A driveway concreter has an important role in making your exposed aggregate concrete driveway last long and stays well. The way a concrete driveway is made makes the difference. You may have heard both positive and negative things about concrete driveways and pavements and may wonder why some concrete driveways last a lifetime while others crack badly and weathers with time. The reason is, exposed aggregate concrete driveways weather with time if the cement mixture setting is not right. And making this setting right is in the hands of the contractor who has the required experience and knowledge.
Where to Get a Good Driveway Concreter
Concrete contractors work for various types of projects. Some work for industrial projects while others for residential. Some work on interior concreting while some work on exterior structures. Hence when you hire a contractor, make sure that he is a specialist in driveways, and is one of the professional driveway concreters in your town or area.
Sometimes a concrete mix selling shop or company can give you relevant contacts of a good contractor. But if you want to plan it from the other side by first getting a contractor who would recommend the right concrete mix for buying, then you will have to do your own research.
Things to Check with Your Concreter:
There are plenty of exposed aggregate concreters, but the ones who can make you feel safe that your money is getting invested at the right place and materials can be found by some inspections.
- Don’t forget to check the business bureau rating and complaints against the contractor. Anything negative should make you look in-depth and step back if needed.
- Try to view a few projects completed by the concrete recently and some years back. This will give you an idea of how the new and old works look.
- Discuss your budget and ideas, and the requirements with the concrete. This will help you set realistic expectations for your project.
What to Discuss with The Exposed Aggregate Concreter :
Discuss the following points with your exposed aggregate concrete for the best results:
- Your budget.
- The kind of traffic anticipated on the driveway, the frequency, the weight of the vehicles etc.
- The setting time and curing time.
- When you can start using the driveway after completion.
These will help you plan it accordingly.
The Biggest Challenges in Making a Concrete Driveway:
Not all driveway concreters may reveal this to you, but there may be some challenges in making the driveway. One challenge is to make the concrete mix with the right consistency and avoid getting the slump to get too watery.
Watery concrete mixes can always create a problem, and the biggest trouble is that the concrete does not last long, and cracks too soon when the weather gets cool.
Another problem is the smoothness. When the mix is too watery then it gets difficult to obtain a smoother texture on that mix, thereby making the driveway a rough surface. Hence you won’t get the desired look and texture with a too watery or too aerated mix.
The job of the driveway concrete is to make the right consistency concrete mix so that when it sets, no air is trapped, and when it cures the outcome is a smooth, hard, durable, and high impact absorbing driveway. Besides, the concrete also has the responsibility to give your dreams into life by making the right design on the driveway. An exposed aggregate concrete driveway can be made with outstanding styling with minimal costing, and that is what makes this material one of the most preferred raw materials. The life and styling of your concrete driveway depend on the choice of your driveway concreters.