Asphalt Driveway Minneapolis Minnesota

The Concrete Driveway Guide

This guide was created to help you understand the process for replacing your current driveway, whether you choose asphalt or concrete.

The most important part of the driveway - the foundation

Before any concrete is poured, sufficient time and effort must be spent on building and compacting the foundation correctly. Referred to as "aggregate" or "the sub-base," the foundation achieves two vital functions: 1) It provides a solid and stable surface that supports the new concrete. 2) Creates a "frost barrier" for the driveway and helps reduce ground heaving caused by freezing and thawing.

Removing the old foundation

If your current sub-base contains a substandard soil mix, such as clay, it will need to be completely removed and replaced with a new foundation. The best type of foundation or sub-base is "class 5". This type of base is highly compactable and exceptionally strong. If the existing foundation is strong, it can be used and re-compacted before the new concrete driveway is poured. It is absolutely essential if you are choosing a concrete driveway in Minnesota to create a solid and strong foundation.

Thanks for the professional work from start to finish - Jason, Inver Grove Heights, MN

Obviously, your current driveway whether concrete or asphalt needs to be totally removed and hauled away.

Drainage: are your experiencing puddling or other water problems?

Proper drainage is an important issue regarding the lifespan of your new driveway. Each driveway is unique, some have a normal slope and water easily drains from the top of the driveway by the garage, to the street. But there are a small percentage of driveways that have what is called; "a negative drainage," where the end of the driveway by the street is higher than the garage. In this instance, a swale has to be created by the garage that causes the water to drain to the side of the driveway and not into the garage.

What is concrete made of?

A concrete driveway is made of a mixture of gray powder called portland cement, sand and crushed stone or gravel. When water is mixed with portland cement it causes a chemical reaction that hardens very quickly.

Curing concrete

After concrete is poured and placed on the driveway, a moisture content and temperature between 50°F and 75°F must be maintained. Concrete does not set by drying out, but by the cement material chemically reacting with the water, called hydrating or curing.

Adequate curing is essential to create a quality concrete driveway. This happens after the concrete has been placed or poured. Cement requires a moist, controlled environment to cure fully. The cement paste hardens over time, initially setting and becoming rigid though very weak, and gaining in strength in the days and weeks following.

The durability, strength, water-tightness and resistance to freezing and thawing of your driveway is dependent on the curing process. If temperatures are favorable, hydration (curing) is relatively rapid the first few days after concrete is placed; retaining water during this period is important. Good curing means evaporation should be prevented or reduced. Watering your driveway twice a week for one week will aid in the curing process.

Does concrete work for Minnesota driveways?

You may have heard that concrete, because it is so hard and prone to cracking doesn't work well in Minnesota's weather. Not true! Two chemicals are added to cement used in Minnesota that help protect it from the weather. One is a "water-reducer" that improves strength, and the second one is called "air-entrained" concrete that contains billions of microscopic air bubbles that reduce expansion and contraction. Both of these chemicals help concrete be more resistant to cycles of freezing and thawing.

The 5 benefits of a concrete driveway

  1. Competitive Cost: If you compare the initial cost, replacement costs and maintenance for the life of a concrete driveway versus an asphalt driveway, you'll find a concrete driveway is a great investment.
  2. Appearance: The pride you have in your home is reflected in the clean, attractive appearance of a concrete driveway...and will greatly enhance the "curb appeal" of your home.
  3. Increased Safety: The non-skid surface and light color are safety features of concrete. Light is also reflected in the evening for the family's safety.
  4. Low Maintenance: Other than periodic sealing, your concrete driveway requires little maintenance.
  5. Lifespan: The expected life of a concrete driveway is twice that of asphalt. And you won't have bumps or potholes because concrete is more resistant to weather - concrete never gets sticky or tacky.

Protect yourself from hidden costs!

We've all been through it before, with disreputable contractors. They give you a bid over the phone, come out to your home and do the job ... and the bill is 25-50% higher then you expected. Whose fault is this? Exactly right - the contractors!

When you choose a reputable concrete driveway company in Minnesota, that company has had multiple experiences with every type of concrete or asphalt driveway problem imaginable and they should know what to expect.

Now, that doesn't mean that surprises don't occur, or that homeowners don't make last minute changes that might increase the cost. One common surprise is when the old concrete or asphalt driveway is torn out and underneath you find a second one. But the solution is simple; when this occurs the paving company shouldn't make a move until they make the homeowner aware of the issue and then a decision can be made - BEFORE THE WORK IS DONE, NOT AFTER!

As a homeowner, just make sure you make it clear to the contractor that you want to be notified of any issues, problems or changes in the job that will change the cost.

How long does it take to build a concrete driveway?

It usually takes one to four weeks to build a new concrete driveway, starting from the time you sign the agreement to a finished product. First the old driveway needs to be removed and the sub-grade inspected and either removed or re-compacted. This usually takes between 1-3 days. The actual time to pour and level an entire driveway is usually anywhere from one day to several days, depending on the size of the driveway and the weather.

How To preserve your concrete driveway

The beauty of choosing a concrete driveway is how little maintenance and care they really need. Cleaning your concrete periodically and keeping it sealed are the key components of any good maintenance program. How often you clean and reseal will largely depend on the conditions the concrete is exposed to, especially weather extremes, sunlight intensity and the amount of foot or vehicle traffic.

  • Most driveways are connected to a lawn. A way to prevent grass from growing up through your driveway is to remove the sod within 2 to 3 inches of the cement. Water and rain will drain off the surface better as well.
  • Trees, bushes and other plants can cause problems if they are growing too close to your driveway. Roots will grow up through the cement, cracking it and causing it to break off and crumble.
  • Using a pressure washer to spray and clean the area immediately after spilling oil, gasoline, grease or other stains is the best bet for removing these types of stains.
  • Try to keep heavy trucks and equipment off your driveway, because although concrete is durable it's not meant to hold heavy vehicles and large equipment.
  • Use care when plowing or shoveling your driveway. Lift the blade up so not to scrape or crack the driveway.
  • Avoid putting salt on your driveway. Salt will cause scaling, crumbling and cracks on driveways. Using salt during the first winter your driveway has been poured is especially harmful. Consider using ice melt instead, which will turn snow and ice into water without damaging the cement, or sand.