Before having a cement contractor pour a new driveway or any walkways around your home, you want to ensure you ask the right questions. These questions will help you to keep your newly poured concrete in good condition and also help to avoid unnecessary repairs down the road. You'll also know what to expect when it comes to having cement poured and how to care for it. Note a few of those questions here.
1. If cement cracks, was it poured incorrectly?
If your old cement or concrete driveway or walkway developed cracks, it's easy to think that it must have been poured incorrectly. In truth, cement and concrete typically crack over time no matter the quality of the installation. The ground will shift under the area and the material will absorb water so that it may simply crack due to age and wear.
That being said, if you notice severe cracking to your concrete after a short time or pits and other such trouble spots, ask your contractor about these. It may be that your property is not graded properly and is allowing the concrete to shift more than it should, or that you need thicker concrete for your heavier truck or motor home. If your contractor knows about problems with your old material, they may be able to make adjustments to your newly poured concrete to avoid repeating these same problems.
2. Ask what type of reinforcement they use
Unless your contractor is pouring a very small walkway, they will usually want to add a reinforcement to the concrete. This can be rebar for larger driveways or a type of wire mesh. Note that the smaller the openings in the wire mesh, the stronger it is, so don't hesitate to ask about their choice of reinforcement and then do some checking as to how strong it will make your concrete overall. Insist on something stronger for your driveway if they only use a thin wire mesh for this installation.
3. Ask what to do to make your concrete last longer
Sealant can protect concrete, but adding too much of this can mean allowing water to pool on its surface. You also want to note the curing or drying time for concrete if you have a heavier vehicle, as this may mean more time is required to allow the concrete to set completely. Your contractor might also have suggestions for patching material that can be used at the first sign of a crack, or be able to give you additional advice for keeping your new concrete in good repair for as long as possible.
Share16 November 2015
If you have broken concrete around your property, you need to be creative about how you deal with it. You can tear it out, you can fix it or you can reuse the concrete in another area. Hi, my name is Betty, and I am a firm advocate of reducing waste and reusing things. I take this attitude to every part of my life, including my concrete. I own a business and a home, and I have concrete around both of them. Over the years, I have hired contractors to do repairs and a number of other things. I have also done a lot of research. Want ideas? Check out my posts. Cheers!