5 Concrete Driveway Questions And Answers

A newly laid concrete surface of a driveway in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA – Photo Courtesy: Andy Franklin

Concrete has been the material of choice on people’s driveways for many years now. It is a durable and easy to use option that does not cost the earth.

This article looks at some common concerns about the aftercare of the concrete driveway and attempts to answer them for you.

1. How Do I Clear Ice From My Concrete Driveway?

Winter brings some nasty weather and ice can really make your driveway a hazardous place to deal with when walking to and from your vehicle. Snow is also a culprit and can easily hide a thick layer of ice; this makes driving very difficult traction-wise.

It is best to remove the ice before it gets a hold of your driveway; simply use a spade and a little elbow grease to shift even the most stubborn ice patches. You can also use some rock salt for the more hard to shift ice – remember to tidy this up afterwards as it can make a mess of your vehicle’s paintwork.

2. How Do I Repair Chips And Cracks in My Concrete Driveway?

As well as looking fairly unpleasant, a cracked concrete driveway can present a nasty safety issue. These can be repaired quite easily by using a repair patch kit. Use a chisel to make the crack wide enough to allow for a sound repair. Clean the cracked area and use a concrete gravel mix to fill the damaged area. Pack the mix into the hole and smooth the top with a trowel. Do not drive on this area for at least four days.

3. How Do I Drain My Concrete Driveway?

When it is rainy, your concrete driveway will often be host for annoying little puddles of water. These can damage the foundations of the driveway and also may freeze when the temperature drops, causing more issues. You need to install a drain system to deal with this problem. You will need to use a concrete saw to create a channel drain, ensure it is at least 10 inches deep and construct a drain trench to carry the water away from the driveway.

4. How Can I Heat My Concrete Driveway?

Christopher’s Washington, DC heated driveway working just fine on this snowy day – Photo Courtesy: Christopher Dorobek

A heated driveway is an excellent way to avoid a snowbound exit and entry to your home. The installation is not cheap and will take a little expertise, but here is a simplified version:

• Cut ridges in the concrete with a concrete saw, about eight inches deep.
• Lay down the appropriate radiant cables along these ridges.
• Fill the gaps with a concrete patching compound.
• Connect the radiant cables to the control system.
• When the snow comes – turn on the heating system and watch it disappear!

5. How Do I Remove Black Algae From A Concrete Driveway?

This nasty build up can be a result of high humidity and excessive rainfall, and it will not damage your concrete driveway but will provide an eyesore. It needs to be removed with a good old scrubbing brush and some powerful detergent. Simply scrub the affected areas until the algae starts to break up nicely. Rinse the area with your hosepipe and try not to let any detergent reach your lawn or border plants.

Geoff’s house and driveway, in Houston, Texas after being pressure washed – ain’t it so clean and nice? Photo Courtesy: Geoff Sloan

Author of this post, Henry Finch; is an interior decorator by profession. An inventive person, he specializes in concrete decor and uses putzmeister concrete pumps for majority of his projects. He likes blogging and cycling in his spare time.