cement driveway question..

[tomatolord]

Neighbor is building a brand new house near mine,<br /><br />mine is 35 years old<br /><br />He poured a circular driveway<br /><br />However, he never compacted the soil nor did he put any gravel down, just dug into the clay soil about 2 inches and had is guys pour about 3 inches (maybe more but not 4) <br /><br />wont this just crack to heck?<br /><br />I mean why go through the expense of pouring concrete to only do it wrong?<br /><br />Or am I nuts..<br /><br />The builder builds cheap homes - home depot homes is what one person calls them, but he claims this will be his private home that he is moving into it. So you would think he would be putting in the extra touches.<br /><br />another neighbor redid his driveway because it was also just poured on dirt and they graded it smooth, compacted it, poured gravel, compacted that - then poured the driveway.

 

[aspeck]

Re: cement driveway question..

Doesn't sound like a good base to me. I predict cracks, an lots of them!

 

[roscoe]

Re: cement driveway question..

I bet he is only in the house long enough to claim tax benefit when sold.

 

[magster65]

Re: cement driveway question..

It will crack. The ground should be dug down to 'undisturbed soil', then, depending on the depth, rock topped with 6" of road base. It should be compacted too. Then a 6" wwm steel or 3/8" rebar at 2' spacing throughout. Concrete should be a minimum of 4" although 6" is better. This would hold anything that might pull into the driveway and probably outlast the house.

 

[Ron G]

Re: cement driveway question..

Magaster right on!that wont last one season without cracking.it needs expansion joints too.

 

[ndemge]

Re: cement driveway question..

wow.<br /><br />My brother just built a house, they dug down like a foot, layed down fabric, then a few hundred trucks of clean rock.... and he's going to drive on it as is for a year or so before he goes to pavement so it can all settle.<br /><br />Might want to be the little birdy in someone's ear if you see a buyer looking....

 

[Mark42]

Re: cement driveway question..

Not to worry, he'll do it right next time.

 

[Triton II]

Re: cement driveway question..

Here in New South Wales Australia our building inspectors wouldn't allow the pour unless the sub base had been done properly - 15cm (6") with reinforcing steel mat and expansion joints every 3 metres (10 ft). Of course cheapo builders try to cut corners but here the building inspectors have a tick sheet and unless all the ticks are ticked you don't get your approval certificate which means you can never sell the house. Great system but very open to corruption.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: cement driveway question..

triton<br /> we have the same system in place here. depending on what contractor you chose will make the difference between how much the inspector looks at. if you use the right contractor the inspectoir will sometimes just check it off in the office and never actually come look. <br /> aint kickbacks great some years back in a county very close by if you used the inspectors son-in-laws company your permits appeared like magic. if not it was a headache. personal experience .

 

[Ross J]

Re: cement driveway question..

Is it possible he rotary hoe'd the top couple of inches and spread dehydrated lime onto it. If thats watered and rotary hoe'd into clay it turns harder than concrete anyway. it would make for a very strong base.<br />Ross

 

[JRJ]

Re: cement driveway question..

If the driveway doesn't get heavy loads, like a loaded moving van, it will probably be fine untill he sells

 

[12Footer]

Re: cement driveway question..

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