If you have chosen to get a new concrete driveway installed for your home, it can be helpful to understand how it is installed. This way you will know what to expect when the concrete contractor arrives. You will find information below about this, as well as some choices you have when choosing the driveway.

Concrete Driveway Installation

The concrete contractor will test the soil to make sure it holds up well with the heavy concrete. You do not want soil that will break down as this will cause the driveway to sink and crack. If this happens, in most cases, the driveway would have to be removed. If the contractor finds the soil is not suitable, there are additives that can be added to make the soil stable enough. 

The contractor will check for underground utilities, such as electrical lines, sewer pipes, etc. before they lay the concrete. If found, the contractor will check the codes for your state to ensure they can install the concrete driveway over these things. The contractor will use stakes and string to lay out the driveway. If they are replacing a driveway, it makes things much easier. If not, excavation equipment will be used to remove vegetation, topsoil, and sod. 

The base is laid down next and then compacted. The forms and rebar are then installed. These things reinforce the concrete, making it stable to prevent cracking and other problems. The concrete is then poured, and the surface is finished. 

Concrete Driveway Choices

You can choose standard concrete, but you do have other choices. For example, you can use colored concrete to make the driveway match your home, surroundings, etc. The contractor can mix just about any color you wish. If you choose this, the color is added to the concrete and mixed right before it is poured. 

You can choose to have the concrete stained after it is poured. If you choose this, the driveway must be fully cured before it is stained. You can choose from a variety of stain colors. This is something you can do yourself if the driveway is small, or you can have the contractor apply the stain for you. 

Another option is stamping the driveway. Stamps can completely transform your concrete driveway to look like flagstone, natural slate, brick, and cobblestone. You can combine coloring agents with the stamps. The concrete must still be wet to apply the stamps, so the contractor may use more than one worker to do this. 

A concrete contractor can offer more details about the installation of concrete driveways.