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Posted by Ook on March 19, 2007, 6:19 pm
Now that I have my nice new concrete driveway, what can I do to make it
last? In my neighborhood, there is a lot of badly erroded concrete. Is there
anything that can be done to prevent this? Any coatings that don't look
ugly, but actually extend the life of the cement?
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Posted by mm on March 19, 2007, 7:53 pm
On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:19:45 -0700, "Ook" <Ook Don't send me any
freakin' spam at zootal dot com delete the Don't send me any freakin'
spam> wrote:
>Now that I have my nice new concrete driveway, what can I do to make it
>last?
If you want to make the driveway last, make everything else first.
>In my neighborhood, there is a lot of badly erroded concrete. Is there
>anything that can be done to prevent this? Any coatings that don't look
>ugly, but actually extend the life of the cement?
Keep it wet for at least a few days after it is poured, a week is even
better.
Didn't they used to use burlap for that? Is it that there's not
enough scrap burlap these days? Someone mentioned hay, or a
sprinkler.
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Posted by mm on March 19, 2007, 7:55 pm
>
>I had big divots in the concrete at one house in Colorado, but very
>little effect on a second house in the same town. The sidewalk at the
>second house was only a few years old, while the first house had a
>30-year-old sidewalk, so age may have played a part.
Are you saying the 30-year old driveway was good until you used salt
on it?
And that caused divots?
I'd been led to believe that after a year or two it was safe to use
salt.
(and I used a little this year for the first time in 28 years.)
>The composition of the sidewalks was different. The older sidewalk had
>visible gravel in the concrete, while the newer one did not.
>
>Mark
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Posted by Joseph Meehan on March 19, 2007, 9:33 pm
Ook wrote:
> Now that I have my nice new concrete driveway, what can I do to make
> it last? In my neighborhood, there is a lot of badly erroded
> concrete. Is there anything that can be done to prevent this? Any
> coatings that don't look ugly, but actually extend the life of the
> cement?
Well you already are past some of the most important.
First is the foundation. The gravel base under the concrete and
preparation. Next is the design including re-bar, wire, thickness, and
strength rating of the concrete. Next is the installation. For example
under working or over working the concrete will make for a weak surface that
will scale very easy.
Now, assuming it was just put in, you can keep it damp for at least a
few days to a week or so. That will allow it to cure slowly and develop
full strength. Drying means it will not properly cure and will always be
weak.
After that, keeping salt off, especially during the first year is
important. Other than than trying to keep stains off it so it looks nice is
about it.
--
Joseph Meehan
Dia 's Muire duit
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Posted by Just Joshin on March 20, 2007, 3:15 pm
On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:19:45 -0700, "Ook" <Ook Don't send me any
freakin' spam at zootal dot com delete the Don't send me any freakin'
spam> wrote:
>Now that I have my nice new concrete driveway, what can I do to make it
>last? In my neighborhood, there is a lot of badly erroded concrete. Is there
>anything that can be done to prevent this? Any coatings that don't look
>ugly, but actually extend the life of the cement?
>
imho, i was told:
The first steps would have a good contractor. Using washed ag, and
covering your concrete with plastic, to retard evapaoration too fast.
Then don't use rock salt at all. Any icemelt you do use is to break
up the ice, and then remove it with a shovel. Don't let any product
just sit on you concrete.
I was warned about keeping my car well maintained since oils and
fluids could react with the concrete as well.
Just what I was told.
tom @ www.FreelancingProjects.com
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