Concrete Driveways

Concrete Driveways Coventry

Driveways Coventry concrete driveway quote

Concrete Driveway

If you are looking for a heavy duty, working driveway then concrete will be a good option for you. With our wealth of experience we can provide you with a hard wearing concrete driveway designed to take knocks and spills.

Concrete is a good option if you are going to be using your driveway to park heavy large vehicles such as trucks and caravans. The likelihood is that you have these sorts of vehicles on your drive you will be loading and unloading various heavy items and no matter how careful you are there will be times when something slips down when loading and crashes to the floor.

When installing a concrete driveway our surveyor will check the state of the ground to get an idea of what depth and level of sub base will be required and whether additional water run offs points and expansion joints need to be factored in. Also depending in space and taste you may want some form of decorative edging such as block paving to finish of the concrete area with an enhancement to the aesthetics.

Regardless of which edging is used once the gravel sub base has been laid a metal rebar is laid out horizontally and vertically to for a grid. The metal will enhance the tensile strength of the concrete and make it less susceptible to cracking. The poured concrete envelopes the rebars to make it part of the surface structure.

Even though it may not be visibly noticeable in high temperatures even concrete will expand on hot days, so to avoid this expansion leading to cracking, we may also include a number of expansion joints, which will allow individual sections of the concrete to expand ever so slightly without them pushing against each other. The expansion joints will be filled with flexible mastic which allows for contractions and expansion whilst maintaining a solid connection to inhibit weed growth in these joints

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Why choose a concrete driveway?

As mentioned, you will typically be choosing a concrete driveway if you are intending to have a fully functioning driveway which sees a lot of action. You should expect minimal maintenance from a concrete driveway if it is shown a little TLC in its first few weeks.

The curing of concrete is a very slow process almost exponential but clearly you can't wait forever for it to completely dry out. We would recommend refraining at least for the first week minimum before parking vehicles on the drive. If you do have a heavily laden weight truck, you should add a couple more weeks.

After curing for a couple of months the concrete will be stable enough to seal. This is not mandatory but something we would recommend to protect the concrete from water seeping which in turn could turn to ice which could cause the concrete to crack. To maintain this level of protection you should then consider re-sealing every 5 years or so, to continue to enjoy maintain your drive in tip top shape for many years.

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Cost of a Concrete Driveway

​As a driveway option, concrete is more expensive than asphalt, but as mentioned it's longevity does make it cost effective long term and it is less expensive than paving or stone options. However, the aspect which may not be so appealing is the aesthetics where standard grey can be viewed as quite dull, unless you decide to upgrade to a patterned concrete alternative. Again each individual driveway will have its unique set of consideration but a ball park figure for concrete of around £80 m2 provides and initial start point.

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Concrete Driveway Maintenance

A standard concrete driveway is generally chosen to deal with tough conditions. Typically where many larger vehicles are being used and equipment or machinery is loaded and unloaded regularly. In this sort of environment it is not unusual for an item to damage your concrete driveway causing part of it to break or chip away. Whilst it may be tempting to leave it as these sorts of accidents are likely to happen on a frequent basis by not patch repairing you run the risk of more damage through the weathering process - especially when frost temperatures are upon us. Wherever possible attend to any damage with a concrete patch repair. This will prevent water and debris from getting in and causing more damage and maintenance issues.

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Frequently Asked Concrete Driveway Questions

  • Why Choose Driveways Coventry to install a concrete driveway?

    We have years of experience in groundwork projects - we know what we're doing!

    We offer a FREE survey and consultation to discuss the best options for your budget and requirements – what have you got to lose?

    • Expert knowledge of ALL driveway types and materials - we'll help you choose what's right for you.
    • Conscientiousness, dedicated driveway team, focusing on quality and getting the job done on schedule but never compromising on quality and 
    • Open, honest communication - you won't be left in the dark
    • Responsible removal and disposal of waste materials - we leave your premises in pristine condition and you have peace of mind
    • Other groundwork skills also include the installation of artificial grass, composite fencing and driveway gates and patios- so we can seamlessly provide a total, low-maintenance, transformation of your front garden without the hassle of managing multiple contractors and multiple payments.

  • Is concrete one of the best driveway materials?

    This continues and will always continue to be a contentious subject and this is whether you mean concrete or imprinted concrete. Early versions of resin driveways using the bonded technique have lead to owners of this type of driveway wishing they never chose this in the first instance. However, using modern materials and choosing a resin-bound option will give you a modern low maintenance driveway. Block paving and tarmac continue to be good options as does Indian stone. Budget will play a large part in what driveway type is best for you and also what vehicles and activities will be carried out on your driveway too.

  • Do new driveways need to be permeable?

    The short answer is no. However, if you choose a non-permeable option then you should expect to have a soak-away drain fitted too. There are some councils that require permission to be obtained to install a non-permeable driveway as the concern if that more water will be sent to the local drain system adding to the strain and increasing the potential for flooding. As a permeable surface permits water to soak through at the source, water will end up in the ground beneath your driveway, not the sewage system.

    Block paving can be either, as can resin so please let us know if you have a preference.

  • Are concrete driveways low maintenance?

    Most driveways will require little maintenance if they are looked after properly and sealed as advised. If left unattended for years then jet washing and / or spraying with a pathway cleaner can remove and delay new moss or weeds forming. New tarmac, patterned concrete and resin bound surfaces require the least maintenance in their early years.

  • Are concrete driveways the least expensive?

    Certainly when compared to resin driveways which are generally the most expensive but if you search hard enough you can find certain paving stones which will end up being more expensive but generally speaking a resin bound drive will cost the most and concrete towards the bottom end unless you are simply looking a a gravel or chippings drive.

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