Redo driveway with good contractor in mix - Glenn Haege

One of the most visible renovations you can make to your home is a new driveway.

On the surface all new driveways may look the same, but don't be fooled. If you want your new driveway to last, you have to make sure you hire a good contractor who uses the right stuff.

"I see cracks and flaking on people's newer driveways all the time, and that is the result of a contractor who didn't do the job properly," says Ken Calverly of K.C. Masonry, (877) 627-6679, www.kcmasonry.com.

"And while you could repair a sheet of drywall or a deck board that weren't installed properly, the only way to fix a faulty concrete job is to do it all over again," Calverly adds.

Be aware that you may also need a permit for this, or any flatwork, depending on your municipality. Don't just take a contractor's word for it. Make the phone call yourself to city hall and make sure.

"If a driveway doesn't last, 90 percent of the time it's because the contractor didn't do the work properly," Calverly says. "That's why I recommend getting a contractor that provides a warranty on their work and is certified by the American Concrete Institute (www.concrete.org)."

According to Calverly, a long-lasting driveway starts with the base, which should consist of a hard mixture, like 21AA crushed concrete, that is mechanically tamped down to make it rock-hard.

"When the base is finished, you should be able to drive a car on it or have your kids dribble a basketball on it because it will be that compacted," he says.

Once the base is set, Calverly says it is important to add steel mesh before pouring to provide extra reinforcement.

Next, it is vital to get the right cement mix. John Rightenburg of Theut Products, (800) 660-6903, www.theutproducts.com, says you should ask for a mix with a minimum of 4000 PSI, which is a "51/2 sack mix," with a "slump" rate of 4 to 5 inches.

Slump is the way the amount of water in the mix is measured. The higher the slump rate, the more water the mix contains and the weaker the concrete will be. So be wary of contractors who are specifying a high slump rate, like an 8. While it will lower the cost of the job, it will also lower the quality.

"Basically, the mix should look like oatmeal, not like soup," Calverly said. "A soupy looking mix means it has too much water."

While the lower slump rate does make the concrete stronger, it also dries faster so the contractor will need more workers to finish it properly, which will add to the cost of the job. But when the driveway is being finished, Calverly said make sure you don't let the contractor spray water on top of concrete. While this makes it easier for the workers to finish, it severely lessens the integrity of the slab.

Both Rightenburg and Calverly advise a broom finish because it will give more traction versus a trowel finish. Once the finish is complete, Calverly says it needs to be saw-cut every 100 square feet, or 10 feet apart. These cuts, or grooves, give the concrete room to expand and contract.

Once the driveway is completely cured, which takes around a month, Rightenburg suggests sealing it with a water-based sealer like Conpro Shield MX from Conproco (www.conproco.com) to keep things like rock salt from eating away at it.

Do your homework and use your product knowledge to find the right certified contractor and get the right cement mix, you should have a good-looking driveway that you can brag about for years to come.

If you would like to suggest a question for this column, email askglenn@masterhandyman.com. If you want to talk to Glenn Haege personally, call his “Handyman Show” on WJR-AM (760) at (866) ASK GLENN, (866) 275-4536 between noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The “Handyman Show” can be heard on more than 130 radio stations nationwide.