Driveway Installation Made Simple
Do you need a driveway installed? Well, it can be tough to know where to start. Questions you might have are: "should I do it myself, or contract with a company?" and "what material should I use?" Below are a few helpful tips for you if you need a new driveway.
Site
Doing your driveway installation yourself is quite possible, but requires A LOT of work and planning. It can also be very expensive as well as being a real headache. If you're dead set on doing it yourself, plan carefully. For example, it's important to consider the "lay of the land." If your house is sitting at the top of an incline, you need to consider drainage at the bottom of the driveway. Sometimes there are obstacles to deal with, like trees or large rocks.
Cost
After this basic outlining, assess the probable cost of your new driveway. Things that should factor into this calculation include equipment fees, determining how much concrete you'll need, and what kind of material you'll be using. On this last point, the major contenders for the material that will make up your driveway are asphalt, concrete, and gravel. Of these, concrete is the most common and cost effective, but asphalt can be more durable and reliable in the long run.
Plan
After you feel confident in your plans, outline where you would like to install your driveway using stakes and string. Measure the width of your potential driveway and make sure it lines up with your plans for materials. Install thin boards around the area outlined in your plan, set at the height of your planned driveway. Driveways are usually 4 inches tall, give or take. Next, pour fill material into the confines of the boards and compact it, then allow it to harden; after this is done, pour the material of your choice over the fill material. Use a push broom to "finish" the material by pushing the material to level it, then allow it to harden.
Pros
If you decide that you'd prefer to leave your driveway installation in the hands of professionals, several things need to be considered. First, search for contractors in your area using a broad search, then narrow it down by specialty (some contractors specialize in driveways, others have a broader focus). Make sure that the contractors you go with have experience with water drainage (planning where water will go when it hits the driveway). The only real choice after this is picking out a material to be used in your driveway; many contractors recommend the versatile and durable asphalt rather than the classic concrete.
Congratulations! By going over these steps you have moved that much closer to installing your new driveway. Whether you decide to install it yourself or use a contractor, you can now be confident in the knowledge that you understand the process.