Yearning for a new concrete patio or drive?
First of all, let’s clear something up – concrete is made up of cement, sand, and coarse aggregate mixed with water which hardens over time. The architectural exam always has a trick question referring to a ‘cement’ patio… which is incorrect as cement is an ingredient of concrete.
Locally, our go-to for concrete installation is Carlos Davalos from M & M Concrete.
Color
Per Carlos, the most popular Davis concrete colors locally are Mesa Buff and Sandstone. If you would like to check out the various colors in person, the best place to go is Bedrock Building Supply to see their samples. From there Carlos can give you addresses to drive by so you can see the color on a driveway or walk in a larger scale.
Just remember, concrete is like mixing paint, so what they pour may not match the sample exactly. You can also ask your installer to make the color lighter or to increase the color density.
Finishes other than smooth concrete
- Top-Cast is the most popular finish right now. Once the concrete is poured, a top-cast surface retarder is applied to keep the concrete from drying all the way. Then the surface will be power washed to remove most of the sand at the top to expose more of the aggregate. This gives more texture and a less uniform finish to the concrete. This finish also makes the concrete less slippery when it’s wet.
- Stamped concrete finish is made by pressing whatever pattern you choose (like cobblestones or a sandstone pattern) while the concrete is still moist. If you are a baker, think cookie cutters. There are many patterns to choose from. This finish is more labor-intensive and therefore more costly.
- Broomed finish is another option. A stiff push broom is run across the concrete in one direction to make irregular lines on the surface. This gives texture and is less expensive than the above finishes.
A sealer can be applied to all the finishes listed above. Sealers protect the color from fading, oil spills, and other stains. There are three sheens to choose from – shiny, wet and natural. This typically costs approximately $1 per square foot; however, the price goes down with volume.
Avoid Cracking
To avoid cracking, scoring from building corners is recommended – and scoring lines should be no more than six feet apart. There is a big difference between tooling (where they take a tool and draw a line in the concrete versus when they saw cut the line). Saw cutting goes deeper and provides for less cracking. Tooling is done on the same day the concrete is poured and saw cutting is done the next day. Not everyone likes the look of scored concrete but the scoring lines are a necessity, especially for driveways.
For driveways, Carlos emphasizes the need for score lines at least every six feet to avoid cracking – remember, you will have the weight of cars and trucks on your drive.
If you want to dress up your entry drive you can install a star shape or anything else you would like such as a family crest, a bronze plaque, or inlaid stones. You can also mix colors and finishes.
Is a Concrete Drive Worth the Money (vs. an Asphalt Drive)?
Asphalt is much less expensive than concrete but it doesn’t last as long, so you should expect to maintain it every 4 – 5 years. Concrete is durable and sustainable and can last 40 – 100 years depending on trees and soil movement. Some people will even reinforce their concrete with steel rebar to prevent cracking caused by tree roots and other unforeseen circumstances. Be very careful of what trees and hedges you plant near paving.
For a patio, decorative concrete is a more affordable alternative than tile or stone. Concrete finishes keep getting better each year as technology keeps improving and designers get more creative.
An extra thanks to Carlos for help with this article!
Trudi
