Do It Yourself Concrete Driveways

Excavation

• After deciding where the driveway will be located, plan for preparation of the site. You will need to dig down 6 to 8 inches from the intended surface of the driveway. Before digging out the ground, determine a location to dump the dirt.

  Dig down according to your local codes; again, this will be between 6 to 8 inches. Clear the excavated ground of any rocks and debris, smoothing the surface as much as possible. The site should be excavated before the rock for the base is delivered.

Base

• You'll need a 2- to 3-inch rock base for the driveway. This provides drainage as well as a foundation for the concrete. A common base is ABC rock, an aggregate known for its durability and drainage properties. If possible, have the rock base poured into the excavated site; moving it by shovel can be time-consuming and back-breaking. Check your local codes to determine if ABC rock is an acceptable base for your driveway.

Forms

• You can create forms using 2-by-4 lengths of lumber. Depending on the length of your driveway, you can use forms to break up the pours into several sections. The forms are used to hold the concrete in place while it sets. Use wooden stakes to stabilize the forms, driving the stakes into the ground against the exterior of the forms and nail the forms to the stakes.

Pouring the concrete

• For the pouring, you will need running water, a tamper, a float, trowels and one or two shovels. If you are having the concrete delivered, rather than mixing it up on the site, you will need to be prepared to move the concrete within the forms, tamp it down, screed it and pull the float over it very quickly. Once concrete is poured, it must be managed within 20 to 30 minutes and then be allowed to set.

  If you are mixing the concrete on the site, you can rent a mixer, have the dry aggregate delivered and mix the concrete yourself in manageable batches. This is time-consuming and requires some finesse to get the mix right, but if only two of you are on the project, this may make for better results.

Terms

• Pouring is the actual pouring of the concrete mix into the forms. Tamping is the action of using a tamper to exert pressure on the wet concrete to release air bubbles. Screed is the action of pulling a board, usually a 2-by-4 piece of lumber, across the surface of the concrete in a back and forth motion. This smooths the surface and pushes the excess water out of the form. When the concrete is setting, the float is used to put a smooth finish on the concrete surface.

Finishing

• As the concrete sets, spray it with a light spray of water from a garden hose. This keeps the concrete cool while it sets, which prevents cracking. Allow the concrete to set for three to five days before removing the forms.