Tips for Planning Your Driveway

Choosing a Contractor

You want to make sure that you choose a competent tradesman when planning on building a driveway. Keep an eye out to see if tradesmen are members of the following organisations, which proves they are competent.

• The NZ Ready Mixed Concrete Association
• NZ Master Concrete Placers Association
• Precast New Zealand Inc
• NZ concrete Masonry Association

You want to ask for previous job references from any contractor you are considering working with. When it comes time to receiving a quote always ask for a written quote, that contains details for everything that has been allowed for by the contractor, this includes cutting of the control joints. You should also only have one contractor involved in the job. If they need sub-contractors for any aspect of the job this should be organised by them, not by you. A contractor should be the person responsible for the entire job so if you have any problems you can go straight to them and vice-versa.

Planning

You need to have a very clear idea of where you want your driveway to go. Make sure when choosing where to place your driveway you take into account things like how the driveway will connect to the garden and where the garage is. Once you have an accurate idea lay this out on a map of the section.

You may never think it would matter but your driveway must be at least 25mm above ground level to ensure proper self-drainage. Slope is equally important and must be considered when planning your driveway. You want to make sure you avoid puddles and flooding, the last thing you would want to do is drain water straight into your home or garage.

Control joints are cuts made into concrete to allow for movement caused by temperature changes and drying shrinkage. Control joints prevent the concrete from cracking in random places, and allows you to control where the cracks appear.

Always involve your contractor in the planning stage. They will be able to give you advice and make sure that your driveway will comply with building codes.

Discuss the different ways that concrete can set and shrink with your contractor. You must always remember that concrete is a variable material. Also enquire about the type of finish that you want on your concrete. Some options include:

• Broom finishing - a bristle broom is gently pulled along the surface to give  a textured look.
• Wood floating - the surface is worked with a piece of wood to give a lightly textured look.
• Steel floating - the surface is worked with a steel ‘float’ that gives a very smooth surface.

Things to Watch Out for While Building is Happening

For a comprehensive list of things that you should keep an eye out for while you contractor is laying your driveway, head to the Concrete Association of New Zealand website.

Gulf Concrete Ltd. offers quality concrete surfaces in the Auckland region and they are the perfect people to call if you are considering upgrading your current (or non-existent) driveway.

For concrete contractors in other areas check out Gopher listings.