DIY New Driveways

Measure the site for the new driveway with a tape measure, and mark the borders with rope. Make the width at least 10 feet for a one-car garage, and 16 to 24 feet for a two-car garage.

Remove 14 inches of soil from the site with a shovel. Rake the loose dirt so that the base is flat, and then tamp the ground with a compactor machine to stabilize it.

Fill the expanse with an 8-inch layer of 3/4-inch crushed rock. Compact the crushed rock base three times or until it is hard and level.

Line the interior walls with two layers of 2-by-4 inch boards stacked on their sides. Nail the boards together with a hammer so that they frame the site. Brace the form with wood stakes around the outside every four feet.

Mix concrete in a concrete mixer with water so that it is thick and shiny gray. Pour the concrete into the foundation, and spread it into corners with a gauge rake. Drag a straight-edge across the surface, and make the surface as level as possible. If you want to create small grooves on the surface for traction, push a stiff-bristled broom across the top.

Use the side of a trowel to score control joints every four feet to absorb tension and prevent cracking. Slide the trowel along a wide board to ensure that the cuts are straight. The joints should be as deep as half the thickness of the concrete slab.

Cover the new driveway with damp canvas, and slow dry it for a week.