A smooth drive home
ACode.
well planned and constructed
driveway should last as long as your house does, and with careful planning, you can avoid many common
driveway problems. Planning
Consider the layout of the driveway in relation to your section. Give thought to where turning areas are needed, how the garage will be accessed, and how the finished driveway will connect to the garden. Draw an accurate plan of the section, showing where you want your driveway to go.
Consider the slope of driveway, assess where water falls and drains to avoid puddling and flooding, especially into your house or garage. The driveway surface should be at least 25mm above natural ground to allow for self-drainage.
Your contractor will advise where control joints should go if you are using concrete. These cuts allow for movement caused by temperature changes and drying shrinkage, to control where and how the concrete will crack (e.g. in a straight line instead of randomly).
Your contractor will be able to give you planning advice to ensure your driveway complies with the New Zealand Building
Choosing a Contractor
Ask for job references from any contractor you are considering using.
Discuss with your contractor whether the existing soil surface (subgrade) on which the driveway will be placed is sound enough for the traffic load it will support, or whether it will need improving.
Ensure you receive a written quotation containing details of everything that the contractor has allowed for, including cutting of the control joints. Check whether they will bring protective sheeting (if necessary) to protect your house and garage from splashing during concreting and/or using pigments for
colouring.
Ideally only one contractor should be involved in the work (the main contractor). If sub-contractors are used for any aspect of the job, this should be arranged by your contractor, not by you.
Give the contractor your site plan. Your contractor can note where the control joints should go and areas that need to be protected from damage (e.g. gardens, trees and letterboxes).
Discuss the kind of surface finish that you want. Remember that materials like asphalt and concrete are variable materials and, while considered tough, durable and long-lasting, can ‘set’ differently in places under different conditions – even within the length of the driveway itself. A gravel driveway will also last decades but requires regular care and maintenance.
Once your brand new driveway is finished remember to keep vehicles off it for at least 7 days, longer if it’s cold weather, then enjoy a smooth ride home.
Source: https://concretenz.org.nz/page/