Installing a concrete driveway offers a classic, long-lasting alternative to pavers or asphalt. It also comes with a range of finishing options for different aesthetics, so there’s something to suit every taste and budget. According to Home Advisor, costs for this type of project typically run from $4 to $15 per square foot nationwide.

The installation process begins with excavating the existing materials and removing them according to local law. A roadbase, or non-specific compound made of gravel and crushed granite, is then laid and compacted over the surface. It isn’t strictly necessary, but it stabilizes the soil to prevent sinkage and heaving once the concrete is poured.

Installing a Concrete Driveway: A Practical Guide for Homeowners

Forms are then erected in the shape and size of your chosen driveway using boards and beams that are secured with stakes driven into the ground. Once the forms are in place, a concrete mix is poured and then leveled by hand with screeds or machinery to achieve an even and consistent finish. Concrete is often reinforced at this point, which helps to prevent cracking in the future. This may be a mat of steel reinforcing bars tied in place or 6X6 welded wire mesh that is added to the concrete mix at the concrete plant.

The resulting surface can be further smoothed with trowels or concrete floats to add texture or create an even, flat finish. Control joints, which are cut with a grooving tool or saw to help control cracking, are then created at intervals across the slab, typically spaced four inches apart.