Expert Concrete Driveway Installation
Do you currently have a driveway that is made of gravel, asphalt, or old concrete? Have you had thoughts of replacing that old concrete that’s sunken or uneven? Or, maybe you would like something brand new!
If so, we can help! Let us give you a free estimate. Email us using our website or give us a call at 616.318.9501 to get started.
Consultation appointment
When you contact us for an appointment, we'll work with you to find an appointment that will fit into your schedule when we both can be present. During our consultation, we will come to your location and take measurements of the desired area, snap photos and answer any questions or concerns that you may have, so that we may give you the most accurate bid we can. Turnaround time for receiving your estimate is between 1-2 weeks.
When you decide to book your project, we request a signed copy of your estimate, along with a good faith deposit to book a spot on our schedule. Then, we'll communicate with you a week on the calendar of when we will be able to start your job. Giving you this general time frame should allow you ample time to prepare for us to arrive. If changes to the schedule need to be made due to weather, we will keep you in the loop about those changes.
What happens during the driveway installation?
Our prepping crew will be the first to arrive. They will meet with you, if you're home to finalize any details or concerns. Second, they will remove and dispose of any existing driveway materials that you may have. Next, the driveway base will be evaluated. Sometimes 1-2” of added sand, crushed concrete or crushed asphalt will be sufficient enough to provide a good foundation. Sometimes, upon removal, we discover an excess amount of clay or not enough sand. In this case, our crew will discuss their findings.
After the base of the driveway is completed, we calculate elevations, which will allow for proper slope to drain water away from buildings and run to a specific location to avoid any water issue with the structures.
Pouring the concrete is next. A standard driveway is 4” thick, with a broom finish and crack control joints. These are installed either by a saw after the concrete has set or with a hand tool while it is in the process of setting up. What is the purpose of crack control joints? We consistently communicate to our customers that concrete will always crack at some point in time. By cutting a line it allows the concrete to crack in a controlled area as much as possible. Cracks may form in random spots on your driveway but the control joint allows the random cracking to appear less than they normally would without them.
We also offer additional concrete reinforcement options to include on your quote. Additional reinforcement is preferable if you have any concerns about unevenness over time. For example: if you have a tree planted adjacent to your driveway and in time could cause unevenness with your driveway due to the tree roots.
To help fight this, we can use steel wire mesh, rebar, fiberglass rebar and dowels. Dowel pins can be used to connect new concrete to existing. Wire mesh and fiberglass rebar is laid on top of the base but installed during the pouring.
Completion of your new driveway
After your driveway has been poured and completed, we begin the cleanup process. This includes removal of the forms and sweeping off any dust from the saw cutting. Although we will clean most of this dust off, there may be residue left over, which will wash away with any rainfall, or even a quick rinse from the hose. We normally leave all yard restoration up to the customer. This usually includes either hiring a landscaper to restore the lawn around your driveway or completing the yard work on your own. However, we can offer yard restoration at an additional cost.
A driveway needs time to cure before vehicles can be driven on it and parked. 7-10 days is the recommended time frame for this process.
What if there are additional costs?
If any additional costs arise throughout the course of your project, we will make sure that we thoroughly communicate it with you, so that you are aware of any changes as soon as possible.
Let's get started on your project!
We'd love to work with you! Call us at 616.318.9501, or send us an email to get started.
