Concrete is a popular material for outdoor surfaces.

Concrete is a popular material for outdoor surfaces because it is durable, easy to clean and doesn’t require much maintenance. Concrete can be colored, stamped and textured to give you the look of brick or stone without as much upkeep. Concrete can also be used to create driveways, patios, sidewalks and other outdoor structures at a fraction of the cost.

Cracks can occur because of temperature changes.

• Freeze-thaw cycles cause splitting, known as “frost action.” Water expands when it freezes as it turns into ice, and as this happens repeatedly during the winter, the concrete expands and contracts until cracks start to appear.
• When moisture isn’t allowed to evaporate from a concrete slab, it can rise up through the slab (a process called rising damp) or be absorbed by its surface (wicking). The moisture can then freeze in cold temperatures and result in frost heaving or internal expansion of the concrete.
• Even if your driveway is sturdy now, there are still steps you can take to avoid cracks down the road:
• Protect your driveway from de-icing salts with a sealant coat.
• Seal your driveway annually before cold weather hits.
• Don’t park on your driveway during freezing temperatures; gravel or dirt parking areas may be more practical for cars that aren’t used every day during winter months.

Concrete can be stained.

Are you looking for options to spruce up your driveway?

Concrete is a porous material that can be stained with a variety of substances. Concrete stains are applied to the surface of concrete, producing translucent colors that become part of the concrete and will not chip, peel or fade from UV rays or hot tires. They are available in water-based (latex), oil-based and alkalai resistant (AR) formulations.

You can use latex concrete stains on nearly any new or old, plain or integrally colored concrete surface. They are easy to apply and clean up with water, but they also provide good color stability and lightfastness. Their one big drawback is that they aren’t as durable as other types of stains when used on exterior surfaces.

If a slab is too thin, it may crack or settle unevenly.

When it comes to concrete thickness, is bigger better? In many cases, the answer is yes. Concrete slabs must be at least four inches thick. If they are thinner, they are prone to cracking and shifting unevenly when exposed to harsh weather conditions or heavy loads. Thinner slabs are also more expensive to repair.

Heavier-duty concrete jobs like driveways and sidewalks require slabs that are at least four inches thick in order to support such weight. A paved driveway made of thinner slab will likely crack or sink after a period of time, depending on how much traffic it gets. For this reason, thicker slabs are stronger and more durable than their thinner counterparts (not to mention a lot more eco-friendly).

You can prevent cracks and damage by hiring a concrete contractor who’s experienced and has good references.

Breaking up is hard to do, especially when it happens under your tires. A driveway that’s broken down can be a nuisance and an eyesore, and it often costs more to repair than if you’d just done it right the first time.

How do you know if your concrete slab is badly poured? A few tell-tale signs of a bad job are:

• Cracks: These may seem like they’re not too bad, but they get worse over time. Hairline cracks can turn into bigger ones that allow water in, causing even more damage. Even if the contractor promises to come back and fill them in, what’s going to happen after he’s gone?
• Sinking or settling: It might not look like much at first, but eventually this will lead to cracking as well. It also creates safety issues because the uneven surface can cause falls for people or vehicles.
• Poor foundation (rebar): The concrete slab should have rebar throughout its thickness; without proper rebar support (especially on a wide span), cracking will occur sooner rather than later due to lack of structural support from below.

Concrete is a popular material for outdoor surfaces.

Concrete is a popular material for outdoor surfaces because it is durable, easy to clean and doesn’t require much maintenance. Concrete can be colored, stamped and textured to give you the look of brick or stone without as much upkeep. Concrete can also be used to create driveways, patios, sidewalks and other outdoor structures at a fraction of the cost.

Cracks can occur because of temperature changes.

Freeze-thaw cycles cause splitting, known as “frost action.” Water expands when it freezes as it turns into ice, and as this happens repeatedly during the winter, the concrete expands and contracts until cracks start to appear.

When moisture isn’t allowed to evaporate from a concrete slab, it can rise up through the slab (a process called rising damp) or be absorbed by its surface (wicking). The moisture can then freeze in cold temperatures and result in frost heaving or internal expansion of the concrete.

Even if your driveway is sturdy now, there are still steps you can take to avoid cracks down the road:

Protect your driveway from de-icing salts with a sealant coat.

Seal your driveway annually before cold weather hits.

Don’t park on your driveway during freezing temperatures; gravel or dirt parking areas may be more practical for cars that aren’t used every day during winter months.

Concrete can be stained.

Are you looking for options to spruce up your driveway?

Concrete is a porous material that can be stained with a variety of substances. Concrete stains are applied to the surface of concrete, producing translucent colors that become part of the concrete and will not chip, peel or fade from UV rays or hot tires. They are available in water-based (latex), oil-based and alkalai resistant (AR) formulations.

You can use latex concrete stains on nearly any new or old, plain or integrally colored concrete surface. They are easy to apply and clean up with water, but they also provide good color stability and lightfastness. Their one big drawback is that they aren’t as durable as other types of stains when used on exterior surfaces.

If a slab is too thin, it may crack or settle unevenly.

When it comes to concrete thickness, is bigger better? In many cases, the answer is yes. Concrete slabs must be at least four inches thick. If they are thinner, they are prone to cracking and shifting unevenly when exposed to harsh weather conditions or heavy loads. Thinner slabs are also more expensive to repair.

Heavier-duty concrete jobs like driveways and sidewalks require slabs that are at least four inches thick in order to support such weight. A paved driveway made of thinner slab will likely crack or sink after a period of time, depending on how much traffic it gets. For this reason, thicker slabs are stronger and more durable than their thinner counterparts (not to mention a lot more eco-friendly).

You can prevent cracks and damage by hiring a concrete contractor who’s experienced and has good references.

Breaking up is hard to do, especially when it happens under your tires. A driveway that’s broken down can be a nuisance and an eyesore, and it often costs more to repair than if you’d just done it right the first time.

How do you know if your concrete slab is badly poured? A few tell-tale signs of a bad job are:

Cracks: These may seem like they’re not too bad, but they get worse over time. Hairline cracks can turn into bigger ones that allow water in, causing even more damage. Even if the contractor promises to come back and fill them in, what’s going to happen after he’s gone?

Sinking or settling: It might not look like much at first, but eventually this will lead to cracking as well. It also creates safety issues because the uneven surface can cause falls for people or vehicles.

Poor foundation (rebar): The concrete slab should have rebar throughout its thickness; without proper rebar support (especially on a wide span), cracking will occur sooner rather than later due to lack of structural support from below.