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To wait to pour concrete driveway or not: that is the question

6 years ago

We are about to close (next Friday) on a new construction home. We live in Wisconsin. We've decided to wait until next spring to pour the concrete driveway and walkway up to the house. The reason is that we've heard from a lot of our friends who have built that the ground needs time to 'settle' to minimize (not eliminate) the risk of cracks in the concrete, which will certainly be accomplished this upcoming winter. It is worth mentioning that we had to bring in quite a bit of fill, so we definitely anticipate that settling will occur. However, now that the gravel drive/walk is in, I can't think but help how nice it would be to get the driveway poured now, before the snow hits (because really, how am I going to shovel a gravel driveway?!) I think I'm just being antsy and want everything done NOW opposed to waiting. Any advise on this topic?

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Comments (2)

PRO
Summit Studio Architects
6 years ago
Any fill that will support a slab should be compacted properly meaning (fill in 6" lifts with appropriate soil compact repeat). If that was not done when the fill was placed you will have settling. If you wait until Spring it will probably be a little less. If it was compacted properly this is a non-issue.
User
6 years ago
I’d wait it out but if you where high heels be careful and your liable to ruin a few heels from scratches.
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The first guy has been doing it a long time as well. Too old to do the actual work anymore. He has done a number of driveways in the area here. They look good. Nice work. One is just about 4 homes down from me, entire drive and walk heading to house. Not sure how much base he uses. Have not received the bid from the the second guy yet. Not sure why he couldn't just write it up in the truck then and there. He did say it was probably not going to be done this year if I went with him. All the concrete guys are busy this time of year it seems. So I may be having to wait until spring. He said it would take them a week to get it done weather permitting once they start. Two other concrete flat work guys I called didn't even bother calling me back. I understand if they are too busy to add another project. But at least pick up the phone and let me know that.
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Contractors and their schedules. Looks like expensive, keep good records and don't release them from this. Hopefully someone who is certified engineer in concrete, will post on this topic here and teach us all something. I know they exist. If you have ever seen a large concrete pour that has not a flaw in it...that's them at work! It's lasts for more than decades when it's done RIGHT... The proof will come when the larger vehicles start pulling up onto the driveway in drought, heat, and snow of winter..., at such a drop to the road too? Hard to think that you won't have some issues, isn't it? At least they do have expansion joints!! If they didn't repair the rebarb, add some lifters to support it and re-establish the supports where they were washed out, and have pictures to prooove it, I'd be diggin' out one of those sections and see exactly what you find, and let the chips fall where they may? A section, can be repoured easier if you find it in good shape, than you can afford to have it ALL removed and redone after driving over it a couple of hundred times. Good luck!
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