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Old asphalt driveway replaced with new concrete driveway

2 years ago

Two days ago, the new concrete driveway was installed. A couple of major issues with it:
First issue, they ran out of cement-truck concrete at the end of pouring, leaving a 2x2-foot corner area not completely filled. To fix, they opened a bag of dry cement, mixed with water in a wheelbarrow, and shoveled that into the area. They are telling me that it won’t look any different from the rest of the driveway, but of course it does look very different in both color and texture.
Second issue, it is a large-area driveway and no contraction joints were made into the concrete. I see all the other concrete driveways on my street have them. I asked why my new concrete driveway did not have contraction joints and was told that the action of the Power Float/Power Trowel eliminates the need for any contraction joints. I cannot find anything online that supports this statement.
Appreciate your input.

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Comments (5)

Hughey
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Amateurs. Its going to crack. That is inevitable. Only now the cracks will be ugly and jagged rather than controlled.

Any remedy is going to be spelled out in your contract, and the fact that you havent paid them yet.
d meyer
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you for your input.
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3onthetree
2 years ago
That's unfortunate. As the concrete cures they will be closer in appearance, but probably still noticeable. You would think while they were screeding they should have noticed they were short, hand mixed some, and moved it around within the other still-plastic concrete to hide the small variation.

Control joints are necessary around 10' spacing. They needed to sawcut them right after power troweling. A day later than you first posted in summer weather your concrete should have already cracked from shrinkage.
d meyer
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I am trying to come up with some type of viable and just resolution in the matter. Not sure there is one, given that they didn’t put in the necessary control joints. The information you provided is helpful, because it reinforces what I have found online. Again, thank you.
PRO
Ethamor
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Contact the company that installed your driveway with this question. They should solve your problem, as their service should have a warranty period. I wouldn't say I like working with irresponsible companies which do not fulfill their duties. Many businesses initially propose a specific time period, but in the long run, fail to achieve it. I like driveway pavers who use the best types of equipment so that the work is accomplished quickly. I turned to paving contractors dublin for help. They did their job 100%.

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