Signs of Poor Installation of Concrete Poured for a Driveway

Ground Preparation

• The ground preparation is the first part of constructing a driveway. It is important that the ground be prepared properly. Compact the soil and ensure that there are no high or low spots in the area where the concrete is to be poured. If you see concrete being poured onto uneven or loose soil without a layer of gravel covering the area, this driveway will likely crack.

Reinforcing

• If the concrete was poured directly onto the gravel, but there was no wire mesh or reinforcing in place on the gravel, you might have issues with longevity and cracking of the concrete. Sometimes this is considered optional by contractors, but Tim Carter of Askthebuilder.com says it is a must. He explains that steel is inexpensive and will help to strengthen the concrete and hold it together in case of a crack.

Quality of Concrete Mix

• Low-quality or improperly mixed concrete is an indicator of a poorly installed driveway. The mix should have enough cement that it can withstand 4,000 pounds per square inch. The mix should only contain as much water as the instructions indicate. Needing to water the driveway after installation is a sign of a poor concrete mixture.

Thickness

• Measure the thickness of the driveway. A driveway with a thickness of less than 4 inches will cause headaches in the long run. At a minimum, your driveway should be at least 4 inches thick, but the ideal thickness is 5 inches.

Control Joints

• If there are no control joints, or control joints are spaced more than 15 feet apart, your driveway is likely to get major cracks. If the depth of the control joint is less than one-fourth of the depth of the concrete, it will not be able to perform the intended function. A control joint is cut into the concrete to give the concrete a place to crack. Small cracks are likely to occur even in a properly installed driveway, but without control joints your driveway will suffer from large cracks or sections breaking away.