So, you’ve decided it’s time to replace or construct your driveway and you want the strength, durability and sustainability of concrete.
But before getting started, you want to know what the best concrete is for a surface you’re going to be driving and parking on, and if ready mix is a good option to save on time.
Well, the short answer is that yes, ready mix concrete is not only a good option for driveways, it’s also likely to be your best option for a number of reasons we will detail below.
There are several benefits you’ll get from using ready mix concrete on your driveway:
Ready mix concrete provides a flat, stable and long-lasting surface that can handle the weight and abrasion of vehicles driving and parking on it, no matter how often you use it. The durability of concrete also means that a well laid and cured concrete will maintain its robustness for years without deterioration, even when it’s exposed to the UK’s icy winters, wet springs, heatwave summers and windy autumns.
Once you’ve made the decision to give your home a concrete driveway, you’re likely to want to get to work as soon as possible. Ordering ready mix means you won’t have to wait for deliveries of the various elements you’ll need if you are mixing on-site.
Choosing ready mix will avoid you needing to store raw, bagged equipment outside your house and having to order mixing machinery, neither of which look great in a residential area, and may raise the eyebrows of a few of your neighbours. With ready mix, you simply arrange a delivery of concrete that’s ready to lay on the day that you need it.
If you don’t choose ready mix, you will need to buy the individual elements for your concrete mix and then employ someone to do the mixing – unless that’s something you can do yourself.
If you’ve ever tried mixing concrete yourself, you’ll know it can be a messy business. The dust that comes off bagged cement and heaped aggregates irritates the eyes, nose and mouth, so you’ll have to make sure your family members, pets and neighbours are well out of the way while you’re mixing.
You’ll also need to be prepared to wipe off any dust that gets on your windows and any nearby homes. Of course, all of this can be avoided by simply ordering ready mix concrete.
Depending on the size of the space you need to cover, you may need to mix several batches to create your new driveway. And doing that yourself often leads to inconsistencies between the batches which could affect the look and durability of your driveway. To ensure a consistent, top-quality product and the best finish, order ready mix from SRC Group.
You’re not limited to natural grey with concrete, as you can choose different colour mixes to complement the look of your house. And once it’s laid, different textures and decorative finishes can be applied to give your driveway the unique finish you want.
One of the most important reasons for choosing ready mix for your driveway is that you can order the precise amount of concrete you need for your project. We can help you calculate your requirements based on the area that needs to be covered and deliver the precise amount of ready mix to your home, so there’s no wastage.
SRC Group is committed to protecting the environment and championing the circular economy in construction. That’s why we’ve developed low-carbon concrete ready mixes that are suitable for various applications. Each mix is created using significantly less carbon than traditional mixes, and comply with BS8500-2 and NHBC specifications.
Thickness: Your driveway concrete should be at least 10 cm (4 inches) thick, although you may need more if you are planning to drive and park very heavy vehicles on the surface.
Drainage: Make sure the edges of your driveway slope downwards and away from the centre so that rain can run off rather than gather in puddles on the surface.
Strength: It’s a good idea to reinforce your driveway by including a steel grid system at half of the depth of the concrete to bolster the strength of the surface.
Once the concrete is in place, you should allow 24-48 hours for it to dry before walking on the surface – otherwise you risk leaving permanent footprints (or pawprints!) on your driveway.
Concrete takes up to 7 days to reach 80% of its strength, so it’s best to give your new driveway this long to settle before driving or parking your car on it. Additives can be added to the ready mix to speed up this process.
Probably the biggest and most important decision you’ll make when concreting your driveway is choosing where to get your ready mix from. It’s vital that it’s sourced from a trusted supplier.
SRC Group is an expert UK supplier of premium, ready mixed concrete that complies with BS8500 and BS EN 206 quality standards.
We want you to enjoy the best looking, most durable concrete driveway and pride ourselves on the quality of our ready mix concrete.
If you’re concreting a driveway in Essex or parts of Suffolk or Herts, we can deliver your ready mix to your home from one of our four concrete plants or supply the raw materials on a volumetric truck and mix upon arrival.
During the mixing process, we observe strict quality control procedures, ensuring our concrete is formed from the best aggregates. Our ready mix is dried and cured to exacting standards and precision mixed to ensure consistency throughout.
Where access is restrictive, concrete can be pumped into place, thus saving time and labour.
Order your ready mix concrete for your driveway project by contacting us at SRC Group today, and you can look forward to a top-quality surface on which you can drive and park for many years to come.
You can contact us by calling 0208 594 0169 or emailing us at enquiries@srcgroup.co.uk. Alternatively, head to our contact page and fill out the contact form.
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