Author Topic: Can we repair our own driveway?  (Read 2051 times)

La Bibliotecaria Feroz

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Can we repair our own driveway?
« on: October 27, 2015, 10:04:39 AM »
Our concrete driveway is all broken up near the street and needs to be repaired. Looks like it would cost something in the ballpark of $1200 to have it professionally done.

We are complete home-repair novices. We have some super-handy friends who have offered to loan us their cement mixer if we want to attempt the job ourselves.

Soooo... should we? Is this something we can do in a weekend? How great is the potential for making an expensive hash out of the whole project? Is this a good beginner-level project or should we try other stuff first? Any advice and insight would be appreciated!

Fishindude

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Re: Can we repair our own driveway?
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2015, 06:26:40 AM »
How big of an area needs replaced?

Papa bear

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Re: Can we repair our own driveway?
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2015, 07:00:02 AM »
Driveway aprons may require permitting. Check your local codes. 

Typically the apron will be a 6" pad so removal will loads of fun! 

You will need to learn how to build forms, mix concrete appropriately, and screed float and finish.  I'm a newb with concrete as I've only done a few small projects myself (but very experienced DIY otherwise) and I'm back and forth if I will do mine myself (leaning towards yes if time permitting). 

I'd love to hear from some concrete guys on here about what they think.


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RapidLionInvasion

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Re: Can we repair our own driveway?
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2015, 07:02:19 AM »
:D My family and I just finished repairing our busted driveway, it is worth it :D

lthenderson

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Re: Can we repair our own driveway?
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2015, 07:39:52 AM »
Definitely doable but like someone else mentioned, since it is probably on the city right-a-way, the city may have to get involved. I did mine two years ago and had to get the city to inspect it after I had it formed and before the concrete was poured. They had me cut into the asphalt street a couple feet further to get to unbroken asphalt to make a straight union and it had to be six inches deep. They also had a specification on the psi of the concrete that it had to be minimum to ensure garbage trucks and other city vehicles wouldn't break it up right away.

Assuming you have an area maybe 12 or more feet wide by five or six feet in length and six inches deep, I personally would skip trying to do it yourself with a cement mixer and buying all the sand and cement in the right quantities to do it. It is quite a bit of work mixing it properly and getting the proper certified strength. I would do the busting up and forming of the pad myself and just have the mixed concrete delivered and poured. You will have to do the leveling and troweling but that it fairly easy to learn how to do by watching videos. Every concrete place I've ordered concrete from has a trowel that they will rent to you for a few extra bucks on top of your concrete purchase.
« Last Edit: October 28, 2015, 07:42:29 AM by lthenderson »

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!