Compare Quotes on Having Concrete Driveway Replaced by Pat Logan on Creators.com

Recently

Avoid Typical Electrical Wiring Errors Dear Pat: I just had a new two-car garage built, and I am remodeling the old one-car garage into a family room. I plan to do some of the wiring myself. What are some of the common wiring mistakes I should avoid? — Karen S. Dear Karen: If you …Read more. Add a New Front Door in the Old Doorjamb Dear Pat: My wood front door needs to be replaced, but I want to save some money and not remove the entire frame and jamb. What is the best way to install a new wood front door in the existing door frame? — Sissy M. Dear Sissy: The door itself …Read more. Remove and Replace a Damaged Ceramic Tile From a Floor Dear Pat: We have large ceramic tiles on the floor in our foyer. One of them has gotten badly scratched, and I need to replace it. What is the proper procedure to remove and replace one without damaging the other tiles? — Ronda S. Dear Ronda: …Read more. How to Properly Install a Leak-free Roof Dear Pat: I am having a major room addition to my house. In my past two houses, the shingle roofs leaked prematurely. What should I look for and discuss with the roofers to make sure this roof lasts longer? — Sandi M. Dear Sandi: Most roofs …Read more.

Compare Quotes on Having Concrete Driveway Replaced

Dear Pat: The concrete driveway and sidewalk at my house are in bad shape and look even worse. I called several contractors for quotes to replace them. What should I look for when comparing their quotes? — Carolyn F.

Dear Carolyn: Not only does a deteriorating driveway or sidewalk look bad, it actually can be dangerous walking on it, particularly at night. Just slight differences in the height of a crumbling concrete surface can be enough to make someone stumble.

If the concrete driveway and sidewalks were installed properly initially, they should literally last a lifetime. A crumbling or badly crack surface is an indication it was not allowed to properly cure, often because of poor weather (hot and dry) conditions.

Having a little background in concrete technology will help you evaluate various contractors and their techniques. The Portland Cement Association, 800-868-6733, is an excellent source for basic information on the types and uses of concrete.

First of all, concrete does not dry like paint on a wall. It is a chemical reaction within the cement that is activated when it is mixed with water. The gravel and sand are added as filler and to give more strength to the concrete mixture. The type and size of sand and gravel used affects the appearance and surface texture.

The cement functions as glue to hold the gravel and sand together. When water and cement are mixed together, crystals form small interlocking needles binding everything together. The strength of the cured concrete varies and depends upon the relative amounts of cement, sand and gravel used.

Your local building codes should specify the minimum strength of concrete used for the driveway and sidewalks.

Check the quote from the contractor to make sure the proper concrete strength mixture is specified.

Although it may cost more for a large work crew, adequate manpower is imperative for a long-lasting concrete job. If a contractor cuts corners to save money with too few workers, the concrete may start to set up before they can get it installed and leveled.

To provide more working time with fewer workers, the contractor may have to add a little extra water to the surface for more time to get it smooth with a nice finish. Adding extra water can dramatically reduce the strength of the concrete surface. This may be what caused problems with your existing driveway.

The contractor should specify wire mesh and 1/2-inch rebar (steel reinforcing rods) in the concrete. This reinforcement minimizes the number of deep cracks in the concrete. Since concrete shrinks as it cures, crack control grooves should be made so the small cracks form only in these grooves.

It is best if the concrete cures slowly and the surface does not dry out too fast. The humidity level and temperature in your climate impacts this. Even though the concrete feels hard in several hours, it takes weeks for it to reach it full cured strength.

Ask the contractors how they plan to control the curing and if they plan to spray on a curing compound to control surface water loss during curing. Another simple method to reduce the surface drying is to cover the fresh concrete with plastic film. Lightly misting the surface with water can also help. Don't spray on so much water that it pools on the surface.

Send your questions to Here's How, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. To find out more about Pat Logan and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.