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HOW TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN A CONCRETE DRIVEWAY SO IT LASTS FOR A LIFETIME

  • By Southport Concrete Corp.
  • 20 Jul, 2018
Concrete driveways are durable and attractive, and they provide a solid, reliable parking surface for vehicles. However, maximizing the lifespan and appearance of your concrete driveway depends upon making the right choices both before the concrete is poured and for many years after that, too.

Below, we’ve listed some important things to keep in mind in order to prevent premature concrete driveway failure.

GET AS MANY INCHES OF CONCRETE AS POSSIBLE ON A HARD, FLAT SURFACE

Concrete is incredibly strong against forces of compression, such as heavy vehicular traffic. However, it not nearly as resilient against bending forces, and that is why concrete driveways be as thick as possible. You need many inches of concrete to prevent the driveway from breaking or cracking due to uneven weight distribution.

A standard concrete driveway is four inches deep, but five or even six inches is preferable. Additional costs for the extra concrete are minimal, and the enhanced durability is worth the slight expense.

In addition, the driveway base should be adequately prepared to prevent a premature breakdown. The contractor should compact the base firmly and remove all underground weaknesses before pouring the concrete.

If there are any irregularities in the soil, such as tree stumps, sinkholes, or even normal soil variations (such as a transition from sand to clay), your contractor should remove these imperfections and fill the openings with an appropriate base material. Your concrete installation professional will know the best material to use and provide guidance and assistance.

REGULARLY SEAL YOUR CONCRETE DRIVEWAY

Even though you might think of concrete as completely impervious, it actually is capable of absorbing water and other liquids. The tiny grains of sand and cement are bound together in a matrix that also contains lots of tiny air pockets. These air pockets allow liquids to penetrate through these openings and saturate the concrete.

If you live in an area where freezing occurs in the winter, any water trapped inside these air pockets could turn into ice. Of course, when water freezes, it expands, and your driveway will bear the brunt of the growing ice particles. Over time, freezing can cause cracking as well as a surface-level problem called scaling, which is the sloughing off of the uppermost layers of concrete.

To prevent the destructive influence of freezing from damaging your concrete driveway, have it regularly sealed. During concrete sealing, a contractor applies a penetrating compound made from siloxane, silicate, or other silica-based chemicals. These chemicals prevent water from entering the concrete, but they permit the gritty surface of the concrete to remain exposed. The surface of the concrete needs to remain gritty so it’s not slippery for vehicles and pedestrians.

PROMPTLY SEAL CRACKS WHEN THEY APPEAR

Despite your best efforts, it is not realistic to expect concrete driveways to go completely without cracking over the course of their 30-, 40-, or 50-year lifespans. Some cracks are bound to appear no matter what, so don't despair if they show up in your driveway. If you address the problem quickly whenever cracks first appear, you can be assured of keeping your driveway in excellent shape for a long time.

Homeowners can easily seal small cracks in their own driveways. To do so, clean out the cracks with a wire brush and a shop vacuum or leaf blower. Avoid using water, since water might prevent the sealant from properly adhering. Next, use a caulk gun to insert a line of concrete caulk into the crevice. Push the caulk into the crack with a putty knife, and form a clean edge with the knife blade.

OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE WHEN NECESSARY

If you are planning to install a concrete driveway or replace an existing one, request the assistance of a qualified professional. A trained team of concrete layers can help you plan a driveway that will be the best one possible for your needs and will install it to last for a lifetime. In addition, if you have questions about maintaining an existing concrete driveway, be sure to contact your professional, as they will be able to help you with sealing and crack repair as well.
By Southport Concrete Corp. 20 Jul, 2018
When completing any construction project that involves a foundation, the use of concrete pilings is essential. These columns that have been pre-cast and cured before installation provide needed support and reinforcement to the foundations used by your home or business. They have many qualities that make them beneficial to a variety of projects:

  • Cost effective: When anything is manufactured on a massive scale, your costs decrease substantially from having something custom poured.
  • Superior quality: Being pre-cast, pilings are checked for every sort of defect before being installed, giving them an additional safety advantage.
  • Underwater usage: There are several instances in which the pouring of concrete in certain types of subsoil or other environments won’t set. The use of formed piles easily takes care of that issue.
  • Convenience: With a wide selection of piles all ready to go, you are able to select what you need and install them at your convenience.
  • Adaptability: Trying to pour the exact shape you need is a thing of the past with concrete pilings available in square, round, octagonal and other shapes.
  • Incredible strength: Because of the nature of the piles, the reinforcement used inside is more likely to stay put without getting disturbed or moving its place. They also have high bending and lateral resistance to hold their strength in adverse conditions.
  • Eco friendly: With no leftover materials to clean up at the installation site, piles are the most environmentally friendly option when supporting your foundation and in other applications, such as retaining walls, embankments and cofferdams.
By Southport Concrete Corp. 20 Jul, 2018
Southport Concrete Corp is a leading builder of seawalls  in the Southport area. A seawall is a barrier that prevents waves from inundating property and land. These concrete walls are ideal for areas that are susceptible to hurricanes and frequent flooding. During storms, the sea level, as well as lake and river levels, can rise dangerously high and threaten communities and natural areas. The wall stops the water in its tracks and keeps communities from sustaining millions of dollars' worth of damages. Despite their name, our walls can be built near any large body of water, and our company can construct the following types:

  • Curved
  • Vertical
  • Mound
By Southport Concrete Corp. 20 Jul, 2018
You have a lot of options when it comes to building materials in Southport, but there are some that are more high-quality than others. At Southport Concrete Corp., we offer ready-mix concrete. As a product that is made in a factory, it offers the highest quality possible, as it is regulated under specific conditions. Being carefully monitored while it is mixed, it allows maximum economy at every turn. It is a convenience for contractors because it can be delivered to most jobsites. If a truck can get there, the ready mix can get there. It can also be poured directly from the truck into handling equipment or formwork, minimizing loss and mistakes.
By Southport Concrete Corp. 20 Jul, 2018

Although the terms cement and concrete are often used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient in concrete.

Concrete is basically a mixture of paste and aggregates. The aggregates are crushed stone or sand and gravel; the paste is made of water and Portland cement. Concrete material happens to get stronger as it gets older. Portland cement is not the name of a particular brand of cement; it’s the generic term for the type of cement utilized in almost all concrete (ex: stainless is a type of steel and sterling is a type of silver).

Pervious concrete, also known as "green concrete," is a choice that helps combat building code issues with storm water run-off.

Cement is composed of 10 to 15 percent of the concrete mix, by volume. Then through a process called hydration, the cement and water harden and bring together the aggregates into a rocklike form. This developing and hardening process continues for years, again meaning that concrete gets stronger as it gets older.

By Southport Concrete Corp. 20 Jul, 2018
There are many residences that need to use a septic tank. If you find yourself in such an area, consider what Southport Concrete Corp. can do for you. We can cast septic systems  for you, and we have been operating in Southport for almost 20 years. We can inspect your location to design a septic system that is perfect for your expected needs, bringing you long-term plumbing solutions.
By Southport Concrete Corp. 20 Jul, 2018
Concrete driveways are durable and attractive, and they provide a solid, reliable parking surface for vehicles. However, maximizing the lifespan and appearance of your concrete driveway depends upon making the right choices both before the concrete is poured and for many years after that, too.

Below, we’ve listed some important things to keep in mind in order to prevent premature concrete driveway failure.
By Southport Concrete Corp. 20 Jul, 2018
Concrete is an ideal construction material for countless numbers of applications due to the substance’s strength, reasonable cost, and ease of installation. Paving surfaces is one of the many uses for this flexible medium. However, concrete is prone to crack, and it is normal for even the best-laid concrete surface to develop hairline crevices.

While these tiny cracks are often insignificant, they are unsightly and detract from the overall appearance of the paved surface. You can preventing these cracks by installing contraction joints; below is more information about these important features and their installation.
By Southport Concrete Corp. 20 Jul, 2018
If you're hoping to replace your tired old countertops with something more modern and durable, you've likely considered popular options like quartz, granite, marble, or solid surface. However, many homeowners do not realize that concrete makes an excellent countertop and has plenty of advantages.

Just like any other countertop surface, there are specific advantages that concrete offers. How do you know if concrete is the right choice for your new or remodeled kitchen?
By Southport Concrete Corp. 20 Jul, 2018
Though concrete is incredibly strong and resilient, untreated concrete can be stained in some circumstances. This is primarily due to the internal crystalline structure of concrete at the microscopic level.

Concrete consists of tiny cement particles locked together with sand and other crushed materials. In between these particles lie tiny air gaps that can be filled with just about any liquid that comes their way. That includes water, paint, oil, and other fluids dropped on the surface of unsealed concrete.

As a consequence, you can’t merely wipe concrete stains away. Instead, you have to treat the stains with the right methods, chemicals, and tools.

Below is a brief guide to removing two common but tough stains that affect concrete.
By Southport Concrete Corp. 20 Jul, 2018
You can beautify your concrete patio and radically transform its appearance by applying stain. Stain gives a rich, almost three-dimensional look to the patio and sets it apart from everyone else's ho-hum gray slab.
Below is a list of tools and materials needed as well as information on how to prepare the concrete, apply the stain, and then seal the finished surface.
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