Top 4 Driveway Concrete Pouring Mistakes You Should be Aware Of

DIY home renovations may seem to be overwhelming and an inexpensive undertake but fetch high risk of structural damages and injuries. Especially when it comes to concrete driveway resurfacing, most homeowners take the plunge alone, not knowing the struggle they may end up with.  Pouring a concrete slab requires skills and years of expertise whether it’s on driveway, patio or deck. Although it may appear to be a straightforward task, there are many things you need to take into account to prevent structural damages.

If you are up for resurfacing your driveway with concrete, here are 4 concrete pouring mistakes you should avoid at all costs.

• Improper Surface Preparation

Before taking the plunge of resurfacing your concrete driveway, it’s important to ensure the surface area of the ground is properly prepared in order to keep soil contamination at bay. For that, you require a smooth layer of dust or processed stand to absorb moisture. However, most homeowners do not pay heed to hose down and dampening the underlying surface and pour concrete on hot surface. If concrete is poured on a burning hot and dusty surface, it’s bound to shrink or crack.

• Wrong Mix

Another common mistake made by 90% homeowners is using excessive water in the concrete mix which eventually weakens the durability of concrete. The mix of water and concrete should be precise and preferably, your wet concrete should be smooth instead of being dry and runny. It may seem wise to add excess water into concrete just because it will be easier to manage, however, it works in the other way round. Excessive water weakens the property of concrete. Therefore, it’s wise to read manufacturer’s guidelines before proceeding with the concrete mix.

• Improper Foamwork

High-quality foamwork is essential for added strength for your concrete slab. A good foamwork not only holds concrete in place and control spills but influences the overall appearance of the completed project. While it may be difficult to formulate foamwork and place it properly over the excavated area, the mix should be done properly. Uneven foamwork may fetch serious consequences and if you are not a pro, it’s better to seek help from professionals offering concrete driveways in Marsden Park for guaranteed results.

• Not Allowing Enough Time to Dry and Cure

Concrete usually becomes hard within a day or two after pouring and require sufficient time to cure which may take up to seven days. Concrete takes time to develop strength by balancing moisture and temperature conditions and leaving your concrete exposed actually determines how the compounds will bind together. Irrespective of whether you use curing compound or water, concrete slabs need adequate temperature and moisture to cure properly and failure to do so may not yield good results.

Hope you are now aware of the top concrete pouring mistakes you need to avoid by reading this blog. Write to us if you have any query. We will get back to you shortly!