete driveway? Our experts at A-Core are here to help. Our experience with both residential and commercial projects, along with our highly trained crew, ensures high-quality services for any concrete job. Call us today to learn more about how A-Core can install your concrete driveway.